Four more Australian sunscreens have been pulled from shelves amid concerns about SPF claims after an investigation by a consumer advocacy group found a shocking number of products failed to meet the level of sun protection advertised.
Sales of Outside Beauty & Skincare SPF 50+ Mineral Primer, Found My Skin’s FACE Tinted Mineral SPF 50+ with Kakadu Plum, and Endota’s Mineral Protect SPF50 and Natural Clear Zinc SPF50+ were this week paused, bringing the total number of sunscreens removed from the market in recent weeks to six.
The move comes after Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF 50 + Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen and Naked Sundays SPF50+ Collagen Glow 100 per cent Mineral Perfecting Priming Lotion were also stripped from stores after a June investigation by CHOICE found just four of 20 sunscreens it tested had lived up to their SPF 50 or 50+ labels.
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Outside Beauty, Endota, and Found My Skin have each released statements on their websites notifying customers they have chosen to halt sales while they await the results of independent SPF testing.
All three brands further emphasised that their affected products — which were not part of the CHOICE investigation — were not being recalled, but rather reassessed as a precautionary measure.
“Our commitment to consumer safety and product integrity is unwavering,” Endota’s statement reads.
“In light of recent industry developments and growing public concern around SPF efficacy, we’re taking proactive steps to ensure our customers continue to feel confident in the protection our products provide.”
Earlier this week, Naked Sundays also stopped sales of its SPF50+ Collagen Glow 100 per cent Mineral Perfecting Priming Lotion as it waits on the results of new independent SPF testing to determine how much sun protection its product provides.
“We’ve paused the (sunscreen) from sale in Australia out of precaution, while we await new, completely independent SPF results, and subsequent guidance from the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) on their investigation into SPF testing,” the company said in a statement.
Like the three other brands, Naked Sundays was also not included in the CHOICE investigation, which sent shockwaves through the sunscreen industry.
One product that was — Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF 50 + Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen — returned an SPF of four.
It was pulled from shelves last week after the brand’s own testing revealed it could not always meet the protection standards promised on its label.
“Given this pattern of inconsistency in testing, we have decided to withdraw Lean/Velvet Screen from the market, effectively immediately,” the brand’s co-founders Ava Chandler-Matthews and Bec Jefferd.
“We are deeply sorry that one of our products has fallen short of the standards we pride ourselves on and that you have come to expect of us.”
The TGA is investigating CHOICE’s report, saying the “complexity and scale of the material involved” meant the process would take time.
Boutique Australian sunscreen brands have been removed from shelves due to failing skin protection tests. Naked Sundays and Ultraviolet have both recalled products over concerns about their sun protection factor.
CHOICE chief executive Ashley de Silva said there was a “clear problem with how sunscreen is regulated and tested” in Australia.
“Without CHOICE’s investigation, Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen would still be on shelves, despite the fact that it does not provide anywhere near the amount of sun protection it claims to,” de Silva said.
“CHOICE is calling on the TGA to urgently provide an update on its investigation. Ultra Violette’s product may not be the only product that is affected and consumers deserve to know whether they can continue to trust SPF claims in Australia.”
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