Which sunscreens can you rely on?

The most important points in brief

• That too much sun damages our skin is by no means news.
• Sun protection is available in many different versions. But you also have to use it when the summer sky is a bit overcast.
• The question is, however, whether sunscreen, sun oil and after sun can keep their promises.
• Which sun protection can you really rely on?

Only in the case of pronounced summer grouches, the pulse does not rise when the scent of sun protection agents rises in their nose. Everyone else associates the aroma of sun creams with the lightness of the few warm months of the year, with a vacation in the south or a relaxed summer afternoon by the lake or in the outdoor pool. Applying sunscreen, as we all know, is a must. But which sunscreens can we really rely on?

Sun protection is essential - but is it also good?

In German-speaking countries, the famous “Stiftung Warentest” is interested in the quality of all possible products, in Switzerland there are the partner organizations “Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz” and the “Fédération romande des consommateurs”. Sun cream, sun oil and after sun are also regularly checked. Reliability is extremely important with such products, after all, our health depends directly on them.

Reason enough to take a closer look at the studies carried out by these institutions and to ask which sun creams and lotions you can really rely on.

The water resistance of sun protection products leaves a lot to be desired

The agents were tested in various categories, including water resistance. After all, you don't want to re-apply or spray your skin after every swim in the sea or in the swimming pool. It would be helpful if the sunscreen were not washed away by the water after it was applied - and a certain waiting time until the funds were absorbed into the skin.

In this category, the sun protection does less well. Water and sunscreen do not go very well, which is why it is recommended to reapply yourself after each step in the cool water.

The amount matters when it comes to sun protection

One often reads on the bottles and tubes that even a small amount of sun protection with a high sun protection factor (SPF) is sufficient. This may apply to individual products, but overall you are well advised not to be stingy when applying or spraying. Because the mass is what counts. Stiftung Warentest has calculated that a person who is 1.80 m tall needs about three tablespoons of sunscreen so that the SPF, which is stated on the tube, is also met.

That corresponds to an amount of about 40 milliliters. If you are planning a two-week beach vacation, you should calculate with a consumption of at least three tubes of 200 milliliters.

What does that say about the reliability of sunscreens?

The good news, however, is that sunscreens almost always do the job. The investigations have almost consistently achieved positive results. The radiation protection corresponds to the tube print on all products, protection against UV-A and UV-B rays is guaranteed. So the answer to the initial question is that you can rely on sunscreens - if you use them correctly.

Incidentally, this also includes knowledge of the correct SPF. Better too high than too low, that is the rule of thumb here, especially for children and people with lighter skin. However, this does not apply to the price: the cheap sun creams protect just as well as the expensive ones, as the study found.