Do all sunscreens protect as well as they claim?
- Chiné Burger
- Dec 12, 2025
- 1 min read
You might have heard a little bit of hype from Choice after it was found that many well-known sunscreens did not have an SPF as high as they claimed. The link at the bottom of this post includes an explanation of their results as well as a really nice infographic of the results. I was alarmed to see how low some very reputable brands were testing.
I recently attended an education session by Dr Jenna Sullivan, a well-known dermatologist in Toowoomba. She addressed the Choice results briefly. She explained it very well by saying that some sunscreen is better than none. While, ideally, we should be wearing a reputable SPF 50 + everyday, as long as you have an SPF 30 on it is better than no sunscreen. What is really important is to find a brand that you and your children like the consistency of and is affordable.
The other important aspect is the amount of sunscreen you apply. A simple trick is the 2 finger rule. Squeeze sunscreen onto your index and middle finger. Use 2 finger for your face and 2 fingers for each body part.
So If you buy a really expensive brand that is SPF 50 but you are only using it sparingly, you won’t be getting the protection you think.
So remember to Slip, slop, slap, sleek, slide and enjoy the beautiful Queensland sun in a safe way!
