UV Risk Score

The score runs 0–10 and adds two halves. SPF is worth up to 5 points: SPF 50+ scores the full 5, SPF 30–49 scores 4, SPF 15–29 scores 2, and anything lower scores 1. UVA evidence is worth up to 5: PA++++ takes 5, the EU UVA seal and AS/NZS broad-spectrum certification take 4.5, PA+++ takes 4, PA++ 2.5 and PA+ 1.5. If nothing is printed but the ingredient list contains modern UVA filters — Tinosorb, Mexoryl, Uvinul A Plus and the like — the product gets 3.5, because the filters are real evidence even when the grading isn't.

Nine and above reads as comprehensive cover, seven and above as solid, 4.5 and above as partial, and anything under that as weak.

Ranked by UV Risk Score. Each name links to its full rating — protection is only one of the things we score.

Products sold as "tan intensifying", "tan & protect" or tanning oils lose two points and can never score above 5.5, whatever their SPF. They contain no self-tanning dye, so the colour they promise is a real, UV-driven tan — your skin darkening because it has been damaged. Ingredients such as tyrosine are marketed as accelerating that, without good evidence they do anything applied to skin. What reliably happens is that people stay out longer, which is exactly the behaviour the SPF number was never tested for.

Plenty of packs — especially US ones — print no UVA grade at all. When there's no PA rating, no certification seal and no modern UVA filter in the list, we don't invent a number: the score reads "UVA unclear" instead of scoring zero, because missing evidence is not the same as missing protection.

More on the grading systems in what PA+++ actually means and on dose and reapplication in the SPF guide.