There has been some healthy controversy surrounding them due to a few studies finding paraben presence in breast tumours and breast tissue. However, the majority of the scientific community have deemed these findings non-conclusive due to the limitations of these studies.

Make sure the sunscreen is not past its expiry date . Most sunscreens have a shelf life of two to three years. Our first average we look at for EAD Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15 Medium Protection is to judge it against other products from the same brand, in this case it’s EAD. This tells us that there are a total of 3 EAD products at Fragrancedirect.

It’s vital to wear suncream all through the summer in the UK, not just when it’s sunny or on your holidays. Chances are you probably know all there is to know about Fragrancedirect, but if you don’t then here’s a little more detail about them.

Before buying a sun cream it's worth doing your research, for example, MoneySavingExpert asked the British Skin Foundation (BSF) charity and the Cosmetic Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA) trade body to find out if pricey sunscreens worked better than budget ones. Another concern of BP-3 is that it shows some estrogenic activity, though it's probably not relevant when applied topically to the skin. Estrogenic activity was confirmed only in-vitro (in test tubes) and when taken orally by lab animals, and not when used topically as you would normally. In fact, a 2004 follow-up study to examine the estrogenic effect of sunscreens when used topically on the whole body found that "the endogenous levels of reproductive hormones were unaffected" (even though BP-3 could be detected both in plasma and urine, so its absorption is no doubt too good).The EU Allergen Free label is for the 26 ingredients identified by the EU SCCS and products will be only flagged if a suspected ingredient is on it's ingredient list. It is possible for cosmetics to contain one of the suspect ingredients without it appearing on the ingredient list due to it not reaching the concentration threshold to disclose it and cosmetic manufacturers choice to not disclose it. 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 At SkinCarisma, we've done our best to identify as many ingredients as possible but note the fungal-free label may not be 100% accurate due to the complexconditions and combination of ingredients that malezzeria can thrive on. The Silicone-free label only includes the most common Silicone ingredients that have indentified been reported by individuals that could potentially cause issues.

Regarding the skin-brightening properties of pure vitaminC, this is another magic property AP does not have, or at least there is no data, not evenin-vitro,about it. Sunscreens that offer both UVA and UVB protection are sometimes called broad spectrum. How to apply sunscreen The SPG rating: The sun protection factor indicates the amount of protection offered against UVB, which is the main cause of sunburn. The higher the number, the better level of protection. 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. For the same reasons they are popularly used, they are also commonly avoided. Anecdotally, many individuals have reported that Silicones cause/excerbate breakouts, irritation, cause a feeling of skin being unable to breathe, cause clumping of cosmetic products and find it difficult to wash off. As a result, those who find them problematic are avoiding them and increasingly, cosmetic companies are avoiding them as well.If you've ever used a skincare, makeup or beauty product that's made your skin look and feel smoother tempoarily - it's likely contained Silicone. They are a popular class of ingredients found in cosmetics due to their smooth, soft, easy-to-spread and smooth properties that help creates an artificial layer/barrier on top of skin or hair (commonly found in conditioners).