Calypso Once a Day Sun Protection Lotion with SPF 50

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Dr Paul Banwell told us, "Some sunscreens use chemicals, such as oxybenzone, a known- allergen, and avobenzone to absorb UV rays, which can be detected in the body at harmful levels." It's common for sun creams to claim to be 'water resistant', but this doesn't mean that they're waterproof. If you're someone who's in and out of the pool or sea when the sun comes out, then this formula from Bondi Sands might be the one for you. It's specially formulated to be water resistant for four hours - far longer than the 40 minute criteria that other water resistant sun creams must meet. It's infused with ethically sourced algae for deep hydration and is, of course, reef friendly too. 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. Sun protection factor: SPF indicates how long it may take you to get burned after applying sun cream, and is measured in numbers. The higher the SPF number, the more time you may be able to spend in the sun without getting burned.

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. Find out what you need to know about 'once a day' sun creams, water-resistant sun creams, sensitive sun screen and the best kids' sun cream too. For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned. Sun cream provides protection from sunlight using UV filters. These are classified into two types: chemical and physical – also known as mineral sun cream. 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.

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He added, "Most people apply sunscreen too thinly and that means protection is reduced. An adult should be applying around six to eight teaspoons to cover their body. There’s a long list of ingredients that are used as chemical absorbers, so it’s easiest to simply look for products that are labelled ‘sensitive’ rather than search for specific ingredients. SPF make-up: does it really offer protection from the sun? However, there's no agreed definition of 'reef-safe', research is still ongoing as to the impact of these chemicals, and our tests found many mineral suncreams failed to protect as claimed – so take any claims with a pinch of salt. Kids' sun cream

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. It takes longer for those with darker skin that rarely burns – it can take 25-40 minutes for the darkest skin type. Consider the time of day – If you're spending time in the sun without wearing sun cream, you should only do so before 11am or after 3pm, as the middle of the day is when you're at the greatest risk of getting burnt.

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. Dermatologist and cosmetologistDr Eva Melegh told us: "If you are prone to sensitive skin or you are applying suncream to children’s skin then you it’s best to opt for mineral sun creams as opposed to chemical filter ones, as they have less chance of causing a skin reaction to sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin a very helpful product is Kalme Undercoatwhich is designed to wear under sun creams to reduce the risk of skin reactions." Eat well, live better and stay healthy - sign up for our free monthly Food & Health newsletter for the latest insights delivered straight to your inbox He added, "Other ingredients that may cause reactions include benzophenones, cinnamates and dibenzoylmethane. 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.

The NHS recommends using a minimum SPF of 30 to protect against UVB. However, Dr Paul told us that he recommends using SPF 50, as well as staying in the shade, wearing protective clothing and staying out of midday sun. UV protection: Sun creams receive a UV star rating out of 5, which measures how well a sunscreen protects against the sun’s UVA rays. Broad-spectrum sun creams protect against both UVA and UVB rays.Dr Paul Banwell, who runs The Banwell Clinic and is the previous head and founder of The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Unit (MASCU) in East Grinstead, agrees. He told us: "I cannot emphasise enough the importance of selecting a broad spectrum sunscreen, which will protect against UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays cause redness and sunburn as well as skin cancer, while UVA rays can also cause cancer as well as ageing of the skin. Newer sunscreens have infrared (IR) protection too and should be considered." Sun creams to avoid: The warning signs to look out for I would avoidOctinoxate,which is harmful to coral reefs and can cause skin allergies as well asAvobenzone,which can cause high levels of irritation. You also need to avoid Retinyl Palmitate, which does not mix well with the sun. When mixed with the sun, it can be potentially cancerous." 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

Oxybenzoneis another ingredient to avoid as it is easily absorbed by the skin and enters the bloodstream, and it can disrupt your hormones as well as causing terrible harm to the environment. 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. Mineral sunscreens in particular often promote their environmental credentials, the most common being that they’re ‘reef-safe’ or 'ocean-friendly'.The NHS recommends reapplying sun cream every two hours, as the sun can dry it off your skin. They add that when applying sun cream for the first time that day you should do this twice: 30 minutes before going out and again just before leaving. 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