16 of 20 sunscreens tested in Australia missed their SPF. How to choose now
An Australian consumer group tested 20 SPF 50+ sunscreens and 16 failed. The regulator traced a shared formula; recalls followed. Why SPF varies, how to stay protected.
- Australian consumer group CHOICE tested 20 sunscreens claiming SPF 50 or 50+ and found 16 below their label. The worst measured SPF 4.
- The regulator, the TGA, found about 20 products sharing a base formula with the SPF 4 product and judged it unlikely to exceed SPF 21. Several were recalled.
- Human SPF testing varies a lot: skin differs from person to person, technicians apply differently, and redness is judged by eye.
- The TGA is clear that you should keep using sunscreen: SPF 30 or higher, applied generously, reapplied, alongside shade, hats and clothing.
In 2025 the Australian consumer group CHOICE sent 20 sunscreens labelled SPF 50 or 50+ for testing and found that 16 measured below their label. The worst came in at SPF 4. The regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), followed up, traced a base formula shared by several brands, and recalls followed. This article covers what happened, why SPF results can swing so widely, and how to choose and use sunscreen so you still get real protection. (We don’t name brands here; the sources at the end list them.)
If you’re unsure how SPF and PA differ, read Sunscreen SPF vs PA: how much to use first.
What CHOICE tested and found
CHOICE published its results in June 2025. All 20 sunscreens claimed SPF 50 or 50+. The TGA summarised the results like this:
| Measured SPF | Number |
|---|---|
| 4 | 1 |
| 20-30 | 7 |
| 30-50 | 8 |
| 50-60 | 3 |
| above 60 | 1 |
CHOICE counted 16 failures. The TGA counts 18, because under the Australian standard an SPF 50+ product must test at SPF 60 or more, so two products in the 50-60 range fail by its measure.
The product that measured SPF 4 (labelled 50+) was retested at a second independent lab in Germany and came back at SPF 5. When the brand had it tested by several more labs, results ranged from 4 to 64. In the end the brand withdrew it from sale.
What the TGA did next
- 30 September 2025: the TGA said 21 products (including the SPF 4 one) shared the same base formulation, and that preliminary testing suggested it was unlikely to exceed SPF 21, with some products possibly as low as SPF 4. It advised people holding these products to consider alternatives while it completed its review.
- The TGA voiced significant concerns about the reliability of SPF testing by one UK laboratory whose results many of these brands relied on.
- From 26 September 2025, several sunscreens using the base formula were recalled, some of them by order of the TGA.
- In 2026 the TGA consulted on improving sunscreen regulation (submissions closed 23 May 2026) and is considering in vitro (non-human) test methods published by ISO, which appear to give more consistent results.
Why SPF results vary
The current international method, ISO 24444:2019, tests on real people: sunscreen goes on the skin, simulated sunlight is applied, and testers compare how much later the protected skin reddens than unprotected skin. The TGA says variability in this method is a known problem worldwide, because:
- people respond differently, even with the same skin type
- different technicians apply the sunscreen differently
- the degree of redness is judged by eye, so technicians can disagree
The SPF on the label is a lab result, not a guarantee. What you control is applying enough and reapplying.
Worked example: SPF 50 vs 21 vs 4
SPF tells you that roughly 1 part in SPF of UVB gets through.
- SPF 50 → 1/50 = 2% gets through.
- SPF 21 → 1/21 ≈ 4.8%, about 2.4 times more than SPF 50.
- SPF 4 → 1/4 = 25%, 12.5 times more than SPF 50.
Now add under-application. From the relationship found in research (explained in Sunscreen SPF vs PA), applying half the test amount leaves roughly the square root of the SPF:
- A formula that really delivers SPF 21, applied at half the amount → √21 ≈ 4.6.
That’s why you build in margin. Even if a label overstates protection, applying enough still pulls the real figure up a lot, while applying thinly makes a bad situation worse.
How to choose when labels may be off
| What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Choose broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher with high PA | leaves margin if the real value is lower |
| Apply about 2 mg/cm² | gets you close to the tested value |
| Reapply every 2 hours outdoors | makes up for sweat, water and rubbing |
| Use shade, a hat, long sleeves, sunglasses, and avoid peak sun | you don’t rely on sunscreen alone |
| In Thailand, check the Thai FDA notification number and Thai label | confirms the product was notified as the law requires |
| Watch your own skin | if you apply properly and still burn, switch |
The TGA’s advice matches: pick SPF 30 or higher, apply as the label says, and protect yourself several ways at once, with sunscreen, shade, clothing, hats and sunglasses.
Common mistakes
- Giving up on sunscreen because labels can’t be trusted. Most products still tested at SPF 20 or more, far better than nothing.
- Chasing the highest number instead of applying enough. A thin layer of SPF 50 can give less than a full layer of SPF 30.
- Relying on sunscreen alone in strong sun. Use shade and clothing too.
- Judging by feel or reviews. How light a sunscreen feels says nothing about how well it protects.
- Burning and telling no one. Report it to the regulator; in Thailand, the Thai FDA hotline 1556. Reports like this help catch problem products sooner.
Sources
FAQ
Should I still use sunscreen?
Yes, and the TGA says so plainly. The news shows some label numbers can't be fully trusted, not that sunscreen is pointless. Combine it with shade, a hat, long sleeves and avoiding the strongest sun.
Has anything like this been tested in Thailand?
Yes. A test of 20 sunscreens announced in March 2025 by the Thai consumer council and Chalard Sue magazine found 5 whose SPF didn't match the label and 4 whose PA didn't. The details are in our SPF vs PA article.
I applied sunscreen and still burned. What now?
First check you applied enough and reapplied. If you did and still burned, switch products and report it to your national regulator; in Thailand that's the Thai FDA hotline 1556. If the skin blisters or is very painful, see a doctor.
General guidance. Products differ between brands: always follow the label. If you react to a product, see a doctor.