5 out of 13 products had deficiencies in UVA or UVB protection
Vienna (OTS/VKI) – Until a few years ago, sunscreens that were specifically designed for the face were a niche product for people with sensitive facial skin. This range of products has now found its way from pharmacies to supermarkets, perfumeries and drugstores. But how useful are such products and do they deliver what they promise? The Association for Consumer Information (VKI), together with European consumer organizations, tested 13 sun creams for the face with sun protection factor (SPF) 50 or 50+. More than half of the products received a “good” rating; However, 5 creams did not meet the advertised UV protection – including one of the two products tested by Nivea. Overall, 7 “good”, 1 “average”, 1 “less satisfactory” and 4 “unsatisfactory” were awarded. The results in detail are available online www.konsument.at/sonnenschutz-gesicht.
The sunscreens from Lancaster, Nivea (UV face sensitive sun protection SPF 50), Piz Buin and Rituals failed the test. They were rated “unsatisfactory” because they could not meet the claimed UVB protection. UVB radiation is directly responsible for sunburn and also plays a role in the development of skin cancer. In the case of Isdin sunscreen, it was the UVA protection that failed the product, which led to a “less satisfactory” rating. UVA radiation is one of the main causes of wrinkles and is also a significant factor in the development of all types of skin cancer.
Piz Buin’s product (Hydro Infusion Sun Gel Cream Face 50SPF) stood out for another reason. It was the only one in the test to contain the questionable substances homosalate and octocrylene. “These chemicals have been criticized because they are among the so-called potentially endocrine disruptors,” explains VKI expert Birgit Schiller. “This is the name given to substances that interfere with the hormonal balance.” When asked, the Piz Buin company said that the product has no longer been manufactured since 2022. Nevertheless, the sunscreen may still be on the shelves at the moment.
Facial sunscreens have a different composition than traditional sunscreens. The practical test also showed that the products tested were pleasant to use on sensitive facial skin. No product performed worse than “good” on this parameter. However, you have to dig deep into your pockets when it comes to sunscreen creams for your face. These cost significantly more than conventional means. The cheapest of the products rated “good” cost 17.20 euros per 50 milliliters.
SERVICE: The detailed test results are available at www.verbrauchent.at/sonnenschutz-sicht.
Questions & Contact:
Consumer Information Association
Press office
+43 664 231 44 81
presse@vki.at
www.vki.at
#VKI #test #Sunscreen #face #protection #inadequate