According to a new study out of University of Nantes in France, non-sunscreen products that advertise protection from SPF 4 to SPF 30, often fail to deliver that protection.
Over the course of the study 75% of these non-sunscreen cosmetics with SPF were unable to pass what is called a photostability test. This means that two hours after they were applied, the products were less than 90% effective.
“Skin care products are applied once, in the morning, so any product displaying an SPF must be particularly photostable, as its labelling does not indicate reapplication,” the researchers said in a report published in the journal Archives of Dermatological Research. “In contrast, the packaging on sunscreen products clearly indicates the need to reapply frequently.”
The study also showed that one-fifth of these products offered no protection at all against UVA rays.
“A consumer may buy a product claiming a certain SPF and assume protection for the duration that they use it. In fact, 20 per cent of all products we tested did not protect against all forms of ultraviolet radiation,” the researchers reported. “People need to be educated about the poor protection of daily cosmetics with SPF.”