As summer vacation begins, many French people will be enjoying the sun. We all know that sunscreen is essential. However, the consumer association UFC Que Choisir issued a warning on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, about products sold on Chinese online platforms.
Summer vacation has arrived, and with it, the desire to head off to sunny destinations or the mountains. Protecting your skin is therefore essential . Saving money by buying sunscreen online is very tempting, but you shouldn’t make any rash decisions when choosing it. While journalist Hugo Clément had already warned the French public at the start of summer 2025 about the dangers of buying sunscreen online , this time it’s the consumer association UFC-Que Choisir that has taken up the issue and issued a clear warning about Chinese platforms selling products at low prices.
The website purchased ten sunscreens priced between €1.55 and €6.65 from three platforms: Temu, AliExpress, and Shein , and tested them in its laboratory. The results were disastrous. Three sunscreens failed the first stage of testing because they contained a banned ingredient . “This is an endocrine disruptor that interacts with both the thyroid system and estrogen ,” noted UFC-Que Choisir . Six other products misrepresented the SPF ( Sun Protection Factor) displayed on the packaging, while four of them offered no protection at all . “Our laboratory measured a ridiculously low SPF of 2, or even less! This is unprecedented since we began testing sunscreens ,” the consumer association stated. One product had the correct SPF but contained a “harmful ingredient” in its formula.
Sunscreen testing: platforms respond
The consumer association UFC-Que Choisir revealed that it had contacted the platforms to share its findings. As the association reports, “Temu and Shein assured us that they were taking additional measures. The former by temporarily suspending the sale of all sun care products in the European Union, […] the latter by stating that it was conducting a full audit of the site . “
As for AliExpress, the site expressed its concerns, mentioning “supposedly” problematic items . The platform nevertheless indicated that it would also remove similar products.
However, Temu, AliExpress, and Shein don’t seem ready to warn their customers, as they made no mention of it in their responses. So be vigilant when choosing your sunscreen.
