Nivea Sun Kids Ultra Protect and Play Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+: What CHOICE Measured
Last updated September 13, 2026
CHOICE measured SPF 41 against a label of SPF 50+ in June 2025; Beiersdorf told CHOICE all the product's SPF claims had been validated.
Nivea Sun's children's lotion was one of 20 products CHOICE had tested to the Australian standard in 2025. The measured figure was 41 against a claim of 50+. Beiersdorf, which owns Nivea, disputed the finding on the record.
What was tested
CHOICE measured SPF 41, 12 June 2025
CHOICE measured SPF 41 against a label of SPF 50+. In the body's own words:
Nivea Sun Kids Ultra Protect and Play Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 41
Method, as CHOICE states it: AS/NZS 2604:2021, incorporating ISO 24444 (in vivo SPF) and ISO 24443 (in vitro UVA); a 10-person panel under a solar simulator, run at Eurofins Dermatest in Sydney.
What the brand said
Beiersdorf, which owns Nivea, told CHOICE its own testing stood behind the label.
…all SPF sun protection claims made on the products have been validated.
What happened next
Market status: no change has been published by any source cited here. Statuses in this story moved repeatedly between 2025 and 2026, so check the regulator before assuming a product is still on sale.
Alternatives that passed
CHOICE reported that four of the 20 sunscreens it tested returned a measured SPF at or above the claim on the label. Two of the four cleared the claim with margin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin SPF 50+, measured at 72, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50, measured at 56.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Nivea dispute the result?
Yes. Beiersdorf told CHOICE that all SPF sun protection claims made on the products have been validated. CHOICE published that response alongside its own figure.
Does a measured SPF 41 mean the sunscreen does not work?
No. The TGA's published position is that SPFs in the range of 30 to 59 provide high protection and that products with an SPF of 30 are effective to use. The gap is between the measurement and the claim on the label.
SPF List did not test this product. The results on this page were published by the named test body or regulator; quotes and links go to the original publication. Brand responses and later developments are listed where they were published. Formulations change; a result applies to the batch and date tested.