Consumer product testing is in Euroconsumers’ DNA. Our test results provide alerts for unsafe products and are the science behind our trusted comparison sites which empower consumers to make the best choice for them.
In fast moving digital markets where consumer purchases get quicker and choices multiply, rigorous product testing is critical – especially when it comes to products which protect our health.
That is why the results of our members’ 2026 sunscreen tests are so alarming. Of the 15 lesser known brands on sunscreen selected for testing, only one achieved an acceptable result.
Public health advice is to use high factor sunscreen to protect against sun damage and sun burn, both of which increase the risk of skin cancer.
When products that fail to deliver that protection are so readily available online, consumers are left exposed to the long term risks of the sun for their skin.
Euroconsumers’ members selected sunscreens from unknown brands to check whether they offered the advertised protection for people, and were safe to use. These brands were available on different online platforms, going from AliExpress and Temu to Europe-based bol.com.
Of the fifteen, five did not arrive in time to be tested. The ingredients list from the ten sunscreens that were received, revealed that three products included a banned substance.
The UV filter 4-MBC has been banned from cosmetic product sale since 2026 because it is an endocrine disruptor which affects the thyroid and estrogen systems.
Of the seven sunscreens that were eventually tested in the lab using a methodology approved by ISO standard 23698:2024, only one achieved an acceptable result – providing sufficient sun protection while protecting skin against UVA rays.
However, Portuguese member DECO PROteste advises against its use as it contains a potentially allergenic ingredient called ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) which is suspected of being an endocrine disruptor. Although its use is permitted by law, there is a lack of evidence that it is totally safe and so it’s best to avoid it.
The other six failed, in fact, four of those six turned out to offer no protection at all. Their protection factor was measured at 1.2 or 1.6, instead of the indicated 50 or more.
This is downright dangerous. We have written to the health authorities and the platforms involved, and some of the sunscreens have already been taken offline. But some are still for sale and no doubt there are others that don’t meet the advertised SPF level that are still available.
Laura Clays, Testaankoop / Testachats
Euroconsumers testing gives us the evidence to alert consumers, companies, platforms and authorities when problems are found.
That same evidence base, gleaned from regular testing of other sunscreen brands on the market also powers our specialized comparison tools, sharing those that are doing well.
These tests check how effective the protection really is, how environmentally friendly the packaging is, and how suitable they are for different types of skin. This information is then tracked against the price per liter, to help consumers find the best sunscreens for their budget and their families’ skin:
These latest tests on little known sunscreen brands reveal the power of testing and information.
Independent testing can cut through the noise of today’s digital markets and give people clear, evidence-based information on whether different products meet safety standards, and how they stack up against the rest.
If sunscreens containing banned substances, and offering no more protection than a basic moisturiser make it to market, the case for rigorous product testing writes itself.
Without robust, independent product testing consumers will be exposed to harm – and in this case, literally exposed to harmful UV rays that can cause long term skin damage and even cancer.
Els Bruggeman, Group Head of Policy, Enforcement and Communication
Euroconsumers’ members will keep on testing, keep on getting harmful products removed from sale, but in the meantime, people shopping for sun protection are advised to be careful with unknown brands sold online and check Euroconsumers’ product selectors for the best quality and price of sunscreens that have been independently tested.
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