New sunscreen testing results released by the New Zealand-based non-profit consumer advocacy organisation, Consumer NZ, reveal six sunscreens available for sale in Australia failed to meet their SPF claims.
This follows CHOICE testing from June 2025 which found 16 out of 20 sunscreens didn’t meet their advertised SPF claims.
Thankfully, the sunscreens in Consumer NZ’s testing fared a little better. Six of the brands that are currently available in Australia didn’t meet their SPF 50+ claims, but they still provide high protection (SPF 30 or higher).
Text-only accessible version
More sunscreens fail to meet their SPF50+ claims
Consumer NZ reveals six more sunscreens available in Australia that don’t meet their claims.
IN THE 30s
Marine Blue Dry Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+
– Measured SPF: 34
Sun Bum Mineral SPF50+
– Measured SPF: 38
IN THE 40s
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Sun Moist Serum SPF50+
– Measured SPF: 41
Invisible Zinc Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF50+
– Measured SPF: 42
Le Tan Coconut Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+
– Measured SPF: 46
Natio Sun Quick Dry Moisturising Sunscreen SPF50+
– Measured SPF: 47
50+
Cetaphil Sun Ultra Light Lotion SPF50+
– Meets claim
The products that didn’t meet their claims
Marine Blue Dry Touch sunscreen, available to purchase online in Australia from Kogan and a few small retailers, returned the lowest result of the six, testing at SPF 34.
These are the six products available for sale in Australia that failed to meet their SPF claims in Consumer NZ testing:
Marine Blue Dry Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at SPF 34
Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50+ – tested at SPF 38
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Sun Moist Serum SPF 50+ – tested at SPF 41
Invisible Zinc Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ – tested at SPF 42
Le Tan Coconut Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at SPF 46
Natio Sun Quick Dry Moisturising Sunscreen SPF 50+ – tested at SPF 47.
Cetaphil Sun Ultra Light Lotion was the sole Australian-sold sunscreen to hit its advertised SPF claim of 50+.
While they all still achieve a high level of protection, consumers should be able to trust that they’re getting the highest level of protection – as advertised on the bottle
CHOICE director of consumer impact Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly, CHOICE director of consumer impact, says that while Consumer NZ’s test numbers were stronger than those uncovered by CHOICE in 2025, brands still need to get better at delivering what they promise.
“Testing by Consumer NZ has found that six of the seven sunscreens also available in Australia failed to meet their SPF claims,” he says. “While they all still achieve a high level of protection, consumers should be able to trust that they’re getting the highest level of protection – as advertised on the bottle.”
One of the biggest concerns is a product that, technically, shouldn’t be sold here in Australia.
“We’re particularly concerned to find an unregistered ‘sun serum’ by Beauty of Joseon for sale from Australian-based retailers including Kmart Marketplace – where it is advertised as a sunscreen in the product listing,” explains Kelly.
The Korean ‘sun serum’ is advertised as a sunscreen on the Kmart website. It is not registered as a primary sunscreen with the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Sun Moist Serum SPF 50+ is a Korean skincare product that is not registered as a primary sunscreen with the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, a legal requirement for sunscreens sold in Australia.
Despite this, the product description on the Kmart website clearly describes it as a ‘sunscreen’. Another Australian-based retailer selling this product claims it ‘protects your skin against harmful rays’.
“We have referred this and the other results to the TGA to investigate,” says Kelly.
Consumer NZ used the same testing methods CHOICE applied in our 2025 testing.
“These new test results from Consumer NZ continue to highlight issues with the regulation of sunscreen in Australia,” says Andy Kelly, “and are a timely reminder that the proposed improvements to testing requirements released by the TGA this week should be expedited, and that the TGA should also be conducting routine evaluation and testing of sunscreen products.”
Consumer NZ sent the results to the companies whose products did not meet their SPF label claims and asked for evidence supporting those claims. Their responses varied: some supplied earlier test reports or arranged further testing, while others declined to provide reports or did not respond. Read the full article from Consumer NZ, including the responses from the sunscreen companies.
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Mark Serrels is the Editorial director at CHOICE. Mark oversees content on a wide variety of topics and enjoys making complex subjects easy to understand.
Prior to CHOICE, Mark worked in technology and games journalism. He edited magazines and worked on sites such as Kotaku, Gizmodo and CNET.
Mark enjoys communicating the CHOICE mission to the broadest audience possible. He wants all Australians to be informed, entertained and above all, empowered as consumers.
Mark has a Master of Arts from the University of Stirling, Scotland. LinkedIn
Mark Serrels is the Editorial director at CHOICE. Mark oversees content on a wide variety of topics and enjoys making complex subjects easy to understand.
Prior to CHOICE, Mark worked in technology and games journalism. He edited magazines and worked on sites such as Kotaku, Gizmodo and CNET.
Mark enjoys communicating the CHOICE mission to the broadest audience possible. He wants all Australians to be informed, entertained and above all, empowered as consumers.
Mark has a Master of Arts from the University of Stirling, Scotland. LinkedIn
Pru Engel is the Audience and Engagement editor at CHOICE. Her job is to ensure as many Australians as possible know about the great work we do at CHOICE.
She works closely with our testers and experts to find the gems of information in our data and research that will resonate with Australian consumers and help them make the best decisions, whether they're purchasing an air fryer, looking for a new mattress or trying to find the cheapest car insurance. She also helps to drive meaningful change for consumers by collaborating with our Campaigns team on content covering issues such as grocery pricing, product safety and scams.
Prior to CHOICE, Pru worked as an editor at many of Australia's leading food and lifestyle titles.
Pru has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) from the University of Technology, Sydney.
LinkedIn
Pru Engel is the Audience and Engagement editor at CHOICE. Her job is to ensure as many Australians as possible know about the great work we do at CHOICE.
She works closely with our testers and experts to find the gems of information in our data and research that will resonate with Australian consumers and help them make the best decisions, whether they're purchasing an air fryer, looking for a new mattress or trying to find the cheapest car insurance. She also helps to drive meaningful change for consumers by collaborating with our Campaigns team on content covering issues such as grocery pricing, product safety and scams.
Prior to CHOICE, Pru worked as an editor at many of Australia's leading food and lifestyle titles.
Pru has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) from the University of Technology, Sydney.
LinkedIn
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