The summer season is approaching and one of its essential products is making a comeback on the supermarket shelves. This is, of course, sunscreen.
And for good reason, since 1990 the annual number of melanomas diagnosed has increased by 2.5 in women and by 4.5 in men. The best prevention remains to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, but for those who cannot do otherwise, there remains the option of sunscreen.
Full of good will, consumers trust the labels and indices of the products offered. However, the bad news is that several sunscreen manufacturers are behind misleading labeling. The consumer association UFC-Que Choisir reveals the results of a laboratory test carried out on 13 facial sun creams labeled SPF 50 or 50+.
“Some creams do not meet expected levels”
Nearly a third of its products do not provide the level of protection displayed. The experts tested the level of UVA and UVB protection of the creams in question, and examined the chemical composition with regard to the risks for the user, for the environment, as well as the claims displayed on the packaging.
“ While the 50 and 50+ indexes are supposed to provide the highest levels of protection against ultraviolet rays, our tests show that of the 13 creams tested, five do not meet the expected levels of sun protection », Indicates the association. Four of them only achieve protection corresponding to an index 30, of which Lancaster Sun sensitive luminous Tan non-greasy milky fluid index 50, or Vichy capital sun creamy protective cream 50 +. The two other brands concerned are Isdin And Rituals.
10 out of 13 products contain components harmful to aquatic organisms
Another black point is environmental protection. According to the test, 10 out of 13 products contain components harmful to aquatic organisms. Due to the legal void on this subject, some manufacturers have displayed falsely reassuring statements such as “formula tested in marine conditions” for Vichy or “Clean and ocean friendly” for Lancaster.
UFC-Que Choisir has issued notice to the offending manufacturers, asking them to make their products conform to the indices displayed, or to withdraw them. The association calls on the government to sanction the brands in question, to intensify controls and to take measures to put an end to these fraudulent practices. Furthermore, it calls on the Ministry of the Environment to regulate environmental claims for cosmetic products.
