Which? Don't Buy sun creams

Time and time again our sun cream tests have revealed sun creams that simply can't live up to the SPF claims on the bottle. We don't think you can rely on these sun creams to provide the level of protection you'd expect, so we've named them Don't Buys.

Buying a Don't Buy sun cream could put you at risk when you're out in the sun, and it's a waste of money. Go for a Best Buy sun cream instead.

We've found Best Buys starting from just £3.50, with Don't Buys costing as much as £28.

Join Which? to find out which sun creams we've named as Don't Buys.

What makes a Don't Buy sun cream?

Every year we test the latest sun cream formulations to see whether the products provide the claimed level of SPF protection.

We also test them to find out whether they provide sufficient protection against UVA rays. And each year our tests reveal sun creams that simply don't provide the protection we expect from them.

The best sun creams deliver the SPF 30 claimed on the bottle and give you enough protection against UVA rays, but the worst will let you down.

• Don't Buy sun creams provide less than the claimed SPF 30. In some cases, they provide much less – we've seen some with only a third of their claimed SPF. This means they provide much less protection against UVB rays, which cause sun burn.
• Bad sun creams also fail to give sufficient UVA protection. This means your skin is more exposed to UVA rays, which cause premature ageing.
• The worst sun creams we've tested are unable to deliver the required SPF and UVA protection.
• Some of the worst sun creams we've tested are also among the most expensive.

Buy the right sun cream and you and your family can be confident that you'll receive the SPF claimed on the bottle and enough UVA protection. And with Best Buys starting from just £3.50, you don't have to pay a premium for protection.

Our tests have found more than 20 sun creams that won't let you down in the sun, with the easiest to apply going on to become Best Buys. So, avoid the duds and buy with confidence by following our expert and impartial guide.

Join Which? to see our round-up of the best sun creams.

How we test sun creams

Which? has tested and reviewed the latest formulations of sun creams, including products from Asda, Avon, Boots Soltan, Green People, Hawaiian Tropic, Garnier, Lloyds Solero, Nivea, Piz Buin, Superdrug, Tropic, Ultrasun and Wilko. 

Our in-depth testing means that we can recommend the sun creams that deliver all of the SPF and UVA protection you need while being easy to apply.

• We use British Standard tests to check whether each sun cream offers the SPF claimed on its label. If a product fails our tests, we name it a Don't Buy.
• We check whether each product also meets the EU recommendation for protection against UVA. We've found that not every sun cream is up to scratch and those that don't provide enough UVA cover are Don't Buys, too.
• We test SPF 30 products and also have reviews on our site for SPF 50+ sun creams for children as well as a selection of mineral-based sun creams.

Any sun cream that doesn't offer the SPF protection it claims to could expose you to a greater risk of developing sun burn, as you'll be getting less protection than you think. And if the sun cream can't muster enough UVA defence, this could also lead to skin damage. That's why we make these sun creams Don't Buys when they fail our tests.

Join Which? to find out which sun creams are Don't Buys and to see our round-up of the best sun creams.