Seven of the 10 sunscreens Consumer NZ tested did not meet the SPF claim on their label. Six of those still gave high protection, but one product labelled SPF50 tested at just SPF14, the consumer group says.
Consumer NZ published the results on 30 October. A week later it called for New Zealand to follow Australia's proposals for tougher sunscreen testing rules.
Which sunscreens fell short?
Consumer NZ says the products that did not meet their SPF label claims were from Coola, Marine Blue, Sun Bum, Beauty of Joseon, Invisible Zinc, Le Tan and Natio.
The biggest gap was Coola Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Lotion 50. Consumer says it tested at SPF14, which is low protection, and cost $69 per 100ml, one of the most expensive in the test.
The other six still reached SPF30 or higher, Consumer says. That is still high protection, just not what the label promised. To make an SPF50+ claim, a sunscreen must achieve a tested SPF of 60 or more.
Every product passed the test for broad-spectrum protection, which covers UVA rays as well as UVB.
What about Beauty of Joseon?
Beauty of Joseon is a Korean skincare brand, and its sunscreen is sold by several New Zealand retailers.
Consumer NZ bought its sample from Farmers. It says Farmers supplied test results from 2023 to back the label claim, and the brand confirmed the formula had not changed since then.
Farmers has asked its supplier for further testing, with the full 10-person test expected by the end of the year, according to Consumer. In the meantime Farmers has temporarily taken the sunscreen off its shelves. Consumer notes it is still sold by other retailers.
What did the other brands say?
Natio told Consumer its formula had been tested by three independent accredited labs and the results supported its SPF claim. It said it could not release the reports because of intellectual property and contractual reasons.
Invisible Zinc's distributor said the result did not match its own testing and supplied a 2021 report from the same lab Consumer used. It said the formula had not changed.
Le Tan's distributor and Marine Blue did not respond, Consumer says. Coola's distributor declined to comment and Sun Bum did not respond.
Marine Blue is subsidised by Pharmac for people who are severely sensitive to light because of a medical condition. Consumer says Marine Blue also fell short in its 2019 test and that it will send the new results to Pharmac.
Which ones passed?
Consumer names two of the three that met their claims. The cheapest product tested, Smart365 Sun Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+, costs $4 per 100ml. Cancer Society Everyday Protection SPF50 costs $9 per 100ml.
"Consumer's test found that a higher price did not guarantee premium protection," the group says.
Why do results differ?
Consumer points to a few reasons. SPF tests are done on people, who burn at different rates. Companies don't have to retest their sunscreen regularly, even if ingredient supplies change, so a product made in a factory may differ from the sample tested years earlier. Results can also vary between laboratories.
Under the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Act 2022, sunscreens sold here must meet the Australian and New Zealand standard, which requires independent testing. There is no rule on how often they must be retested. Companies that breach the rules can face fines of up to $600,000, Consumer says.
The Government is considering regulating sunscreen as a "boundary product" under the Medical Products Bill, sitting between a cosmetic and a medicine. Consumer says products would then have to be on a public register and Medsafe would have stronger powers to ask for evidence and retesting. It wants New Zealand to go further and match Australia's proposals, including testing the finished product and testing it periodically while it is on sale.
Consumer has passed its findings to the Commerce Commission.
What to do before summer
Don't throw out a sunscreen just because it was on the list. Six of the seven still gave SPF30 or more.
Consumer's advice is that sunscreen is one part of sun protection. Cover up with clothing, a broad-brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses, and limit time in the sun between 10am and 4pm from September to April, or whenever the UV index is 3 or higher. Consumer says that applies "no matter your skin type or colour".
Consumer NZ's sunscreen database, supported by Health New Zealand, lists more than 160 sunscreens and lets you check when and where each was tested.
Consumer notes New Zealand has one of the highest melanoma rates in the world. Our story on what Southern Cross covers for Mohs surgery explains one of the main treatments. If you are heading to the coast this summer, read our rock fishing safety tips too.
