Spring has arrived and with it the first sunny days that invite you to be outdoors. Whether you are already naturally tanned or among those who burn at the first ray, there is one thing that cannot be missing from your routine: sunscreen for your face. Applying it all year round is the smartest move to protect your skin, but it is in these months that the habit of using it becomes essential.
And like every year, laboratory tests also arrive to help us orient ourselves among the dozens of products available. Altroconsumo has just published the results of its 2026 test on facial sunscreens with protection factor 50 and 50+, which analyzed 10 of the best-selling products in pharmacies, perfumeries and large-scale retail trade.
The good news is that almost all the creams tested really protect what they promise, a result that is far from obvious, considering that in the 2024 test, five products did not respect the protection factor declared on the label. A significant improvement that demonstrates how many manufacturers have revised their formulas after that debacle.
The ranking of sun creams for the face
The ranking rewards the Bilboa Ohi Vita-Mina Viso 50+ with a high score of 70/100 (the only one to obtain the “excellent” rating and best in the test), followed by the Nivea Sun Fluido Quotidiano Invisible 50+ with 69 points. Both also receive the “best buy” award for their affordable prices of around 13 euros for 40 ml packs. An interesting fact is that they cost less than many alternatives with lower scores.
Immediately behind, with 67 points, we find La Roche-Posay Anthelios, Bionike Defense Sun and Kiko Sun Protection Cream (also the best purchase), followed by Avène and Collistar which stand at 64 points.
The sore point concerns the Vichy Capital Soleil Velvety Face Cream 50+, which stops at 13 points, was therefore considered of “low” quality and is in fact the only product that failed in the entire test, a surprising result especially considering that it is a medium-high range brand with a price of around 20 euros.
About this sunscreen Altroconsumo writes:
The protection from UVB rays measured in the laboratory is equal to SPF 30. If a sunscreen does not comply with the declared protection factor it creates a false perception of safety for those who apply it which can be dangerous.
Below is the complete ranking:
Sunscreens work (if used well)
Sunscreens only work if used correctly, experts remind us Altroconsumo. Even the best sunscreen loses much of its effectiveness if applied in insufficient quantities. To obtain the protection indicated on the label you need to use about a teaspoon of product for the face only. In practice, however, many consumers use only a quarter of it, drastically reducing real protection.
It is also worth remembering that no cream filters 100% of UV rays: sunscreen should always be combined with other virtuous behaviours, such as avoiding the sun during the most intense hours (between 11am and 4pm), wearing a hat and glasses, and reapplying the product during exposure and after each bath.
Are sunscreen ingredients safe?
In general yes, he writes Altroconsumoand compared to the past the situation has improved. Of the ten creams tested, only Bottega Verde Sol Pelli Sensitivi 50+ contains an ingredient that is not recommended: ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, a sunscreen considered a potential endocrine disruptor, i.e. a substance that could interfere with the hormonal system. For this reason the product was penalized in the overall rating, despite being effective in protection.
And the environment?
“It is the weak point of these products“, he writes Altroconsumo. None of the creams tested exceed two stars on the environmental impact front. The main problem concerns the formulation, with ingredients that are toxic to the marine ecosystem.
To make matters worse, all tested products are sold with an outer cardboard box that Altroconsumo defines it as “completely useless”. Those who use recycled plastic or containers designed to minimize unusable residual product are rewarded.
Do we really need a specific face cream?
From a protection point of view, there is no substantial difference between a sunscreen for the face and one for the body: the UV filters used are the same. What changes above all is the texture, generally lighter and less greasy in facial formulas, designed to absorb quickly and limit the shiny effect. The compact 40-50 ml format makes them convenient to always carry with you.
The situation is different with moisturizing or anti-wrinkle creams with SPF: these products have hydration as their main function, and sun protection is only secondary. They are therefore not suitable as main protection during intense exposure to the sun – at the seaside, on the beach or in the mountains – where a real high protection sun cream is always preferable.
How the test was conducted
Altroconsumo evaluated each cream considering four main fronts, with different weights in the overall evaluation. The most important component, with a weight of 65%, is the protective efficacy against UVB (SPF) and UVA rays, measured according to the new ISO 23698:2024 standard – a more modern and ethical method that combines in vivo and in vitro detections without causing rashes on volunteers.
20% of the vote depends on the test of use, entrusted to a panel of 30 real consumers who evaluated the smell, spreadability, consistency and greasiness in conditions of anonymity.
The environmental impact – which includes the toxicity of the ingredients for aquatic organisms, the presence of microplastics and the sustainability of the packaging – accounts for 10%. The evaluation of the label accounts for the remaining 5%.
Finally, the presence of inadvisable ingredients (such as potential endocrine disruptors, octocrylene and allergenic fragrances) can penalize the overall rating, regardless of the other results.
