The end of reapplying sunscreen could be on the horizon after scientists found a molecule which can ‘dance’ away the harmful sunlight.

Plants stay safe from the Sun because they hold a molecule which absorbs ultraviolet light and uses the energy to shake at a speed of 100 billion twists per second, which expends the radiation before it can cause harm.

Scientists at the University of Warwick searched for a structure with similar properties and discovered that diethyl sinapate closely mimics the process when exposed to sunlight.

When they added it to moisturiser and tested it on synthetic skin exposed to UV light they found it performed the same dance, which researchers likened to the flicking of a flamenco dancer’s wrist.

They also found that it degraded only three per cent over two hours, compared to sun cream which depletes by 30 per cent, meaning it could last 10 times as long as traditional suntan lotion.

It is also far more environmentally friendly. Many sun creams today contain ingredients which are toxic to wildlife and humans, and can cause the bleaching of corals.