The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.
How we test spf
Whether the product passed or failed our SPF test. Sun creams that receive five stars passed the British Standard and have a SPF of 30 or greater. Products that receive one star failed our SPF test - we recommend you avoid these products as they may not provide the protection that you expect.
How we test uva protection
Whether the sun cream passed or failed our UVA protection test which checks whether the product meets the EU recommendation. Products with five stars passed our test, so meet the EU recommendation. Products with one star failed our test, so we recommend you avoid them.
How we test application
We asked a user panel to test how each sunscreen looks, feels and smells once applied. The star rating is an average rating from all panellists. Products that earned five stars in our application test are eligible to be Best Buys as long as they met their label claim in the SPF test and the EU recommendation for UVA protection.