News that three of 14 popular suncream brands tested by UK consumer organisation Which?failed to meet their sun-protection factor (SPF) promises may prompt holidaymakers to rethink the contents of their holiday kits - especially after it was revealed that some budget brands do the job better than some expensive ones.
The SPF 30+ cream in a new sun travel kit from MD Formulations (€27.50 available at the Bodyclinic, 24a Wicklow Street, Dublin, www.thebodyclinic.ie) promises to go beyond mere sunburn protection. It promises to save collagen fibres, prevent thread veins and "keep the dreaded rosacea at bay".
I've never met Rosacea, but she sounds like bad news, accompanied by outbreaks of red cheeks, watery eyes and visible facial blood vessels. Interestingly, the National Rosacea Society in the US doesn't mention anything about suncreams preventing the condition. Still, the Bodyclinic travel kits are a tidy idea: neat little packs of bottles that beat the cabin baggage 100ml rule, and stop you scouring the house for travel oils and ointments at the last minute.
A Dermalogica spa body therapy kit (right), at €30.80, includes a body wash, exfoliating scrub and a hydrating cream, while a dry-skin kit holds a cleansing gel, toner, skin cream and exfoliant.
All the brands tested by Which?promised a sun protection factor of 15, which means they're supposed to increase 15-fold the time someone can spend in the sun without burning.
For a stronger dose, there's La Roche Posay's Anthelios XL Lait SPF 50+. It's normally found on pharmacy shelves (€20 for a small bottle; see www.laroche-posay-ireland.comfor a list of Irish retailers). Be warned: you might be paying for more than the SPF - the firm boasts that its products contain "the only thermal spring water rich in selenium".
You don't need to spend big on suncream. The Which?survey recommended suncreams from Boots, Garnier Ambre Solaire, and L'Oréal as well as three budget brands from Sainsbury's, Asda and Wilkinson.