Big name sun creams fail safety test - but budget brands 'triumph'
Rigorous safety and quality testing was carried out on a number of sunscreens, from budget own-brands to expensive luxury, to see if they passed the British standard for UVA and UVB protection. Three were even branded a 'Don't Buy' by the reviewers at Which?
Sunseekers may be pleased to know it’s not necessarily a case of ‘getting what you pay for’ when it comes to UV protection.
Aldi and Lidl continue to hold their titles as the best value options for 2026.
In the latest Which? rounds of testing, budget-friendly options from these discounters passed both UVA and UVB safety checks with 'flying colours.'
However, due to recent inflation, the threshold for these budget buys has shifted slightly; while most own-brand options still offer incredible value, the typical price for these 'Great Value' bottles now ranges between £2.49 and £3.99 per 200ml.
Garnier, Nivea and Boots Soltan also passed tests.
All the best buys also pass user tests for being easy to apply and absorb, how nice they smell and how greasy they are.
Don't buy
However, brand reliability can fluctuate year-on-year. While Asda’s Protect range received a 'Don't Buy' rating in 2024, the primary focus of this year's warnings has shifted to other brands.
In the latest Which? results from September 2025, the Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 (£3.75/200ml) and Ultrasun Family SPF30 (£28/150ml) earned 'Don't Buy' ratings.
The Morrisons spray failed to meet the claimed SPF level, offering significantly less protection than advertised, while Ultrasun failed the UVA protection test in two separate rounds.
Morrisons responded that "it’s looking closely at the data and working with its supplier to carry out additional independent testing."
Ultrasun said it disputes the Which? findings, stating: "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."
We have included below the full list of sunscreens that Which? has highlighted in its most recent testing, as well the lists from 2023 and 2024 so you can compare or look at a wider range of suncreams.
Which sunscreens passed the test?
SPF30 Passes: 2025
- Lidl Cien Sun Protect Spray SPF30, £3.79/200ml
- Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF30, £5.50/200ml
- Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Spray SPF30, £5.50/200ml
- Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Lotion SPF30, £7.50/200ml
- Sainsbury's SPF30 Moisturising Lotion, £5.75/200ml
- Superdrug Solait Sun Spray SPF30, £5.50/200ml
SPF50+ kids passes: 2025
- Boots Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF50+, £5.50/200ml
- Childs Farm SPF50+ Sun Cream Fragrance-Free, from £12/100ml
SPF50/+ face passes: 2025
- Aldi SPF50+ Sensitive Lotion, £2.99/200ml
- Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF50+, £5.50/200ml
- Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced Sun Spray SPF50+, from £8.00/150ml
- Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Spray SPF50+, from £7.00/200ml
- Sainsbury's SPF50+ Moisturising Spray Lotion, £5.75/200ml
Fails: 2025
- Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 (£3.75/200ml)
- Ultrasun Family SPF30 (£28/150ml)
2024 test
SPF30 Passes: 2024
- Aldi Lacura SPF30 Sun Lotion, £2.49/200ml
- Lidl Cien Sun Spray SPF30, £3.29/200ml
- Piz Buin in Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30, £6.50/200ml
SPF50+ kids passes: 2024
- Aldi Lacura SPF50+ Kids Mini Lotion, £1.35/50ml
- Garnier Ambre Solaire Kids Water Resistant Sun Cream Spray SPF50+, £8/150ml
- Lidl Cien Kids Sensitive Sunscreen Spray SPF50+, £3.29/200ml
- Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Care Coloured Spray SPF50+, £7.00/200ml.
- Ultrasun Kids SPF50+, £32.00/150ml
SPF50/+ face passes: 2024
- Boots Soltan Brightening Protect & Moisturise Facial Suncare Cream with Vitamin C SPF50, £6.50/50ml
- Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Daily Invisible Face Serum with SPF 50+, £9.49/30ml
- Nivea Sun UV Face Anti-Age Q10 Cream SPF50, £10.00/50ml
- Ultrasun Face SPF50+, £26.00/50ml
Fails: 2024
- Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High (£2.80/200ml)
- Bondi Sands SPF50+ face sunscreen lotion (£7.99/75ml)
- Calypso Press & Protect Sun lotion SPF30 (£8/200ml)
2023 test
SPF30 Passes: 2023
- Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30, £3/200ml
- Asda Protect Refreshing Clear Sun Spray SPF30, £4/200ml
- Avon Sun Body Cream SPF30, £5/150ml
- Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Lotion, SPF30, £4/200ml
- Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Spray SPF30, £4.50/200ml
- Calypso Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30, £5/200ml
- Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture SPF30 lotion, £6/200ml
- Piz Buin Allergy Sun Sensitive Skin Lotion SPF30, £8/200ml
- Superdrug Solait Moisturising Sun Cream Lotion SPF30, £4.99/200ml
- Superdrug Solait Moisturising Sun Cream Spray SPF30 High, £5.49/200ml
- Ultrasun Family SPF30, £22/200ml
SPF50+ passes: 2023
- Asda Kids Sun Lotion Spray SPF 50+ High, £4/200ml
- Boots Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Lotion, SPF50+, £4/200ml
- Childs Farm 50+ SPF Sun Lotion Spray, £12/100ml
- Childs Farm SPF50+ Kids Roll-on Sun Lotion, £10/50ml
- Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Care SPF50+ Spray, £6.50/200ml
- Sainsbury's Sun Protect By Sainsburys Kids Lotion Sun Spray SPF50+, £5.00/200ml
- Superdrug Solait Kids SPF 50+ Roll-on Sun Lotion, £3.49/100ml
Fails: 2023
- Avon’s Refreshing 3-in-1 Face and Body Sun Lotion SPF30, £5.75/150ml
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