AUSTRALIA | Consumer group CHOICE has tested 20 popular SPF 50 or 50+ sunscreens and found that 16 of 20 products didn't meet their SPF claims.
Sunscreens were selected from a range of brands, retailers, and price points and tested by experts in a specialised, accredited sunscreen laboratory.
"Of the 20 sunscreens we tested, only four products actually met their SPF 50 or 50+ claims," said 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.”
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 the 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," said de Silva.
CHOICE has informed the TGA and the ACCC of the results of its sunscreen testing and has requested that the TGA conduct its own compliance testing.
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.
De Silva added that it was 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.”
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