Consumer group CHOICE has tested 20 popular SPF 50 or 50+ sunscreens and found 16 of 20 products didn't meet their SPF claims.
Sunscreens were chosen from a range of brands, retailers, and price points, and tested by experts in a specialised, accredited sunscreen lab.
"Of the 20 sunscreens we tested, only four products actually met their SPF 50 or 50+ claims," says CHOICE CEO, Ashley de Silva.
"Consumers expect sunscreen to protect them in line with the SPF rating on the product, but as our testing has shown, the SPF label doesn't always match what's in the bottle," says de Silva.
The four sunscreens which met their SPF claims were:
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF 50+ – tested at 72
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50 – tested at 56
- Cancer Council Kid Sunscreen 50+ – tested at 52
- Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen – tested at 51
The sunscreen which scored the lowest in our testing was Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen, which returned an SPF of 4.
"We were really shocked to see the results for Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ product, so much so that we actually decided to test a different batch at a completely different lab in Germany to confirm the results. Those tests found the product had an SPF of 5 - an almost identical result to our initial testing," says de Silva.
SPF results in the 40s
- Coles SPF 50+ Sunscreen Ultra Tube – tested at 43
- Nivea Sun Kids Ultra Protect and Play Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 41
- Nivea Sun Protect and Moisture Lock SPF 50+ Sunscreen – tested at 40
- Sun Bum Premium Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion 50+ – tested at 40
SPF results in the 30s
- Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 35
- Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Sunscreen – tested at 32
- Cancer Council Kids Clear Zinc 50+ – tested at 33
- Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 – tested at 38
SPF results in the 20s
- Aldi Ombra Everyday Sunscreen Lotion 50+ – tested at 26
- Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 28
- Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Zinc Mineral Body Lotion – tested at 26
- Cancer Council Everyday Value Sunscreen 50 – tested at 27
- Cancer Council Ultra Sunscreen 50+ – tested at 24
- Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Lotion SPF 50 – tested at 24
- Woolworths Sunscreen Everyday Tube SPF 50+ – tested at 27
CHOICE has informed the TGA and the ACCC of the results of our sunscreen testing, and has asked the TGA to conduct their own compliance testing.
"CHOICE is calling on the TGA to urgently carry out its own sunscreen compliance testing and on the ACCC to investigate if any SPF claims are misleading. Currently, the TGA relies on reports provided by manufacturers to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of sunscreen products. Unfortunately, these reports may not be providing the accurate information consumers need when choosing sunscreens for themselves and their families," says de Silva.
"However, it's important to highlight that this testing does not mean sunscreen doesn't work. While some specific sunscreens did not meet their claimed SPF, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or even 20 still offers a significant amount of sunscreen protection, and any sunscreen is better than none at all," says de Silva.
Images and videos available: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_WAkgj4JtiYb3kqw0nYe026Hl4MoKfG7?usp=drive_link
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
