The Austrian Association for Consumer Information (VKI) has published a comprehensive test of twelve special facial sunscreens with sun protection factors of 50 and 50+ just in time for the summer season 2026.
The study paints an overall positive picture regarding the protective effect: All tested products met the promised UVA and UVB protection levels and thus, when used correctly, offer reliable protection against sunburn and premature skin aging. Nine of the products received a "good" rating, while three were classified as "average." A key finding of the analysis is that neither a high price, nor a well-known brand, nor influencer endorsements guarantee superior quality.
Inexpensive private-label brands from retailers performed particularly well. One supermarket product impressed with a score of 64 out of 100 points at a price of just €4,96 per 50 ml. The "Sun Kiss Sensitive Sun Fluid Face & Décolleté" from Spar emerged as the price-performance winner in the "good & affordable" category, delivering high quality for €4,69 per 50 ml. In stark contrast, the most expensive product in the test, the "Lancaster Sun Beauty Mineral Face Cream SPF50," disappointed. Despite a price of €42,00 per 50 ml, it achieved only an average result in the subjective application test conducted by 30 test subjects, based on criteria such as texture, scent, and spreadability on the skin.
The experts at the Austrian Consumer Association (VKI) also point out that purchasing special facial sunscreens is not strictly necessary from a purely medical perspective. While these creams often advertise less greasy formulas or additional ingredients, conventional body sunscreens offer the same level of protection. A crucial factor for effectiveness remains the amount applied; for the face, a teaspoonful is recommended. Regarding the technical handling, differences were observed in the emptying of the containers. While some packages leave significant amounts in the jar or bottle, the Eucerin system demonstrated that, due to its design, even very small residual amounts are possible.
For the current evaluation, long-term tests from 2024 and 2025 were supplemented with new product launches, provided the formulations of the older products remained unchanged. The complete results will be published in the consumer magazine Konsument at the end of April 2026. The test report also criticized the widespread use of excessive packaging in the cosmetics sector, which offers no functional benefit to the contents. However, consumers can rest assured that basic protection is guaranteed for all common products available in Austrian stores, regardless of whether they are mineral creams or classic fluids.