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I'm fussy about face SPF, but I've finally found my favourite formula

I'm fussy about face SPF, but I've finally found my favourite formula

Independenta day ago

It's common knowledge how important daily SPF protection is, but it can be tricky to find a formula that works for both your skin type and morning routine.
Some facial sunscreen can feel too heavy underneath make-up, while others leave an unflattering chalky or greasy finish. I've trialled SPFs at both ends of the spectrum, from no-frills budget buys to premium products with added skincare benefits – but I always return to one particular formula.
French beauty brand La Roche-Posay is lauded by everyone from dermatologists to beauty editors thanks to its hardworking formulas that both nourish and protect skin.
A skincare and make-up hybrid, the brand's tinted SPF50 formula is my go-to each morning. Ticking all my boxes for daily protection, the broad-spectrum sunscreen contains SPF50 to shield your skin against UVA and UVB, while also helping to blur imperfections and even out your skin tone. Plus, it works as a primer underneath make-up.
How I tested
I've been using La Roche Posay's tinted SPF50 for months, applying the formula as the last step of my skincare routine each morning. I've worn it both on its own with a little bit of concealer, as well as under foundation, I've assessed its coverage, feel on the skin and finish. Similarly, I considered how easily it works into the skin and whether it causes any pilling. Here's why La Roche Posay's anthelios UVMune 400 invisible fluid tinted SPF50+ is worth the hype.

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Aussie experts put 20 popular sunscreens to the test - 16 FAILED to meet the SPF claims on their labels. Read the full list here
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Daily Mail​

time8 hours ago

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'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,' CHOICE's CEO Ashley de Silva said. Their latest sunscreen test, conducted in a certified lab, found that 16 out of 20 sunscreens failed to meet the protection level printed on their packaging. Some were off by more than 40 SPF points. Big names caught out included the Cancer Council, Neutrogena, Bondi Sands, Ultra Violette, Coles and Woolworths. Some of these widely sold products tested in the SPF 20s and 30s, despite being labelled as SPF 50+, a potentially dangerous discrepancy in a country with one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world. However, the most alarming was one of the most expensive sunscreens tested - Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF50+ which retails for $52. 'Despite doing rigorous testing of this sunscreen the first time, we were so perturbed by the results that we decided to delay publishing and test a different batch of the Ultra Violette sunscreen at a completely different lab in Germany to confirm the results,' CHOICE said in its report. 'Those results came back with a reported SPF of five, almost identical to our initial test.' However, Ultra Violette has disputed CHOICE's testing methodology and results, stating that it did not arbitrarily label its sunscreen SPF 50+ label but rather followed the guidelines set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. 'We do not accept these results as even remotely accurate,' an Ultra Violette spokesperson said. 'Lean Screen contains 22.75 per cent zinc oxide, a level at which, when applied sufficiently, would render a testing result of SPF 4 scientifically impossible.' Of the 20 sunscreens tested, only four passed the SPF test - including Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+, which was found to have an actual SPF of 52. The surprising results of the 20 popular sunscreens tested Australian consumer watchdog CHOICE has tested 20 popular sunscreens, with 16 failing to meet the SPF50 protection claims on their labels. Of the 20 sunscreens tested, only four passed the SPF test: Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+ passed with a reported SPF of 52 La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen 50+ passed with a reported SPF of 72 Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen passed with a reported SPF of 51 Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50 passed with a reported SPF of 56 Sunscreens that failed the SPF test: SPF results in the 10s Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen - tested at 4 SPF results in the 20s Aldi Ombra 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 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 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 Source: Choice Australia Australia is known for having some of the strictest sunscreen regulations in the world, ensuring safety, quality and efficacy - with all formulas required to be approved by the TGA. The majority are listed medicines with an 'AUST L' identification number, while all sunscreens must adhere to the AS/NZS 2604:2021 standard. According to CHOICE, the TGA relies purely on reports supplied by manufacturers from accredited laboratories, rather than conducting its own compliance testing on sunscreens. Following the alarming investigation, CHOICE has informed both TGA and the ACCC of the results. 'Due to the inconsistencies we have found between the SPF claims of a sample of Australian sunscreens and their actual SPFs, CHOICE is calling on the TGA to conduct their own compliance testing, using current standards, rather than relying purely on reports from manufacturers,' the experts said. CHOICE is Australia's leading independent consumer watchdog, known for its no-frills, laboratory-tested reviews of everyday products to hold brands accountable. They work solely in the interest of Aussie consumers, exposing unsafe, dodgy or misleading products in the market.

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