The sun cream costs £28 for 150ml and is marketed as “perfect for the whole family” and “especially suitable for children and those with sensitive skin.”
Which? used industry-recognised test methods that are part of British and international standards and tested products at independent labs.
A spokesperson from Ultrasun told Which? it is “fully confident in its testing protocols and that its detailed testing processes continue to not only meet but surpass industry standards”.
Morrisons’ Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30, which costs £3.75 for 200ml, also failed Which?’s tests.
Morrisons told Which? that it’s looking closely at the data and working with its supplier to carry out additional independent testing.
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As part of its annual sun cream testing, Which? tested 15 popular sun creams, including SPF30, SPF50/50+ and Kids SPF50/50+ products. Brands tested include Boots, Garnier and Nivea, as well as own-brand alternatives.
Following the tests, Which? labelled both Ultrasun Family SPF30 and Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 as ‘Don’t Buy’.
The sun creams worth buying
Which? found that budget supermarkets Aldi and Lidl both sold much better – and cheaper – sun protection.
Aldi Lacura Sensitive Sun Lotion SPF50+ costs just £2.99 for 200ml. Researchers found the sun cream protected skin from both UVA and UVB rays, as claimed. At £1.50 per 100ml, the product costs six times less than Ultrasun.
Lidl’s Cien Sun Spray 30 SPF High costs £3.79 for 200ml – working out to £1.90 per 100ml. Which? testers described it as “a solid option for affordable and reliable sun protection”.
Natalie Hitchins, Which?’s head of home products and services, said: “It’s really concerning that widely available sunscreens could be putting families at risk by failing to offer the level of sun protection claimed on the packaging.
“While shoppers should avoid buying our Don’t Buys, our results prove that there’s no need to splash out to keep you and your loved ones safe in the sun, as we’ve found cheap reliable options at Aldi and Lidl.”
