Sunscreen Test 2025: Who Impresses, Who Disappoints?

"There haven't been so many very good sunscreens in a long time" in the test, report the experts. Seven out of 19 tested products received the rating "very good," including three very affordable ones. Seven products performed well, two average. Among the three "failures" were two of the most expensive products.

Examined were 19 sunscreen products with sun protection factor (SPF) 30, 50, and 50+, including creams, lotions, and sprays in white or transparent. Prices range from two to 19.77 euros for 100 milliliters. The top spots were taken by the sunscreen products Cien Sun (SPF 30), Lavozon (SPF 30), and Sundance (SPF 50), followed by Nivea Sun Protection & Care Invisible Finish (SPF 50+), Eau Thermale Avène Sunscreen Dry Touch (SPF 50), Eucerin Oil Control Dry Touch Body Sun Spray Transparent (SPF 50), and La Roche Posay Anthelios Transparent Spray (SPF 50+).

Seven Sunscreens Protect Very Well

Seven products protect very well and also impressed in other test parameters, such as dispensing, packaging, and labeling. Three of the test winners are also very affordable, while the other four very good products are priced in the mid-range.

One should not blindly trust any brand, say the consumer protection experts. A good - positive - example is the Cien Sun sunscreen from Lidl, which is among the best in the test this year. Last year, however, a Lidl product had failed. The reason for such quality fluctuations is changes in the formulation made by the manufacturers.

Problematic Ingredients

A banned substance, benzophenone, was found in a body spray "in increased concentration," reported the VKI. The chemical is also present in small amounts in three other products. "Benzophenone is potentially carcinogenic and can form during the breakdown of the UV filter octocrylene," it was stated. This is contained in the four affected products. "We therefore advise disposing of products with octocrylene after the season. The benzophenone content can increase during storage."

Nine products contain the UV filter DHHB. During production, the plasticizer di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHexP) can form as a byproduct. "In the body, it can convert to mono-n-hexyl phthalate (MnHexP). MnHexP is considered harmful to reproduction and health. Authorities discovered MnHexP in urine samples from children and adults in 2024 and traced it back to sunscreens," the experts explained. In the test, DnHexP was only found in one lotion, but the amounts do not pose an immediate risk.

A sun lotion - the only one in the test - from the natural cosmetics category "offers very good UV protection, but unfortunately, the product comes in a deceptive package," the testers noted: The bottle is only about three-quarters full. Therefore, it only received an average rating: "We acknowledge that products with mineral filters in the bottle need a bit more space for shaking, but not as excessively as in this case."

Protection Against Skin Cancer

The number of skin cancer cases is rising, and a good sunscreen with sufficient SPF offers protection, it was emphasized and recommended: "Apply enough cream, three to four heaping tablespoons are necessary for the whole body. Reapply about every two hours and always after swimming."

(APA/Red)

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