Study reveals which sunscreens don't meet SPF claims
A new study has found more than half of sunscreens tested didn't reach their SPF claims, including one marked SPF50+ that only clocks an SPF of 4.
Australian consumer group Choice took a close look at household sunscreens, including many available in New Zealand, and found that 16 out of the 20 tested didn't meet the mark.
While most still provided moderate or high SPF protection, one product – Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF50+ Mattifying Zinc Sunscreen – only returned an SPF of 4.
Choice tested the sunscreen again at a second lab to confirm this result and got a similar low SPF of 5. This sunscreen is sold in New Zealand for $58.
After testing, Choice contacted manufacturers of the sunscreens with their results.
Ultra Violette suggested that "human error" or a "mix-up of samples" was a "highly probable scenario", Choice reported on their website.
The manufacturer also said that, given the levels of zinc oxide in its Lean Screen sunscreen, an SPF of 4 was scientifically impossible.
"We are deeply committed to the health and safety of our customers, rigorously retesting our entire SPF range every two years," Ultra Violette said in a statement to Choice.
"Lean Screen has been on the market for five years in 29 countries and we have not received a single substantiated claim of sunburn during use – reinforcing our confidence in the testing we have. If the Choice results were at all feasible, we would have had hundreds of cases of reported sunburn and skin damage while using this product in real life situations."
Consumer NZ research and test writer Belinda Castles says the results are worrying given these companies' lack of transparency about when and where their products are tested.
'Sunscreens sold in New Zealand are now regulated under the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Act 2022 and must meet the Australian and New Zealand sunscreen standard, which has requirements for independent testing," Castles said in a statement releasing the new data on Thursday.
"However, when we updated our sunscreens database last year, the companies that market Banana Boat, Bondi Sands, Neutrogena, Nivea and Sun Bum refused to provide this information.'
Consumer NZ ran a sunscreen testing programme until 2022. Castles says they had been campaigning for companies to regularly test products to ensure they continue to meet their label claims.
'Our sunscreen research found some companies were relying on test results that are several years old. The latest Choice tests back our call.'
Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF50+ tested at 38 in the Australian test. The company told Consumer NZ this product was last tested in 2017. Woolworths Sunscreen SPF50+ Everyday Lotion tested at 27 in the Australian test. The company told Consumer this product was last tested in 2018.
The latest Choice test found Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Lock SPF50+ and Sun Bum Premium Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ both tested at SPF40.
Consumer's 2021 tests of both these sunscreens also got SPF results in the 40s.
SPF is a measure of how effective sunscreen is at protecting your skin from UVB rays. If it takes five minutes of sun exposure for your skin to start burning, applying an SPF 50 sunscreen protects you for 50 times that amount of time – in this case 250 minutes. Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 would protect you – ideally – for 180 minutes. Products tested available in New Zealand
SPF results in 50+
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF 50+ – tested at 72
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50 – tested at 56
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen – tested at 51
SPF results in the 40s
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
Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 – tested at 38
SPF results in the 20s
Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 28
Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Zinc Mineral Body Lotion – tested at 26
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Lotion SPF 50 – tested at 24
Woolworths Sunscreen Everyday Tube SPF 50+ – tested at 27
SPF results <10
Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen – tested at 4
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