Calypso Once a Day Sun Protection Lotion with SPF 50

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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." Mineral sunscreens in particular often promote their environmental credentials, the most common being that they’re ‘reef-safe’ or 'ocean-friendly'. 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."

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? 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 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 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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

Water resistance: For a sun cream to be water resistant, it must have undergone testing to show that it stays effective for at least 40 minutes in the water. After this time, you will need to reapply. It's always best to choose sun creams that have an SPF of 30 or above, and a UV star rating of at least four stars, as these will protect you best. In addition, some sun creams contain chemicals that some people may find irritating or cause a reaction on their skin.

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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. 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 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. It's common for sun creams to claim to be 'water resistant', but this doesn't mean that they're waterproof. Cover up – wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and grab a hat if you need to keep your face out of the sun. You might also want to wear a T-shirt, which can help to cover up typically over-exposed areas such as shoulders.

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."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. 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. Sun cream provides protection from sunlight using UV filters. These are classified into two types: chemical and physical – also known as mineral sun cream.