Consumer NZ reveals these SIX sunscreen brands fail to live up to their protection claims

Sun protection is essential.

Esepcially with New Zealand's melanoma cancer rates being amongst the world's worst.

But worryingly, many sunscreens available to Kiwis are failing to live up to efficacy claims.

Consumer NZ says its latest test of sunscreens found six out of 10 products did not meet their SPF label claims.

One product – Coola Classic Body Sunscreen Plumeria SPF30 – only gave low protection of SPF6 in Consumer NZ's test, despite claiming high protection of SPF30.

The other five products were labelled as SPF50 or SPF50+, but Consumer NZ's test found they did not meet these claims, returning SPFs from 16 to 42.

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The chief executive of the non-profit organisation, Sue Chetwin, said: "While these SPF ratings mean the sunscreens still provide moderate or high protection, our testing found they don't provide the protection claimed on the label."

She also said four of the companies, including Coola, provided lab reports showing their products had been tested and met their label claims.

However, two reports dated from 2015 and Coola's report was from 2013.

"There's no requirement for sunscreen manufacturers to regularly test. But that's what they should be doing to ensure their products continue to provide the protection claimed," Chetwin added.

In response to Consumer NZ's findings, Coola is commissioning a review of its formula.

Products that DID meet claims:
• Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Sensitive Sun Lotion SPF50+ ($7.50 per 100ml)
• UV Guard Max Sunscreen SPF50+ ($12.00)
• Essone Natural Sunscreen Summer Coconut & Jojoba SPF30 ($51.30)

Products that DID NOT meet claims:
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face & Body Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion (SPF50)
• Neutrogena Sensitive Skin SPF60+
• Bondi Sands Coconut Beach Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+,
• Banana Boat SunComfort SPF50+
• Sunsense Sensitive Invisible SPF50+
• Coola Classic Body Plumeria SPF30

Close but not quite:
• Smart365 Sun Sunscreen Lotion Kids SPF50+ - Met the high protection claim, but failed one of the broad-spectrum requirements