Sun protection for the face: These products failed the test

Summer is just around the corner and of course a good sunscreen is a must. There is now a wide range of sunscreens that are specifically intended for use on the face. The test magazine “Konsument” tested 13 different of these products. Seven products performed “good”, four were unsatisfactory. There is room for improvement in most of the test products when it comes to environmental properties. The seven good products are compared to five products that did not provide the specified UV protection.

Sun protection factor not met

With the means of Piz Buin, Rituals, Lancaster as well as the UV face sensitive sun protection from Nivea the specified UVB protection was not met. In the product of Isdin UVA protection was affected.

The product of Piz Buin (Hydro Infusion Sun Gel Cream Face 50 SPF) was noticeable for another reason. It was the only one that contained the particularly questionable UV filters homosalate and octocrylene. These interfere with the hormonal balance.

You can read all test results here:

All creams are quickly absorbed and are not greasy or sticky

Sunscreens for the face are advertised, among other things, as being particularly quick to absorb and not greasy or sticky, or leaving any residue on the skin. When tested by a total of 30 testers, it was confirmed that the products have certain advantages in terms of application compared to conventional sunscreens for the whole body.

Facial sunscreen is more expensive than regular sunscreen

If you decide to use a sunscreen cream for your face, you will have to dig deep into your pockets. The special products cost significantly more than products intended for the whole body. The cheapest, good product in the test cost 17.20 euros per 50 milliliters. However, sunscreens for the face are no exception. Manufacturers are also investing heavily in other cosmetics that are intended for specific applications, such as eye serums, anti-wrinkle or anti-aging products. It is reasonable to assume that such innovations are primarily driven by marketing considerations.

• Read also: Off to the sun: The 8 most important facts about sun protection (OÖNplus)

The products were also evaluated with regard to their environmental properties. The experts examined the environmental impact of the substances contained and the packaging effort. They tested how completely the funds could be removed from the containers without having to be cut open. For most products, there is a considerable amount of catching up to do when it comes to environmental protection. The best grade that was given was an average rating for the products of Bioderma and Avene. The reason for the modest result was that the UV filters used do not exactly protect the environment.