Sunscreen Test: These are the Best Sunscreens

Whether in spring, summer, autumn, or winter: You should protect your skin from UV radiation at any time of the year. However, there are significant differences between the various brands of Best Sunscreens. While some discount store brands achieve top results, expensive branded products of all things fail. Here we will show you which sunscreen is the best, what you should pay attention to, and which products are particularly suitable for children. Stiftung Warentest last tested several sun creams in 2019. The test for sunscreen for children dates back to 2020. We last checked the test results in April 2021.

You can read that in this post: In this article, we take a look at the ranking of the currently best sunscreens in the Stiftung Warentest test. After the presentation of the top products from dm, Eco Cosmetics, Aldi, and Lidl, we take a look behind the scenes of the test and show you how the test results come about and what you should definitely pay attention to when buying sunscreen.

The Best Sunscreens from Stiftung Warentest

SUN CREAM TEST: THESE ARE THE Best Sunscreens (STIFTUNG WARENTEST, JULY 2019)

When choosing the right sun cream, many customers turn to branded products from Nivea, Douglas, or Garnier. Stiftung Warentest confirms in the test: Branded sunscreen is not better than cheap sunscreen from the discounter – it is almost always worse. In 2019, Stiftung Warentest tested products with various sun protection factors and confirmed previous results. Sunscreens (SPF 30) from dm and Aldi secure first place:

• Test winner: dm Sundance sun milk SPF 30

First place in the Stiftung Warentest ranking is secured by dm’s Sundance sun milk. In almost all partial evaluations, sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 was rated “very good”. Stiftung Warentest only gives the rating “good” in the category of lettering and packaging. The sun cream does not contain any critical fragrances and keeps the UV protection as promised.

• Price tip: Ombra Sun Ultra Sensitiv SPF 30

Second place and also the price tip is the Ombra Sun Ultra Sensitiv from Aldi. Ingredients, as well as application and UV protection, do well in the test.

• Strong alternative: Edeka Elkos Sun SPF 30

The sun milk from Edeka also scores “very good”. There are no questionable ingredients in the cream and the designated sun protection is actually offered.

In 2019, the sun creams from Rituals and Speick failed Stiftung Warentest. Here, too, the lack of UVB protection was the reason for the poor result.

The Best Sunscreens for children at Stiftung Warentest

Best Sunscreens Test: THESE ARE THE Best Sunscreens FOR CHILDREN (STIFTUNG WARENTEST, JULY 2020)

• Test winner: Lidl Cien Sun Kids Sun Cream SPF 50+

In the ranking of the best children’s sun cream from Stiftung Warentest, the Lidl Cien Sun Kids sun cream scores “very good” (1.4). The strong alternative from Müller can also secure the same rating. The test winners only differ in terms of price. The children’s sun cream from Lidl is around 20 cents cheaper. The Sun Kids sun cream keeps the promised sun protection with sun protection factor 50+ and also comes without perfume.

• Strong alternative: Müller Lavozon Kids Med Sun Milk SPF 50+

The second test winner for children’s sun creams is from Müller’s own brand Lavozon. In the sub-category “compliance with the declared protection”, the Kids Med sun milk, like the Lidl cream, was rated “very good” (1.0). When used correctly, sun milk with a sun protection factor of 50+ ensures reliable protection without any questionable ingredients.

• Sun cream for spraying: Aldi Ombra sun spray Easy Protect Kids SPF 30

With a test score of 1.5, the sun spray from Aldi is just behind the test winners. Here, too, there is little to criticize for the laboratory and testers. Only the use of fragrances can be noted here. With the declared protection, the Aldi spray can also score points and is rated “very good” (1.0).

How much do I have to spend on good sunscreen?

You can get a very good sunscreen for as little as two euros. Expensive branded products are not automatically better than cheap discount goods. The price of sun milk does not say anything about the quality. Incidentally, Öko-Test had hardly anything to complain about in the 2018 test. According to the manufacturer, however, only remnants are sold because production has ceased.

The price range for sunscreens is relatively large. From top products for just two euros to high-end sunscreen from Chanel for over 50 euros, all price ranges are represented. Fun fact: The currently most expensive sunscreen on the market comes from the Sisley brand and costs over 200 euros.

Sunscreen in the test: how were the products rated?

Sun creams put to the test: This is how Stiftung Warentest tests

For this article, a specialist editor analyzed and classified the test results from Stiftung Warentest. We reproduce the ratings of the consumer organization exactly but place them in a user-oriented context for the reader. In addition to the test winner, we also name a price tip and also identify products for special applications. In addition, we prepare the results of the Stiftung Warentest with detailed purchase advice. The products have not been tested in the CHIP test center.

The most important test criterion is “compliance with the protection offered”. For this purpose, Stiftung Warentest exposed volunteer test persons in the laboratory to a defined dose of UVB light and applied the sun creams uniformly. The aim of the examination is to determine whether the skin really complies with the specified sun protection factor or whether the skin turns red beforehand. In order to determine the protection against UVA radiation, standardized tests were also carried out in the laboratory, this time on plastic plates, and measured how much UVA radiation got through. The Stiftung Warentest rates this at 35 percent.

In addition to the protection factor, the moisture enrichment was also checked to find out whether the cream supplies the skin with moisture or perhaps even dries it out. This makes up 20 percent of the overall rating.

The use of creams is also important; it is included in the overall rating of 25 percent. They not only tested how easy or difficult it is to get the sunscreen out of a tube, bottle, or can with dry or wet hands at temperatures of 20 or 40 degrees Celsius. Another experiment is the skin feel and the actual application: What is the consistency? Is sunscreen easy to spread? Is it quickly absorbed into the skin or does it leave white streaks on the skin or is it even sticky?

There are deductions, for example, if questionable ingredients are detected or the bacterial load in the product does not fit. But packaging, labeling, and product information were also included in the evaluation with 20 percent.

What is sunscreen and how does it work?

Sun creams protect the skin from harmful sun rays. There are so-called UV filters in the creams. These can be chemical or mineral. In the former, there are organic molecules in the product. These absorb the sun’s rays and give them off again in the form of heat. In the case of mineral filters, on the other hand, white pigments such as zinc oxide reflect the sun’s rays and practically bounce them off the skin. Because this form of protection is mostly also responsible for the “whitening” of the sun cream, both UV filters are often used in sun cream.

What types of sunscreens are there?

Although sunscreen comes in many different forms, the types of protection are limited to the two filters explained in the previous chapter. A rough distinction is therefore made between sun creams based on their dosage form:

• suncream
• Suntan lotion
• Sun spray

In addition, the sun creams differ in terms of their sun protection factor (SPF). This indicates how well the product protects: the higher the sun protection factor, the less radiation reaches the skin. At SPF 15, around seven percent of the sun’s rays reach the skin. At SPF 30, the value is halved. The maximum specified sun protection factor in Germany is 50+. This is because you cannot guarantee one hundred percent protection. Even with an SPF of 60, a little less than two percent of the radiation reaches the skin.

What should I look out for when buying sunscreen?

Which sunscreen is best for you depends on what type of skin you are, how long you bathe in the sun, and which dosage form is the most practical for you.

• If you have dry and sensitive skin or are prone to allergies, moisturizing, sensitive sun creams without artificial fragrances are best.
• Sun sprays can come in handy on a beach vacation. The sunscreen can also be easily sprayed onto the skin with wet, salty, or sandy hands. For optimal protection, however, you should pay attention to the instructions for use. Here you often have to spray two or three times in order to achieve the full scope of protection.
• Babies and children are generally advised to use the highest sun protection factor 50+ and, as with allergy sufferers, use perfume-free sun creams.

How do I use sunscreen correctly?

In order to ensure that the sunscreen really protects your skin, the application is an important factor. Wrong application of the cream, too little cream and the like can ensure that the specified sun protection factor is not achieved and that you are accordingly inadequately protected. You should therefore pay attention to the following points during application:

• Make sure that you really apply lotion to all parts of your body. Ears, parting, or lips are often neglected. The latter, in particular, are particularly prone to sunburn, as they are part of the so-called “sun terraces”. The sun hits these parts of the body almost vertically. In addition, the skin of the lips is particularly thin and has neither sweat nor sebum glands, which is why they dry out extremely quickly. Lips are also unable to produce the skin’s own melanin and therefore do not turn brown.
• You shouldn’t skimp on sunscreen. For the whole body, you need about a lot the size of a golf ball. You should also make sure that you apply the cream in a thin film instead of rubbing it into the skin. Otherwise, the protective function will decrease and the desired sun protection factor cannot be maintained.
• Even if you are wearing clothes, you should wear sunscreen underneath. So you are also protected if the clothes slip.
• You should always make sure that the sunscreen is waterproof. Otherwise, sun protection would decrease considerably when you sweat.
• Even with waterproof sunscreen, protection after bathing and drying off cannot be guaranteed. You should therefore reapply for sunscreen after bathing.
• Applying lotion once a day is not enough. Even if you do not go into the water, you should reapply every two hours.
• Sun creams with chemical UV filters take around half an hour to achieve full protection. Therefore, you should already apply lotion before you go out in the sun.

The Best Sunscreens For Children at Stiftung Warentest

Test winner: Lidl Cien Sun Kids sun cream

With reliable protection and without questionable ingredients: Lidl Cien Sun Kids is one of the test winners for children’s sun creams.

Strong alternative: Müller Lavozon Kids Med sun milk

The Müller Kids Med sun milk also scores “very good”. It provides reliable protection from the sun’s rays and does not contain any fragrances.

Spray sun cream: Aldi Ombra Easy Protect Kids sun spray

Aldi can also place itself among the best sun creams for children with its in-house sun spray. The difference: Here, the sunscreen is sprayed directly onto the skin from the can.

The most important questions about sun creams at a glance

What is the best sunscreen?

The best sun creams are available from dm. According to the test results of the Stiftung Warentest (7/2019), the Sundance sun milk (SPF 30) from dm is the best sun cream.

How much does a good sunscreen cost?

You can get good sun creams for as little as 2 euros. The test winners of the Stiftung Warentest (7/2019) cost between 2 and 4 euros.

What is the best sunscreen for kids?

According to the latest results of the Stiftung Warentest (7/2020), the best sun cream for children is the Cien Sun Kids sun cream (SPF 50+) from Lidl. The Lavozon Kids Med sun milk (SPF 50+) from Müller and the Ombra sun spray Easy Protect Kids (SPF 30) from Aldi can also take the top spot.

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