Aussie experts put 20 popular sunscreens to the test – 16 FAILED to meet the SPF claims on their labels. Read the full list here
Millions of Aussies may be unknowingly risking serious sun damage, with a shocking new investigation revealing that many of our most trusted sunscreen brands could be offering far less protection than they promise.
Despite being drilled with the ‘Slip, Slop, Slap, and Wrap’ mantra from childhood, new lab testing shows that even diligent sunscreen-wearers may not be as sun-safe as they think.
In an explosive investigation by consumer advocacy group CHOICE, 20 of the most popular sunscreens on Aussie shelves were put to the test – and only four lived up to their lofty SPF 50+ claims.
The rest? A worrying number delivered SPF ratings as low as four, a far cry from the 50+ sun barrier they boldly advertise. In some cases, that’s barely better than wearing nothing at all.
Choice also highlighted a fact that will surprise many Aussies: the SPF factor is not tested independently, with the regulator relying on reports from manufacturers.
‘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.
In an explosive investigation by CHOICE, 20 of the most popular sunscreens on Aussie shelves were put to the test – and only four lived up to their lofty SPF 50+ claims
The most alarming was one of the most expensive sunscreens tested – Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF50+ which retails for $52 (left). While Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+ was found to have an actual SPF of 52 (right)
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.
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.
