We've all felt the pain of sunburnt skin at some point in our lives, but what's the science behind it? Motion graphic / Paul Slater
By Nicky Park of RNZ
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, andfound 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.
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.
Choice in Australia tested 20 popular sunscreens on the market. 16 of them failed to meet their SPF claims. Photo / Choice
“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 NZ
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
