Nivea Sun Protect and Moisture Lock SPF 50+ Sunscreen: What CHOICE Measured
Last updated September 13, 2026
CHOICE measured SPF 40 against a label of SPF 50+ in June 2025; Beiersdorf told CHOICE all the product's SPF claims had been validated.
The second of two Nivea Sun products in the CHOICE round, tested on the same ten-person panel to the same standard. It measured 40 against a claim of 50+.
What was tested
CHOICE measured SPF 40, 12 June 2025
CHOICE measured SPF 40 against a label of SPF 50+. In the body's own words:
Nivea Sun Protect and Moisture Lock SPF 50+ Sunscreen – tested at 40
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.
How much does a measured 40 differ from a claimed 50+?
Under the Australian standard the TGA applies, an SPF 50+ product must return a test result of at least SPF 60, so a measured 40 falls short on that threshold as well as on the label figure. The TGA also states that SPFs of 30 to 59 provide high protection.
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.