Sunscreen Showdown: The SPF Saga
G’day, mates! In the land Down Under, where the sun doesn’t just shine, it scorches, we’ve long been told to “Slip, Slop, Slap” to protect our skin. But what if the “slop” isn’t up to scratch?
Consumer advocacy group CHOICE recently put 20 sunscreens labeled SPF 50 or 50+ to the test, and the results are, well, a bit of a sunburn to our trust.
SPF Test Results: The Good, The Bad, and The Burnt
| Brand & Product | Claimed SPF | Tested SPF | Pass/Fail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+ | 50+ | 52 | Pass |
| La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF 50+ | 50+ | 72 | Pass |
| Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen | 50+ | 51 | Pass |
| Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50 | 50 | 56 | Pass |
| Cancer Council Kids Clear Zinc 50+ | 50+ | 33 | Fail |
| Cancer Council Everyday Value Sunscreen 50 | 50 | 27 | Fail |
| Cancer Council Ultra Sunscreen 50+ | 50+ | 24 | Fail |
| Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen | 50+ | 4 to 5 | Fail |
| Aldi Ombra 50+ | 50+ | 26 | Fail |
| Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ | 50+ | 28 | Fail |
| Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Zinc Mineral Body Lotion | 50+ | 26 | Fail |
| Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Lotion SPF 50 | 50 | 24 | Fail |
| Woolworths Sunscreen Everyday Tube SPF 50+ | 50+ | 27 | Fail |
| Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ | 50+ | 35 | Fail |
| Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Sunscreen | 50+ | 32 | Fail |
| Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 | 50 | 38 | Fail |
| Coles SPF 50+ Sunscreen Ultra Tube | 50+ | 43 | Fail |
| Nivea Sun Kids Ultra Protect and Play Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ | 50+ | 41 | Fail |
| Nivea Sun Protect and Moisture Lock SPF 50+ Sunscreen | 50+ | 40 | Fail |
| Sun Bum Premium Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion 50+ | 50+ | 40 | Fail |
Note: Pass/Fail determined by whether tested SPF meets or exceeds claimed SPF.
The Fallout: Reactions and Rebuttals
Ultra Violette, whose Lean Screen SPF 50+ tested at a mere SPF 4 to 5, disputed CHOICE’s findings, asserting that their product contains 22.75% zinc oxide and has consistently tested at SPF 64.32 in their own evaluations. The company said it had begun urgent retesting of the product to ensure transparency and customer safety. Separate testing commissioned by CHOICE in Germany, on a different batch, returned an SPF of 5.
Bondi Sands and Woolworths also challenged the results, citing their internal tests showing higher SPF values than those reported by CHOICE.
Expert Advice: Don’t Ditch the Sunscreen
Despite the alarming findings, experts emphasize the importance of continued sunscreen use. CHOICE advises that “any sunscreen is better than none”, noting that “a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or even 20 still offers a significant amount of sun protection”.
Complementary sun safety measures include wearing hats, seeking shade, and donning sunglasses.
Top Performers: Sunscreens That Passed the Test
For those seeking reliable sun protection, the following products met or exceeded their SPF claims:
- Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+: Tested at SPF 52
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF 50+: Tested at SPF 72
- Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen: Tested at SPF 51
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50: Tested at SPF 56
Sources:
- CHOICE, “We tested the SPF claims of 20 sunscreens. 16 failed”
- The Guardian Australia, “Several leading Australian sunscreens don’t provide the protection they say, Choice finds”
- ABC News, “Choice report finds popular Australian sunscreens fail to meet SPF claims on label”
- SBS News, “Some of your favourite sunscreens aren’t up to their SPF claims, Choice says”
Photo: Jebulon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Illustrative: beach parasols on the sand.
