Consumer NZ sunscreen testing: six out of 10 products don't give protection claimed
December 15, 2018
Consumer NZ checked ten sunscreens against two aspects of the voluntary Australian and New Zealand standard for sunscreens: a sunscreen’s SPF (sun protection factor), which measures protection against UVB rays, and its broad-spectrum protection (against UVA and UVB rays). The standard requires SPF to be assessed using a test panel of 10 volunteers in a lab.
Only three of the 10 sunscreens met their SPF label claim and the requirements for broad-spectrum protection. One product met its protection label claim but failed one of the broad-spectrum requirements. Six products didn’t meet the SPF claimed on their label.