UFC-Que Choisir has established a comparison of around twenty references and surprise: it is the sunscreens labeled “organic” which prove to be the least protective against the harmful rays of the sun.
This is the purchase of the summer par excellence: sunscreen. But how to choose well among the hundreds of references present in pharmacies and on the shelves of supermarkets, especially when it comes to the skin of a toddler? Should we favor organic brands, supposed to be more effective and therefore better for the skin?
Not necessarily, if we are to believe UFC-What to choose. In its June issue published on Friday, the consumer association tested around twenty sunscreens for babies and children. The result is rather surprising.
Organic creams, not effective enough against UVA rays
Starting with the bad marks collected by the four brands claiming a composition from organic farming. “There are organic products that are at the very bottom of our ranking”, explains to France Info Gaëlle Landry, cosmetics specialist at UFC Que Choisir. This is the case of the brands Alphanova, Bioregena, Eco Cosmetic and Acorelle, which “are not effective enough in terms of UVA protection”. In question: their compositions based on mineral filters, less effective in protecting against these rays responsible for pigment spots, skin aging and wrinkles, and which promote the appearance of skin cancer. “Unlike mineral filters, which only deflect light, chemical filters absorb the sun’s rays by replacing the skin,” adds Gaëlle Landry in an interview with the Figaro.
Organic labeled creams are not the only ones to be poorly rated by the consumer association. Some, such as Nivea, Daylong and Uriage creams contain nanoparticles (titanium dioxide or zinc oxide), endocrine disruptors, phenoxyethanol or even allergens.
Lidl cream at the top of the ranking
Other sun creams, on the other hand, stand out for their effectiveness. This is the case of the Cien “Sun children’s sun spray 50+” cream sold for 7 euros at Lidl, and which is also the cheapest. “The protection against UVB is much higher than the index announced. It also protects well against UVA and has good cosmetic qualities. We have nothing to complain about its composition”, details UFC-Que Choisir. This is followed by creams from the Vichy (Idéal soleil 50+ children’s gentle spray) and La Roche-Posay (50+ children’s Anthelios Dermo-Pediatrics) brands, both well rated but more expensive: respectively sold at 16 and 16.50 euros.
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