Sunscreen brands that do not meet the label claims collected by Consumer NZ

By RNZ

The Cancer Society is calling for mandatory sunscreen testing after an investigation by Consumer NZ found that five sunscreens did not provide the claimed sun protection.

Of the 10 products tested, only half met their SPF and broad spectrum label claim.

Those who passed were Cancer Society Everyday, Cetaphil Sun Kids Liposomal Lotion, Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen, Skinnies Conquer with Manuka Oil Sports Sunscreen, and Nivea Sun Sensitive Protect.

Cancer Society executive director Lucy Elwood said her advice was that any broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher was safe to use, when applied correctly.

“However, a mandatory sunscreen standard would mean that the sunscreen sold here would meet reliable global standards, says the Cancer Society,” he said.

“We would like New Zealand to introduce a regime similar to Australia’s Therapeutic Products Act. This will reassure New Zealanders that the standards for sunscreens meet the same requirements as medicines. Currently, retail sunscreens are classified as cosmetics. .

“This is not good enough for a country like ours with the highest rates of skin cancer and melanoma in the world.”

In Australia, sunscreens were subject to strict manufacturing guidelines under the Australian Government’s Therapeutic Products Act, Elwood said.

The Cancer Society is pleased that a recent Consumer NZ test on their Everyday SPF50 + Cancer Society product met the broad spectrum and SPF label claims.

“Our products have been shown to meet reliable standards for the use of sun protection. This is an added peace of mind for New Zealanders who want to protect themselves from the sun.

“The Cancer Society urges consumers not to panic, even if they have a sunscreen that did not meet their claim, the test results showed that all SPF 50+ products provide high protection,” he said.

“It would be a shame if consumers chose to discard usable products that still provide sun protection.”

New Zealand Consumer Testing

All sunscreens tested by Consumer NZ carried an SPF50 + label.

Three other sunscreens did not meet their SPF claims, but did meet the broad spectrum ones.

Those were Banana Boat Daily Protection Sunscreen, Natural Instinct Invisible Sunscreen, and Sukin Suncare Sheer Touch Inkless Facial Sunscreen.

The SPF rating for Banana Boat was still high at 40.4 but it did not meet the SPF50 + stated on the label.

Sukin and Natural Instinct were found to only provide moderate protection, SPF15 to 25, rather than the advertised high SPF30.

Consumer New Zealand said Sukin had reported that their sunscreen was being retested.

Le Tan Coconut Lotion and Ecosol Water Shield Sunscreen did not meet either the SPF or the broad spectrum claim on their label.

This is the second time that Le Tan sunscreen has failed to meet its SPF statement in testing, according to Consumer NZ.

Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy said that in a country with such high rates of skin cancer, it was imperative that SPF’s claims be accurate.

“Ensuring that consumers can trust the claims made on the label so that they know they are getting a reliable product is absolutely critical,” he said.

“Second, as with any product, manufacturers should be able to back up the claims they make on their label.”

Duffy said sunscreen manufacturers that don’t comply with the claims should work to rectify the labeling.

Full test results are available at www.consumer.org.nz.

– RNZ, Staff Reporter