Australian consumer test: 16 of 20 sunscreens missed their SPF claim
Australian consumer group CHOICEsent 20 popular sunscreens to an accredited lab to recheck their SPF.16 of them came in below the number on the label.
How the test worked
- The Australian/New Zealand standard method, applied to the skin of 10 adult volunteers
- A solar simulator exposed protected and unprotected skin, and the results were compared
The headline result
- One SPF 50+ product measured SPF 4. A German lab retested it at about 5, and the product was pulled from shelves in August 2025
- Several other SPF 50+ products landed in the 20s
Not a reason to quit sunscreen CHOICE itself stresses that any sunscreen beats none. Australia's regulator opened an investigation, and the reliability of SPF testing has become a big industry debate.
What you can still control
- Apply enough, and reapply
- Add hats and shade
How much do you trust the SPF number on the label when you shop?
Source: CHOICE — We tested the SPF claims of 20 sunscreens. 16 failed
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