The consumer organisation Which? has tested a number of sunscreen products on sale in the U.K. The consumer advocate organization has weighed down heavily on some brands and states that the claims that they make are misleading.
The products, according to the BBC, are: the Hawaiian Tropic brand and Soltan Protect and Moisturise Lotion (SPF 30), manufactured by the high street drug store Boots. Both products are labelled as sun protection factor (SPF) 30. The consumer group is advising people not to purchase the products.
Tests conducted by Which? indicate that the products only offer two-thirds of the skin protection that they should. This means that the products labeled as offering “sun protection factor” 30 were, in fact, considerably weaker. Sun protection factor is a measure of how effective a suntan product with filtering out, or acting as a barrier to the skin, from ultraviolet radiation. In particular, the concern is with ultraviolet B, which is the type of energy that causes skin to tan (and eventually to burn.) Prolonged exposure can also cause skin cancer.
The tests were conducted using a British Standard, using the same methodology the manufacturers should have conducted. In total Which? tested 11 leading brands. The two featured were the only two that did not appear to match the marketing.
It should be noted that both companies do not accept the claims and are discussing the results with the consumer group.
