The current winners of the Stiftung Warentest test

Stiftung Warentest regularly tests the effectiveness of sunscreen. In their latest published sunscreen test (July 2019), testers found many good sunscreen products with sun protection factor 30 and sun protection factor 50 and 50+. t-online.de presents the best sun creams currently available.

Very rewarding: Out of 19 sunscreens tested with sun protection factors (LFS) 30, 50, and 50+, 17 were rated with the overall rating of “very good” or “good”. Even in the summer 2018 test, the result was very gratifying. Two sunscreens failed entirely due to insufficient sun protection.

All the other products in the test, regardless of skin type or sun protection factor, have in common that they offer very good protection against UVA and UVB rays.

Update Monday April 27: Jean & Len’s waterproof spray with sun protection factor 50 is currently not available, so we redirect our links to the same product with SPF 30, which is also highly recommended and test-winning. The spray bottle costs 250 ml. 9.95 euros.

Sun creams in the test: these products are recommended

Good and very good products also worked well and not just expensive pharmacy and perfumery sun creams. The winner of the test with the overall rating “Very good” is the Sundance Sun Milk of DM with SPF 30, Aldi Ombra Sun ultra sensitive sunscreen (North and South) with SPF 30, Elkos Sun milk from Edeka with SPF 30, the Jean & Len Sun Spray with SPF 50, Rossmann’s Sunozon sun milk (SPF 50) and Müller’s Lavozon sun milk (SPF 50). We present you a test winner in more detail:

Jean & Len Waterproof Sun Spray

Jean & Len’s waterproof spray is one of the winners of the Stiftung Warentest test with the overall rating “very good” and is particularly positive due to its high sun protection factor of 50. The sunscreen is vegan and free of additives. Because it does not contain parabens, silicones, nanoparticles, and emulsifiers, it is also suitable for allergy sufferers. As a spray, sunscreen is easy to apply to the skin. Anyone who generally needs a high sun protection factor is well advised with this product.

Other current Stiftung Warentest recommendations

The following four products are also highly recommended. All received a Very Good in the partial judgment “Compliance with the protection granted”. Furthermore, there was no objection to microbiological quality in any of the tested sun protection products.

Good proof sunscreen creams of 2018

Some products that were tested by Stiftung Warentest in the summer of 2018 are still available on the market. Including the One Hundred Sun Sun Milk Classic (SPF 30) by Lidl and La Roche-Posay Anethelios XL wet skin gel. Since the recipe has not changed, the good test results remain.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Wet Skin Gel sunscreen received an overall “Good (1.6)” rating from Stiftung Warentest testers. The sunscreen convinces with UVA and UVB protection with a very good protective effect. Moisture buildup on the skin through the product and user application are also good.

conclusion

Currently tested and presented sun creams offer comprehensive protection. No matter which sunscreen you buy, with the right application and the right choice of sunscreen factor, you will be very well protected.

Why should you use sunscreen?

The golden rule for sun protection is “Abundant and Regular”. Protecting the skin from the sun should be the highest priority. Because sunburn is not only annoying and painful, it also permanently damages the skin. In the worst case, skin cancer can be the result of excessive exposure to the sun without protection. Without protection, the skin ages more and is more susceptible to solar allergies.

Thus: Sunscreen, sun oil, or sun milk should be applied to all unprotected parts of the body. This should be done before sunbathing and repeated at regular intervals.

How much sunscreen should I use?

Do not keep it with the protective product when using it, but always apply the cream generously. For an adult, dermatologists recommend about 40 to 45 milliliters per cream operation (three full tablespoons).

If you wear makeup, you must first apply sunscreen and soak it in. Then you can put on makeup as usual.

How often should you apply sunscreen and sun spray?

How often you should apply sunscreen depends on the situation. If you’re out in the sun for an entire day, you should apply your first cream about 20 minutes before going out in the sun. Pay special attention to the bridge of the nose and ears, where you will burn very quickly.

Protection should be renewed at least twice during the day, even with a high sun protection factor. After bathing, sunscreen should always be renewed, even if the sunscreen product is advertised as waterproof. The same applies to sports activities that make you sweat. Sweat reduces the effect of sunscreen.

The period of protection offered must not be exhausted. A new lotion does not extend the protection, it is better to leave the sun.

Sun spray is easier to spread than sun milk or sun cream, but should be applied in two coats. After the first application, wait until the agent has absorbed and then repeat the process.

What does the sun protection factor mean in sunscreen?

The sun protection factor (SPF) indicates the time during which the correct use of the sunscreen extends the time during which a person can be exposed to the sun without damaging the skin. There are protection classes defined by an EU directive: Base (SPF 6-10), Medium (SPF 15-25), High (SPF 30 and 50), and Very High (SPF 50+).

An example: If a person can stay in the sun for 20 minutes on a sunny early summer day before their skin turns red, sunscreen with sun protection factor 20 increases this time by 20 times. The maximum protection period would be 400 minutes, more than six hours.

However, these values ​​should be treated with caution as they are determined in ideal laboratory situations. Furthermore, the SPF information relates to the proportion of short wave UVB radiation from the sun. This is primarily responsible for sunburn. UVA radiation, on the other hand, is responsible for skin aging.

Important: Apply sunscreen over and over again throughout the day. Also note that solar radiation is stronger in southern Europe and in the tropics than in central and northern Europe. Here a sunscreen with a higher protection factor is recommended.

A low protection factor is best suited for people with darker skin tones or those who are already tanned.

Terms such as “sunscreen” should be used with caution because they give the impression of total protection. However, this is wrong. The situation is similar with self-tanners. As a rule, they do not offer any protection, as they only simulate skin tanning.