Calypso Once a Day Sun Protection Lotion with SPF 10

Product Information

Always be aware of the strength of the sun. Never exceed sun exposure for longer than your skin allows. Remember - all skin types are different. 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. 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. Even with our test subjects just sitting on a chair in a T-shirt, we saw substantial reductions in the level of sun protection, so we don't think you can rely on once-a-day sun cream to keep you protected all day.

Physical/mineral products reflect visible light as well as UV, which can make the formulations opaque and leave a white residue on the skin. Some formulations use nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide – the minerals responsible for the residue. Nanoparticles are smaller, and as they scatter visible light – rather than reflect it – the sun creams are transparent. How to use sun cream When choosing sun cream for your child, look for a short ingredients list and the terms 'fragrance free' and 'hypoallergenic'. The WHO recommends 35ml of sun cream (seven teaspoons' worth) to cover an adult, so use around a quarter to a half of this depending on the size of your child.

sun protection

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.

Mineral sunscreens in particular often promote their environmental credentials, the most common being that they’re ‘reef-safe’ or 'ocean-friendly'. Sun cream provides protection from sunlight using UV filters. These are classified into two types: chemical and physical – also known as mineral sun cream. 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.We award Which? Best Buy status to products that we've independently reviewed that meet all our tough criteria: they must pass independent lab tests for UVA and UVB sun protection, and be easy and pleasant to apply. 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

It takes longer for those with darker skin that rarely burns – it can take 25-40 minutes for the darkest skin type. It's common for sun creams to claim to be 'water resistant', but this doesn't mean that they're waterproof. Eat well, live better and stay healthy - sign up for our free monthly Food & Health newsletter for the latest insights delivered straight to your inboxYou can buy sun cream in pharmacies, supermarkets and discount stores, with some of our tested options coming from Asda, Boots, Garnier, Nivea and Wilko. Do not exceed exposure to the sun for longer than your skin type allows, taking into account the strength of the sun. This tends to mean that two commonly used chemical UV filters linked to coral bleaching – oxybenzone and octinoxate – aren’t used. The industry guideline for water-resistant sun creams allows the SPF of a product to drop by 50% after a total of 40 minutes in water. Water-resistance testing also takes place in what is essentially a bath – using tap water.