Beaches, swimming pools, long Saturdays on the cricket pitch and arvo’s in the garden.
All of these quintessentially Australian activities come with one non-negotiable essential: sunscreen.
It’s ingrained in our culture for a good reason. Because the reality is that two out of three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. This sobering statistic highlights the importance of effective sun protection.
But recent testing by Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group, Choice, has revealed troubling results about some popular sunscreen brands.
The Problem with SPF Claims
Choice conducted independent testing on 20 sunscreens in an accredited Australian lab, assessing whether the products lived up to their SPF claims and the results were concerning. With only four products meeting their advertised protection levels, while 16 failed to deliver on their promises.
These failures ranged from products that claimed SPF50+ but tested as low as SPF4, to others landing in the 20s, 30s, and 40s which are far below their labeled protection.
Despite Australia’s reputation for having some of the world’s highest sunscreen standards, Choice described the findings as “disappointing.”
However, CEO Ashley De Silva advised against alarm, emphasising that even lower-SPF sunscreens still provide valuable protection.
“It’s important not to lose trust in sunscreen altogether,” De Silva said. “Even products that scored lower than advertised still offer significant sun protection.”
Sunscreens That Passed
Four sunscreens successfully met or exceeded their SPF claims:
- Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+ (SPF 52)
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF 50+ (SPF 72)
- Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen (SPF 51)
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50+ (SPF 56)
Sunscreens That Fell Short
SPF Results in the 20s
- Aldi Ombra 50+ – SPF 26
- Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – SPF 28
- Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Zinc Mineral Body Lotion – SPF 26
- Cancer Council Everyday Value Sunscreen 50 – SPF 27
- Cancer Council Ultra Sunscreen 50+ – SPF 24
- Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Lotion SPF 50 – SPF 24
- Woolworths Sunscreen Everyday Tube SPF 50+ – SPF 27
SPF Results in the 30s
- Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – SPF 35
- Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance-Free Sunscreen – SPF 32
- Cancer Council Kids Clear Zinc 50+ – SPF 33
- Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 – SPF 38
SPF Results in the 40s
- Coles SPF 50+ Sunscreen Ultra Tube – SPF 43
- Nivea Sun Kids Ultra Protect and Play Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – SPF 41
- Nivea Sun Protect and Moisture Lock SPF 50+ Sunscreen – SPF 40
- Sun Bum Premium Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion 50+ – SPF 40
To ensure accuracy, Choice delayed publishing their findings and retested certain products with a fresh batch in a separate and independent German lab. The results, nearly identical to their initial tests, confirmed the discrepancies.
Despite the concerning findings, the head of dermatology at the Melanoma Institute, Linda Martin, urged Australians to maintain confidence in sunscreen and also emphasised that proper application is key. With research showing many Australians don’t apply enough sunscreen, leaving them vulnerable to harmful UV exposure.
While the results are disappointing, even sunscreens that fall short of their SPF50+ claims still provide valuable protection.
So, remember to Slip on protective clothing, Slop on sunscreen, Slap on a hat, Seek shade, and Slide on sunglasses.
