cheap holidays to Menorca

5:15pm Friday 25th June 2010 in Holiday information

The Winners and Sinners of Sun Protection

With holiday season upon us there is a buzz of anticipation and excitement in the air, people doing their last minute shopping for all those holiday essentials. At the same time there is very often an ambiance of anxiety alongside the anticipation, trying to keep track of the pennies and not overspending as even last minute cheap holidays to Menorca can soon become expensive before you even enter the departure lounge. In this day and age knowing what we know about how damaging the sun can be it is amazing to think that some people save those extra pennies by avoiding purchasing sun creams.

Most sun products give protection against the suns harmful UVB rays, linked to numerous kinds of skin cancer. Whereas some even claim protection against the more aggressive UVA rays, linked to ageing and more aggressive cancers, but the question is, to what extent are we really protected?.

Firstly, it is a myth that wearing sun cream stops you developing a golden tan, in fact it reduces the suns danger and can stop you burning to a crisp if it is applied as directed. As mentioned above, lots of people actually avoid sun creams because of their expense but a little bit of research could literally save their lives. You can go to a pharmacy or supermarket and pay approximately &pound8.00 for a bottle of leading brand sun cream but just because it is more costly it doesn't mean that it is any better than cheaper versions.

Researchers for Which? conducted their own tests and revealed results that show the Asda range, at less than &pound3.00 per bottle, gives better protection than many of the much higher priced brands.

Out of the 14 brands that were tested in the factor 15 range by Which?, only five met their strict standards. Investigators allege that people could be wearing protective creams that do not protect at they level they should. The Asda range claimed to offer a factor 15 protection but independent testing revealed that the protective rating was actually factor 24, much more than it maintains putting some of the better known brands to shame.

The likes of Tesco, Wilkinsons and other rival companies say that they have conducted their own independent tests and insist that their products live up to the required standards of protection.

So this year when you're sorting out your last minute holiday things ensure that you shop around to get the very best sun cream that you can find, so you can enjoy your cheap holidays to Menorca or your magical Maldives holiday safe in the knowledge that you are fully protected against the sun's damaging impacts.