As summer approaches, Mustela (a French family-friendly dermo-cosmetics brand from Laboratoires Expanscience) has released a study conducted in partnership with the Discurv Institute on the sun protection habits of French families.
The survey was conducted in April 2026 among 1,000 French families with children.
61% of parents say they prioritize protecting their children over themselves. This tendency is reflected in the figures. 72% of children use SPF 50+ sunscreen, compared to only 57% of adults.
56% of children have their sunscreen reapplied every two hours, but only 35% of mothers and fathers do. The result: during their last vacation, twice as many adults as children got sunburned (24% versus 10%).
A persistent misconception
33% of French people believe their skin is more resistant to the sun than that of younger people. This figure rises to 42% among those under 25. This misconception partly explains why adults are less careful about sun exposure.
Age, a key factor
Caution is at its highest with infants. 74% of families apply sunscreen to their babies as soon as they go out into the sun. This drops significantly during adolescence: once children reach 13–15 years old, only 56% of adults maintain a schedule of applying sunscreen every two hours.
A North-South paradox
People in Normandy are the most conscientious. 71% use SPF 50 sunscreen for themselves, and 82% …
