Aussie regulator says don’t buy these sunscreens

In June, we published the results of Australian consumer group Choice’s test of sunscreens. The test found 16 out of 20 sunscreens didn’t meet the SPF claims on their labels, with 11 being sold in New Zealand.

The most concerning test result was for Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF50+ Mattifying zinc sunscreen, which only returned an SPF of 4. Choice tested the sunscreen again at a second lab to confirm this result and got a similar low SPF of 5.

Ultra Violette voluntarily removed the Lean Screen sunscreen from sale.

Since then, several other sunscreens have also been removed from sale.

According to a statement by the TGA published on 30 September, Lean Screen was manufactured using the same base formula as many other sunscreens. The manufacturer of the base formula, Wild Child Laboratories, has now received preliminary SPF testing for the base that has indicated this formula is unlikely to have an SPF greater than 21 and may, for some of the products, have an SPF as low as 4.

PCR testing concerns

Yesterday, an investigation by Australia’s ABC News raised new concerns about PCR’s sunscreen testing laboratory. Two former employees of the lab told ABC about what they allege is questionable data and testing practices.

Brian Ecclefield said he resigned over doubts about the accuracy and integrity of its SPF testing.

Before joining PCR, Ecclefield resigned from US-based AMA Laboratories over ethical concerns about fraudulent testing practices. He said he hoped PCR would be a fresh start when he started in 2017, but 11 months later, resigned after observing issues with testing results and practices at the company.

In 2021, the owner of US-based AMA testing laboratories pled guilty to falsifying results. The fraud had gone on for 30 years, with sunscreens and other products sold and marketed based on false test reports.

Jane Tervooren told ABC, PCR had "a tendency to cut corners and not carry out testing thoroughly".

Ecclefield and Tervooren now run their own testing laboratory in the US.

According to the ABC investigation, several sunscreen brands (including Woolworths and Ultra Violette) and sunscreen manufacturers Baxter Laboratories and Wild Child Laboratories have stopped using the testing lab.

The TGA statement also raised concerns about sunscreen testing laboratory PCR. PCR was responsible for Ultra Violette’s initial testing. At least half the sunscreens that failed to meet their SPF label claims in the Choice test had also been tested by PCR.

The TGA has notified all companies responsible for affected sunscreens of this testing result and its concerns about the reliability of PCR’s testing. The regulator is considering whether to take regulatory action with respect to those sunscreens.

It is also considering what measures it can put in place to increase the consistency of SPF testing for sunscreens.

Consumer NZ has been concerned about the state of the sunscreen industry for many years. New Zealand has some of the highest rates of melanoma and other skin cancers in the world. Our country needs to do better with sunscreen regulation and monitoring.

Consumer will be watching the TGA developments with interest and raising its concerns with our regulator – the Commerce Commission.

We would like the commission to implement a regular sunscreen monitoring programme. This would include holding testing laboratories to account when concerns are raised.

Sunscreens under scrutiny

The TGA is suggesting consumers find alternatives to the 21 sunscreen products identified as sharing the same base formulation as Ultra Violette's Lean Screen. These sunscreens have been recalled, their sales have been paused or they are under the TGA’s review in Australia.

The TGA list includes:

• Aspect Sun SPF50+ Physical Sun Protection

• Aspect Sun SPF50+ Tinted Physical Sun Protection

• Aesthetics Rx Ultra Protection Sunscreen Cream

• New Day Skin Good Vibes Sunscreen SPF50+

• New Day Skin Happy Days Sunscreen SPF50+

• Allganics Light Sunscreen SPF50+

• Beauti-FLTR Lustre Mineral SPF50+

• Found My Skin SPF 50+ Tinted Face/Body Cream

• Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Light Sunscreen

• Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Tinted Facial Sunscreen (dark tint)

• Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Tinted Facial Sunscreen (light tint)

• Endota Mineral Protect SPF50 Sunscreen

• We Are Feel Good Inc Mineral Sunscreen SPF50+

• GlindaWand The Fountain of Youth Environmental Defence Cream SPF50+

• Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF50+

• Ultra Violette Velvet Screen SPF50

• People4Ocean SPF 50+ Mineral Bioactive Shield Lightly Tinted Cream

• MCoBeauty SPF50+ Mineral Mattifying Sunscreen

• Naked Sundays Collagen Glow Mineral Sunscreen

• Outside Beauty & Skincare SPF 50+ Mineral Primer

• Salus SPF50+ Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad Spectrum.

Consumer’s 2024 sunscreen database listed the 3 Ethical Zinc sunscreen products. We have removed these sunscreens from our database while the TGA review is ongoing. We’ll be updating the database in time for summer with current information about the testing laboratories sunscreens have been tested in.

Other sunscreens on this list may also be available for sale in New Zealand.