Questionsoversunscreens

• Published date: 01 December 2022
• Publication title: Central Otago News

Consumer NZ’s results are in for the final four sunscreens in its latest round of testing done in June this year. Only one — Smart365 Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ — met its claimed SPF protection

The remaining three failed to meet their claims.

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF50+ only achieved an SPF of 29.2 (moderate protection) in Consumer’s test. Its distributor, Edgewell Personal Care, told Consumer all its sunscreens adhered to the Australian and New Zealand sunscreen standard and its independent test results showed this sunscreen not only met but exceeded its SPF50+ claim.

Neutrogena Beach Defence Sunscreen Lotion SPF50 (tested SPF 38.5) provided high protection but didn’t meet its SPF50 label claim. Manufacturer Johnson & Johnson Pacific told Consumer it rejected the findings and stood confidently by its SPF50 label claim. The company said every Neutrogena sunscreen sold in New Zealand had been tested against and complied with the requirements of the Australian and New Zealand standard.

Oasis Sun Healthy Family Sunscreen SPF30 (tested SPF 25.6) only provided moderate protection, not the high protection claimed. It also failed to meet the requirements for broad-spectrum protection. Its parent company, Moa’s Ark Group, said it believed the product met its label claims.

‘‘There is still a need for sunscreen manufacturers to be held accountable and be subject to regular testing,’’ Consumer researcher Belinda Castles said.

‘‘Our latest round of sunscreen testing looked at 21 sunscreens, of which only eight met their SPF label claim and the requirements for broad-spectrum protection.

‘‘With the highest rates of melanoma in the world, New Zealanders...