We bought 10 top-selling products over the counter and sent them to one of the two Australian labs that carry out sunscreen testing for manufacturers. The lab tested our sunscreens to the same requirements as the standard.
UVA and UVB radiation in sunlight contribute to premature skin ageing, damage to the immune system and skin cancer. So we asked the laboratory to carry out two types of test:
- SPF determination: SPF is a measure of protection mainly against UVB rays, the ones that cause sunburn. SPF testing is carried out on human volunteers (see How sunscreens are tested).
- Broad spectrum transmission: Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against UVB - and they also protect against UVA (which penetrates deep into the skin layer but doesn't show up as sunburn). In broad-spectrum testing, the lab measures the proportion of UVA rays passing through a measured amount of sunscreen.
Guide to the table
Our test was carried out in an independent Australian laboratory. The sunscreens were tested to the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2604: 1998.
- Products were bought in a supermarket or pharmacy. They are listed in alphabetical order.
- Price is based on a survey of pharmacies and supermarkets during April 2008.
- Claims SPF When a product claimed to be water resistant, its SPF was determined after immersion in water for the length of time the resistance was claimed.
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