I oversee all Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab testing, including our annual sunscreen evaluations. Since launching this program in 2015, we've seen a steady increase in submissions, receiving 256 entries this year alone. That's even after limiting submissions to new product launches and focusing on SPF 30 facial sunscreens and SPF 50 body sunscreens.
With so many options available, it's not just consumers who experience decision fatigue—we do too. Within our own team, unanimous agreement on which sunscreens we like using is rare. But that's where our testing comes in. By evaluating real-world use and gathering feedback from a diverse group of testers, we can identify the products people are most likely to enjoy using consistently.
Our approach
✔️ Wearability comes first. The best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually want to wear, and our testing is built around that belief.
✔️ We test with real people. We conduct consumer testing with a broad cross-section of individuals, across a range of skin types, skin tones, sensitivities, texture, and finish preferences.
✔️ Sample size matters. We determine how many testers will evaluate each product to ensure our results are robust. A large dataset helps us identify meaningful differences in performance and make recommendations that reflect the needs and preferences of many users.
✔️ What we don't test is also important. We do not test or validate SPF numbers. SPF testing requires highly standardized technical procedures, specialized facilities, strict quality controls, and appropriate expertise. Even small deviations in testing can lead to meaningful differences in results. We leave SPF validation to the experts who do this work professionally and to the FDA, which regulates sunscreens under its OTC monograph system.
We do not test sunscreens with SPF less than 30. SPF 30 is generally sufficient for daily use and is recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology. For extended outdoor exposure, we chose SPF 50 to provide a greater safety margin, especially since people often apply too little sunscreen.
Inside our sunscreen testing process
✔️ Timing matters. While facial sunscreens can be evaluated year-round, body sunscreens need to be coordinated with outdoor activities, pool time, and beach vacations. We test them separately because they're designed for different uses and have different performance expectations, such as water resistance or wearability under makeup.
✔️ Setting standards. Before testing begins, the Lab establishes strict criteria for both products and participants. For example, we’ll never include any sunscreens in our testing that are not broad-spectrum. We evaluate factors such as product claims, ingredients, packaging, and intended use, and determine how long products should be tested to generate meaningful feedback. We’ll also decide whether product brands and names will be hidden from testers or shipped “open label.”
✔️ Designing standardized surveys. Every survey question is carefully developed before testing begins. The process involves extensive discussion (there is science behind it, too), refinement, and editorial review to ensure that questions are clear, unbiased, and thorough. Our surveys are designed to capture every aspect of the user experience, from application and texture to performance and overall satisfaction.
✔️ Recruiting a diverse group of testers. Using pre-screening surveys, we recruit participants across a range of ages, skin tones, skin types, and geographic locations. We also consider factors such as ingredient and texture preferences, as well as notes on any allergies. For our most recent sunscreen study, we reviewed thousands of data points collected from participants who volunteered. This year, over 1,600 people applied to participate.
✔️ Managing logistics. Our team manages product submissions, matches products with participants, coordinates shipments, tracks testing progress, and ensures feedback is collected on schedule.
✔️ Analyzing the results (the best part!). This step involves compiling results across categories, such as application, texture, appearance on skin, performance, and user satisfaction. The Lab also looks into packaging functionality and value. Each question is scored on a five-point scale based on participant feedback, and every written comment is reviewed to provide additional context and a more comprehensive evaluation. The findings are compiled into a detailed lab report and shared with our editorial team, who turn the data into clear and practical recommendations.
What do we recommend?
Recommended sunscreens are those that score highly for ease of use, performance, and user satisfaction across a range of skin types and tones, regardless of whether they use mineral or chemical UV filters. We also assess finish (from matte to dewy) and note these characteristics in our recommendations, since preferences vary by skin type. (For example, I gravitate toward richer formulas with a dewy, glowy finish that complement my maturing, dry skin and feel hydrating, while my colleague with combination skin prefers lighter textures and a satin or matte look.) Finally, we highlight top-performing lotions, sprays, and sticks to help readers find a formula that fits their routine and lifestyle.
Over the years, we've observed a few consistent trends, though there are always exceptions.
- While mineral sunscreens have seen a surge in new launches, they tend to score lower, on average, for usability and overall satisfaction. However, they often excel at being non-irritating, particularly in facial formulas.
- Chemical sunscreens, on average, tend to perform better in terms of texture and cosmetic elegance, feeling less greasy or tacky on the skin, and leaving no white cast on darker skin tones. Some people find that chemical formulas can sting the eyes, so that's worth considering when choosing a product.
Finding the best sunscreen can be complicated, but our goal is simple: to help you (and us!) find one you'll happily apply every day. And all year long.
