Latest news with #UVprotection
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Sunscreens RANKED - from best buys to those to avoid at all costs... as consumer watchdog reveals one 'ineffective' £28 cream could pose safety risk
A £28 sunscreen, marketed as 'perfect for the whole family', has failed a safety test carried out by Which?—despite claiming to be 'especially suitable' for children. The revelation may have left consumers asking which sun creams they can actually trust. Consumer watchdog Which? tested 15 popular SPF50 and SPF30 products from high-street names and supermarkets, using strict international safety standards. Each was assessed for ultraviolet (UV) protection and SPF protection, and rated for ease of use by a panel of volunteers. Two were labelled 'Don't Buys' after failing key tests, while seven earned a 'Best Buy' status, scoring highest overall. Another two were also labelled 'great value' options, for offering people a cost-effective option to protect against the sun's UV rays. To trial the creams, scientists applied a small amount on volunteers' backs, before shining a lamp on the patch to simulate the sun's rays. The time it takes for the skin to become red was then measured. In another test, scientists took a sample of the cream and spread it onto a glass plate to measure the absorption of UV radiation directly. To pass, the sunscreen needed to provide at least one third of the claimed SPF. For example, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will take 30 times longer to damage your skin compared to no protection at all. Here we reveal the full list of 2025 test results, ranked from most to least effective. Lidl Cien Sun Protect Spray SPF30 The bargain product was given the 'great value' seal of approval by the watchdog, after the panel found it passed both key tests, was easy to apply and 'smelled great'. They did, however, note it felt 'a bit greasy on skin' after application. £3.49 Shop Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF30 Which? said the product offered 'excellent UVA and UVB protection'. UVA and UVB protection are both crucial in sunscreen because they address different types of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which can raise the risk of skin damage and cancer. UVB rays are primarily responsible for sunburn, while UVA rays penetrate deeper, causing premature aging and wrinkles. £5.50 Shop Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Lotion SPF30 The product passed both SPF and UVA tests. It's only downside, Which? said, was the cost. £8.65 Shop Sainsbury's SPF30 Moisturising Lotion The consumer watchdog had no major concerns with the product it said and provides exactly the level of sun protection that it claims. £5.75 Shop Superdrug Solait Sun Spray SPF30 Which? said the product 'delivers on SPF and UVA claims' and 'no major issues' at all. £5.50 Shop The factor 30's to avoid Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 Price: £3.75/200ml After testing the product twice, Morrisons sun spray failed to provide the 'claimed level of protection from UVB rays', Which? said. After informing Morrisons of its results, the supermarket giant told Which? it was looking closely at the data and working with its supplier to carry out additional independent testing. Ultrasun Family SPF30 Price: £28/150ml Ultrasun's product passed the SPF test but didn't meet the minimum required UVA level for an SPF30 product in either the initial or repeat test. Responding to the findings, the company said: 'Ultrasun is fully confident in our testing protocols. 'As an independent brand delivering very high UVB and UVA protection options for over 30 years, our detailed testing processes continue to not only meet but surpass industry standards. 'Our chosen testing protocol is one of the strictest available, and our UVB and UVA filters are tested both in-vitro and in-vivo. 'We conclusively support the results of our independent tests which found the Ultrasun Family SPF30 reached a UVB-SPF in vivo of 31.4 and a UVA-PF in vitro of 13.1, which equates to a 92% UVA absorbance.' Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced Sun Spray SPF50+ Garnier's SPF50 spray passed both tests and was 'easy to apply', the watchdog said. But it noted, the product—which is sold at the likes of Asda, Boots, Morrisons and Sainsbury's—was an expensive option. £8.00 Shop Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Spray SPF50+ One of the most recognisable products on the market, Nivea's SPF50+ spray passed both SPF and UVA tests. It's only downside, Which? said, was the cost. £7.00 Shop Sainsbury's SPF50+ Moisturising Spray Lotion The watchdog said Sainsbury's spray provides the level of sun protection it claimed it does and there were no major downsides to the product at all. £5.75 Shop SPF50+ Children's Recommendations Childs Farm SPF50+ Sun Cream Fragrance-Free Which? said the product offers 'excellent sun protection' and passed both key tests. The sunscreen, sold online on Amazon as well as in Boots, does 'feel a bit greasy', it noted. £12 Shop
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
XPEL Reminds Drivers and Homeowners to Protect Against Heat and UV Exposure Ahead of the Summer Solstice
Window tint checkup: owners can bring their cars to an authorized XPEL dealer to verify if their window tint protects against harmful UV rays. SAN ANTONIO, June 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the 2025 summer solstice—the longest day of the year—approaches on June 20th, XPEL, Inc. (NASDAQ: XPEL), a global leader in protective films and coatings, reminds consumers to stay protected from sun-related heat and UV exposure, especially as melanoma and skin cancer diagnoses continue to rise. XPEL's automotive, home and office window films are heat-rejecting and help protect against harmful UV rays. XPEL's PRIME™ automotive window film uses advanced nano-ceramic technology to block over 99% of harmful UVA and UVB rays and significantly reduce solar heat. A recent test highlighted that a car protected with PRIME window film registered 15 degrees cooler than an unprotected similar vehicle. Since not all brands of window tint offer this level of heat rejection and UV protection, XPEL encourages drivers to visit an authorized XPEL retailer in North America to determine whether their current tint is delivering proper UV protection. "Many window films may look similar, but their ability to actually block harmful UV rays and reject heat varies greatly," said Chris DiMinico, XPEL's Director of Product. "Our authorized installers can test your vehicle's window tint to confirm if it's truly nano-ceramic or metallic, and whether it meets the high standards necessary for real UV defense." Homeowner Protection as Well XPEL's Solar Window Film extends this protection into the home or office, blocking up to 78% of the sun's heat and 99% of UV rays while preserving visibility and natural light. These films help reduce energy costs, reduce glare, increase comfort, and protect interior furnishings from fading due to sun exposure. "As daylight hours peak during summer, it's the ideal time for drivers and homeowners to think critically about sun exposure," DiMinico added. "Window film is a practical, year-round investment in both comfort and health." Backed by the Skin Cancer Foundation XPEL's window films have earned the Seal of Recommendation from The Skin Cancer Foundation, a trusted symbol of effective UV protection. This recognition reinforces XPEL's commitment to skin safety, providing additional peace of mind. Longest Day, Highest Exposure The summer solstice on June 20 marks the year's longest stretch of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, and with it, an increase in UV intensity and heat load in cars and homes. XPEL's advanced window film solutions offer a smart and effective line of defense from the sun. To find an authorized XPEL installer or learn more about XPEL's automotive and architectural window film products, visit or follow @XPEL on social media channels. About XPEL, Inc. XPEL is a leading provider of protective films and coatings, including paint protection film, surface protection film, window films and ceramic coatings in the automotive, architectural and marine industries. With a global footprint, a network of trained installers and proprietary DAP software, XPEL is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations by providing high-quality products, leading customer service, expert technical support and world-class training. XPEL, Inc. is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol "XPEL." Note: Video b-roll available upon request. View source version on Contacts For more information: Steve Allyson Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The symbol you should always look for on kids' sunglasses
We all know the importance of protecting our children's eyes from the sun's rays, particularly on sunny days. But a disturbing new report has found some kids' sunglasses bought online do not meet UK safety standards. The investigation by consumer champion Which?, found that a third of children's sunglasses purchased from online marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, AliExpress and Temu, were unsafe to wear. Researchers bought 20 pairs of sunglasses from six e-commerce marketplaces and put them through lab tests. They found that two pairs of the glasses let in too much ultraviolet light (UV), five pairs had different levels of UV protection on each lens, and all of the pairs were missing key information, labels and markings required for them to be legally sold in the UK. The unsafe sunglasses have since been removed from the online platforms. Calling for stricter safety regulations for online marketplaces under the government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha said: "Our research shows many of these models are so ineffective as to be dangerous for children to wear and this is a consequence of online marketplaces having no real responsibility or incentive for taking safety seriously." So if you're buying sunglasses for your children, what should you be looking for to ensure they protect their eyes and meet UK safety standards? Denise Voon, clinical adviser at The College of Optometrists explains. "A lot of parents are aware that in order to protect their children's skin from the sun, they need to put sunscreen on, and it's exactly the same for eyes," Voon tells Yahoo UK. "Protecting your eyes with sunglasses is really important. Prolonged exposure, even to small amounts of UV, can cause eye conditions such as cataracts in later life, and there's emerging evidence to say that it can cause macular degeneration as well." Wearing sunglasses is particularly important for children, she adds. "Their pupils tend to be bigger and the lens inside their eyes tend to be clearer. So if an adult and a child stood outside, the child would probably get more UV to the back of their eyes." Sunlight can also cause short-term problems, such as temporary but painful burns to the surface of the eye, according to the NHS. Any sunglasses sold in the UK should have either a CE mark or a UKCA mark, some will have both. A CE mark shows they meet all the legal health and safety requirements to be sold in the European Union, while a UKCA mark shows they meet the requirements to be sold in the UK. These marks will be on the inside arms of the glasses. If sunglasses don't show one of these marks, Voon says to avoid them. Which? also advises looking for glasses with UV400 protection, which blocks out almost 100% of UV rays, and choosing category 3 lenses. Category 3 is the most common type in the UK and is for use on bright days. If you're going skiing, choose category 4. You'll find the category number marked on the inside of the sunglasses arm. "It is quite a common misconception that the darker the lenses, the more protection they offer but that's not actually true," explains Voon. "You can get all different colours and lighter and darker tints but, as long as they bear a safety mark, the best choice is whatever suits your child." Getting the fit of sunglasses right is particularly important for children as, if they're uncomfortable or too tight, they won't want to wear them. Voon also advises against sunglasses that are too big. "If they're too big, they'll let in a lot of sun round the sides," she says. "And if they're too wide and they slip down, they're not going to be helping much at all. "If your child is spending a lot of time outdoors, you might wish to consider a more wraparound-style frame that offers slightly more protection. But the important thing is getting something that your children want to wear and that fit." When it comes to choosing sunglasses for your child, Voon says an optometrists is a good place to start. "If you're worried about your children's eyes or want advice about sun protection or how sunglasses fit, an optometrist will be able to advise," she says. But she adds that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get appropriate glasses. "When we've been caught out, we've actually just bought sunglasses at seaside shops and as long as they have the appropriate markings, they don't have to be expensive." 4 tips to keep your baby cool and help them sleep in hot weather (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) The 4 most important things to check on your sunscreen, according to a dermatologist (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) 6 hidden health hazards to watch out for in your garden this summer (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
TGA announces investigation into Choice claims on sunscreen
Australia's medicines watchdog has confirmed it will investigate a report claiming several sunscreens did not offer the sun protection they advertised. Consumer group CHOICE delivered the report last week, claiming it had tested 20 popular SPF50 and SPF50+ sunscreens and found 16 of them fell short of the protection they advertised. SPF stands for 'sun protection factor' and is the measure of how well the sunscreen protects a user from the sun's UV rays. An SPF 50 sunscreen is meant to block about 98 per cent of the rays, meaning it will take 50 times longer to get burnt than with unprotected skin. The consumer group tested the products with experts in an accredited sunscreen lab, with four products returning SPF results in the 40s, four in the 30s, and seven in the 20s. The popular brands tested include Banana Boat, Cancer Council and Bondi Sands sunscreens. In one example, the Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ tested at 28, while the Coles SPF 50+ Sunscreen Ultra Tube tested at 43. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has responded to the report and said it would investigate CHOICE's findings and take 'regulatory action as required'. 'Sunscreens with a primary purpose of UV protection are considered to be therapeutic goods and are regulated by us to ensure their safety, quality and efficacy,' the watchdog stated. 'It is a requirement under therapeutic legislation that statements on sunscreen labels are truthful and not misleading. 'It is also a legislative requirement that a sponsor of a therapeutic sunscreen product holds evidence that supports the SPF claim they make at the time they include the medicine in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. 'We will be investigating the CHOICE findings and will take regulatory action as required. 'We cannot comment on individual matters including whether products may be subject to investigation or compliance and enforcement activity, or the status of any such investigation and activity.' One skincare company that says it takes the testing of its products seriously has been criticised by users following the release of the CHOICE results. CHOICE said Ultra Violette's Australian Sunscreen's lean screen 50+ mattifying zinc sunscreen was tested and returned a result of just SPF4. The company, which sells its products at Sephora, shared an Instagram post last month boasting about how much it cost to test their 'skin screens.' 'Do you know how SPF is actually tested? Making our SKINSCREENS can cost up to $150K in testing alone (sorry to our CFO!!!)' the post stated. 'We take the integrity of our products pretty damn seriously – no cutting corners here. 'We ensure you have the best protection (from both UVA and UVB), *and* the added skincare benefits to match, no matter where in the world you are. Consumers were quick to respond to the report, with one customer claiming she used the product for three years and now has concerns about its effectiveness. 'Hey UV, I'm so worried about this report from CHOICE,' the customer replied on Instagram. Another customer said she had been 'badly burnt' using queen and supreme screens after reapplying the products and asked the company to stop selling them if they did not meet standards. Ultra Violette, which sell sunscreens between $27 and $77, has disputed CHOICE's findings. In a statement last week, the company said it was deeply committed to the health and safety of its customers and accused CHOICE of releasing misleading information to generate headlines. A spokesman said Ultra Violette only worked with reputable, TGA-licensed manufacturers who performed substantial quality release testing in accordance with the strictest SPF standards in the world. 'Given our commitment to producing the highest quality sunscreens for consumers, we do not accept these results as even remotely accurate,' a spokesman said in a statement. 'It is also essential to note here that the recognised authority governing sunscreens in Australia is the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA), not CHOICE Magazine.' The company said it retested a batch of sunscreen when they found out about the Choice testing, and the results came back with an SPF reading of 61.7, which was above the 50+ threshold. 'CHOICE's recent retest only included 5 participants, where 2 results were considered non validated, resulting in a sample size of only 3,' the statement said. 'Over the past 4 years, we have conducted 3 different tests at independent labs vs. Choice's 1.3 tests.' A spokesman said if the CHOICE results represented the actual level of protection offered, they would have hundreds of cases of reported sunburn and skin damage while using this product in real life situations. 'At Ultra Violette we take misleading claims made about our products very seriously,' the statement read. CHOICE chief executive officer Ashley de Silva said she stood by the test results. 'Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ product was first tested using a 10-person panel, in line with the Australian/New Zealand Sunscreen Standard,' she said. 'When the product returned a very low SPF of 4, we decided to test a new sample to confirm the result, using a five-person panel on a different batch at a different lab in Germany. 'The Ultra Violette product returned an SPF of 5 in this testing - an almost identical result. 'The additional testing is not a requirement of sunscreen testing standards, but an additional level of rigour and testing Choice decided to undertake to ensure the low SPF result for the Ultra Violette product was accurate.' Ms de Silva said the tests showed that products were not meeting consumer expectations. 'Consumers expect sunscreen to protect them in line with the SPF rating on the product, but as our testing has shown, the SPF label doesn't always match what's in the bottle,' he said. One sunscreen, Ultra Violette's lean screen SPF 50+ mattifying zinc skinscreen, returned a result of just SPF4. 'We were really shocked to see the results for Ultra Violette's lean screen SPF 50+ product, so much so that we actually decided to test a different batch at a completely different lab in Germany to confirm the results,' Mr de Silva said. 'Those tests found the product had an SPF of 5 – an almost identical result to our initial testing.' The consumer group was, however, quick to remind people that while a sunscreen may have ranked lower than claimed in its tests, that does not mean that products do not work. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or 20 can still give significant sun protection and is much better than using no sunscreen at all. The TGA said there could be 'variability' in SPF testing results across laboratories. 'Currently, the universally accepted methods of sunscreen SPF testing is using human subjects,' the watchdog said. 'It is a known issue that there is variability in SPF testing results across laboratories because testing on humans can be highly subjective and the response to a test can differ dramatically from one individual to another. 'While progress is being made internationally toward in-vitro sunscreen testing (not on human subjects), which will improve consistency of results, these methods are not yet in place. 'The TGA does not conduct human or animal testing. Where necessary, the TGA has outsourced SPF testing to accredited laboratories.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
How does sunscreen work, and what do SPF and star ratings mean?
Temperatures are set to rise this week in many parts of the UK, and UV levels are expected to be high. How can you protect your skin from the sun's rays? What do the SPF numbers mean on sunscreen? The most prominent number on sunscreen bottles is the sun protection factor or higher the number, the greater the protection it tells you how much protection your sunscreen provides from UVB radiation. The number refers to how much UVB it allows in, not how much it example, a sunscreen with SPF 15 allows one-fifteenth of the sun's rays to reach your skin, or about 7%.So it filters out about 93% percent of UVB rays while SPF 30 filters about 97%.This means if you could stay in the sun for 10 minutes unprotected without burning, SPF 15 would in theory give you 15 times that protection, or two-and-a-half hours before you would burn. The British Association of Dermatologists says sunscreen with SPF 30 is a "satisfactory form of sun protection in addition to protective shade and clothing".It says sunscreen should be reapplied at least every two hours, regardless of its SPF. What are UVA and UVB and what do the star ratings mean? Many brands also carry a star rating from one to tells you the percentage of UVA radiation that is absorbed by the sunscreen in comparison to how much UVB is absorbed. The more stars the and UVB refer to different wavelengths of radiation from the sun that enter the Earth's is associated with ageing of the skin and pigmentation as well as skin cancer. It can affect human skin even through causes sunburn, and is linked to particular types of skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma (the most common type) and malignant are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?A low SPF sunscreen could have a high star rating if the ratio of UVA to UVB protection is the same as in a higher SPF you want a sunscreen with a high SPF and a high star rating. How effective is the best sunscreen? These levels of protection assume sunscreen has been applied in ideal reality, most people do not apply sunscreen perfectly, and it can rub off with sweat or while in water. Experts think most people only apply half the recommended should not use sunscreen which is past its expiry date as it may be less effective. EU guidance states that sunscreen should only be marketed as having sun protection of "50+" and not the ratings of 80 or 100 which can be found in some thinks these could be misleading about how much extra protection they provide: SPF 50 provides about 98% protection, while SPF 100 would provide less than 100%.No product provides 100% protection from the sun's rays so the advice is that everyone should cover up and seek shade when the sun is strongest. What about 'once-a-day' sunscreens? There are lots of "extended wear" sunscreens on the market that advertise themselves as being for use "once a day". Many claim to offer protection for up to eight hours - if applied some dermatologists recommend that these products should still be applied at least every two hours, like any other sunscreen, since the risk that you may have missed a spot - or that it will rub or wash off in that time - are too high.A Which? report in 2016 criticised four of these products for not providing the protection promised. It found that after six to eight hours, the average protection offered decreased by 74%.But this claim was rejected by some of the manufacturers, who said their own testing had produced different sunscreens fail protection tests, Which? says
