Nov 5, 2026 - Cosmetics

Cheap sunscreen from the internet? CVUA Karlsruhe warns of serious defects

A high sun protection factor at a bargain price sounds tempting. But with sunscreen products from international online marketplaces caution is advised. The CVUA Karlsruhe (Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office) examined in July 2026, by random sampling, five sunscreen products from international e-commerce platforms offering third-party sellers. The products were advertised with very high sun protection factors (SPF) between 60 and 100. The result was clear: all five products were judged not safe.

None of the five tested products contained detectable organic UV filters. Three products did declare titanium dioxide as a mineral UV filter, but according to CVUA Karlsruhe contained at most 2%. For comparison, the authority cites typical use concentrations of up to 25% for sunscreen products. The advertised high sun protection was therefore not present in the products tested.

The findings are particularly relevant from a health perspective: UV radiation can cause sunburn and premature skin aging and increases the risk of skin cancer. Anyone who relies on an advertised SPF of 60 to 100, even though the product does not provide corresponding UV protection, can therefore be lulled into a false sense of security.

Conclusion: Although the sample is small with five products, the result is remarkable: 5 out of 5 products failed. Extra caution is therefore warranted when buying especially cheap sunscreens on international online marketplaces. Consumer magazines such as Ökotest and Stiftung Warentest reached the same conclusion this year.

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