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Each week our experts Dr AAMER KHAN and LESLEY REYNOLDS bring you the latest beauty news and anti-ageing advice

CONFUSED about suncare? You’re not alone. Even skin experts admit they sometimes find the claims made about SPFs baffling or misleading. Just last week a study by consumer magazine Which? reported that water-resistant sunscreen could lose up to 59 per cent of its protection after 40 minutes of exposure to seawater.

There have also been reports that chemical sunscreens may be dangerous if the ingredients penetrate the skin. While most experts agree there isn’t enough evidence to support this, the worry is that stories like these will put people off using sun protection.

In our opinion, the main danger with suncream is not wearing it or failing to apply it frequently enough. Each year more than 15,000 new cases of melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed in the UK and the leading cause is the ultraviolet radiation from UVA and UVB rays. Unfortunately however, there is still much confusion when it comes to choosing the right sunscreen, especially as the choice of products has never been wider.

So ensure you stay safe in the sun this summer with our ultimate guide to SPFs.

SUNSCREEN: THE FACTS 1 REAPPLY EVERY TWO HOURS 2 CHECK THE LABEL

A broad-spectrum suncream offers protection against UVA and UVB rays. The SPF factor on the bottle only relates to UVB rays, the burning rays that cause skin cancer. UVA rays penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, leading to premature ageing. The UVA rating is shown on the bottle in stars so don’t forget to check you are covered. We recommend using suncream with a minimum SPF30 and a four-star UVA rating.

Best for: BODY Filorga UV-Bronze Body Nutri-Regenerating Anti-Ageing Sun Spray SPF50+, £29 (feelunique.com) This dry oil offers maximum protection with anti-ageing benefits. Contains hyaluronic acid and coconut oil to boost skin elasticity while toning and firming.

SPF numbers are based on how much protection a product gives against the sun for two hours.

For instance, if you put on an SPF50 at 10am, you’ll need to top it up again by midday. The same goes for water-resistant formulas. Heat, light, sweat and towelling yourself dry can all also reduce the effectiveness of sunscreen.

No suncream can block out 100 per cent of UV rays so no matter how high the SPF it must be reapplied every two hours without fail. This is also the case with water-resistant products.

3 DON’T FORGET DANGER SPOTS

These are the areas almost everyone misses when applying sunscreen: the top of the ears, the brows and the nose. Also don’t forget the back of the neck, any thinning areas on the scalp and the hairline, the décolletage, the backs of the legs and tops of feet. Apply a