You can buy sun cream in pharmacies, supermarkets and discount stores, with some of our tested options coming from Asda, Boots, Garnier, Nivea and Wilko.

For any product to provide the SPF it claims, you need to apply 2mg per square cm – which means around a teaspoonful of product for your face. And, just as with sun cream, it needs to be reapplied regularly. Some people worry that using sun cream might prevent them from getting enough vitamin D, but this isn’t the case unless you really overdo it. Apply to all exposed areas especially those that are prone to sun radiation e.g. face, nose, receding hairline, shoulders and feet. So, if you are only applying your sunscreen once a day, you are at risk of spending hours in the sun with little or no protection to those areas of skin that may have been missed.'For more details on the importance of vitamin D and where to buy supplements, see our in-depth vitamin D guide . Other ways to stay safe in the sun

Nobody applies sunscreen perfectly uniformly to all exposed skin and it is inevitable that we will miss patches of skin. Unwanted Food or Drink Products - Once supply conditions are broken, there are a number of factors outside of our control that can affect the quality of a product. Therefore perishable goods such as food and drink cannot be returned. It takes longer for those with darker skin that rarely burns – it can take 25-40 minutes for the darkest skin type. Professor Brian Diffey adds that sun creams generally offer ‘very good’ water resistance these days (though be aware water resistance claims also come with caveats, and the products we tested didn't hold up well to real-life conditions in our 2016 investigation), which is good if you're planning on spending time in the pool or in the sea. But over the course of the day swimming will wash away some of the protection. The use of the word durable, she added, aims to communicate its long lasting characteristics without 'promising [a] full day protection guarantee, with no need for reapplication.'

Sun cream provides protection from sunlight using UV filters. These are classified into two types: chemical and physical – also known as mineral sun cream. We agree that the claim “Once a day” can be anticipated in a wrong way by the consumer, and it is one of the reasons why we changed our durability communication from “Once a day” to “Up to 10 hours”. We tested two popular sun creams in chlorinated water (to mimic a swimming pool) and salty water (to emulate the sea). We also added another scenario using fast-moving tap water to see what effect this had. Most of the time, the products weren't as effective in our more realistic conditions as they were in tap water. It's clear that there are plenty of conditions to fulfil to get the claimed protection from once-a-day products, which may be hard to achieve if you're on a day out in the sun.

Avoid sun exposure between 11am - 3pm. Seek shade and always protect children with a hat, loose clothing and high SPF protection. We saw an average 74% decrease in SPF protection at the end of the tests. We shared our concerns with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD). Both advise against relying on any sun cream for extended periods in the sun. From April to September, when the UV Index is generally higher. It takes 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure each day for those with fair-to-olive skin to get enough vitamin D. Remember, sun cream is just one part of staying safe in the sun and it's also really important to encourage kids (and adults) to:A spokesperson told us that all of its sun creams are designed for 'longevity' but that it found the use of the word 'durable' more 'appropriate' than once a day.

Cover up – wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and grab a hat if you need to keep your face out of the sun. You might also want to wear a T-shirt, which can help to cover up typically over-exposed areas such as shoulders. We made multiple attempts to get in touch with Calypso, but the brand did not respond to any of our questions or send us a comment. Riemann Important: Read the instructions carefully before use. Apply to clean dry skin, preferably after a shower. Apply evenly and generously 15 minutes before exposure to the sun, which will allow the product to bind with the skin and form a protective film against UVA/UVB rays. When used correctly, one application is sufficient for all day protection. A spokesperson said: 'Soltan Once products clearly state how they should be used and when to reapply. We are confident in the claims for the Soltan Once range and refute the suggestion that they are misleading. Reapply sunscreen after swimming, sweating heavily, towel drying, or rubbing your skin in a way that might cause the cream to rub off.Babies less than six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight, according to the NHS, and the skin of young children should be protected from the sun when UV levels are high. It is essential to buy a sunscreen that has a high SPF. You should also do some research online to see which sunscreens have undergone independent tests by credible third parties. Our Press and ProtectSPF30 Sun Lotion was chosen as the Which? “Best Buy Sunscreen” for two years in a row. Our other sun care productscome recommended by The Independent and The Telegraph.