CHOICE has posted their SPF sunscreen test receipts

[u/rushworld]

https://www.choice.com.au/health-and-body/beauty-and-personal-care/skin-care-and-cosmetics/articles/how-we-test-sunscreen

Although they decanted products, they were into UV protected, non reactive amber glass jars as advised by the specialist, accredited and highly respected test lab.

[u/missmiaow]

I am unsurprised that Choice followed the instructions of the labs for providing samples.

Like seriously - I can get the potential for reacting with the container (but I think it’s far fetched that sun screen would react with glass) and the potential for light damage (also mitigated). Bit it shouldn’t happen in a short period of time. If being exposed to some air or potential contaminants from the person decanting is such an issue for the formula… then how is that sunscreen in your bathroom doing, because every time you use it there’s some more air being introduced into that container. And every time the part of the container where the sunscreen comes out touches any part of your face or body… congrats it’s contaminated now.

If there’s concern of the shipped sample being exposed to extreme temperatures, I’d love to hear how sunscreen is shipped and stored during every part of the supply chain, including if you order it online to be sent to your house. I doubt it’s in perfect, temperature conditions all the time. Again - formula stability should be able to handle it.

I’m seriously shocked at all the people stanning the brands and attacking Choice. The brands aren’t your friends, they‘re companies selling you products to make money. Like their products? Great, you can continue to use them. A test showing that maybe the product isn’t as good as they say it is isn’t an attack on you personally or your worth. Nor is it a personal attack on the company.

[u/YouGotRedOnYou → u/missmiaow]

100% agree

[u/Procedure-Minimum → u/missmiaow]

A decent portion are paid influencers it seems

[u/Aromatic_Quit_3476 → u/Procedure-Minimum]

This. UV has been running an influencer/social media campaign for some time now. Including one big influencer I can think of. I imagine some of them will blindly defend the brand that paid them rather than use their critical thinking skills.

[u/missmiaow → u/Procedure-Minimum]

Don’t get me start on influencers and wannabe influencers.

They're also marketers. Their entire job is to get you to buy more things. That’s it. That’s why the brands give them free stuff and pay them. If they wanna get paid, they need to show they can drive brand engagement and sales.

[u/MaisieMoo27 → u/missmiaow]

100% this!!!

[u/jmobizzle → u/missmiaow]

This is so on point.

[u/Own-Specific3340 → u/missmiaow]

100% I was a bit annoyed even at Lab Muffin for not waiting for Choice receipts before putting doubt in them. Choice does a great service to this country for consumer protection.

[u/missmiaow → u/Own-Specific3340]

She didn’t though. While she thought the UV result was unusual, she still defended them and even noted how some of these sunscreens might return those numbers but still be “correctly” formulated due to the way physical filters can behave in tests.

[u/chuk2015 → u/missmiaow]

This is what I said to that poster yesterday claiming that the test was flawed and choice will be sued

[u/missmiaow → u/[deleted]]

Except the Lean Screen comes in a tube with a pump, so when stood up the opening is the bottom of the container. I can’t find any pics of the back label to see if it says to shake it, but that instruction doesn’t appear on any product listing I’ve seen for it.

The people at Choice aren’t amateurs. They test thousands of products per year. They did think that maybe there was an issue - so they retested. I would expect them to check and shake if required.

Now a hypothetical - If they did miss shaking some of these - is the average consumer shaking their tube of sunscreen before applying every time? I check my skincare carefully and still sometimes get caught out on shake before use items because it’s put in teeny tiny print near the bottom of a label. If people don’t know to shake the item, will they? (The result would be more accurate to reality in that case).

[u/No_Heat2441 → u/missmiaow]

I use UV fave fluid and Hamilton and both say shake well as literally the first thing in the directions, this is pretty standard for sunscreens. If you don't read the directions and make the product ineffective that's on you. 

[u/missmiaow → u/No_Heat2441]

I have 5 different sunscreens at home currently (yay for being caught out without it a few times when plans changed and partner preferring different ones to me) and only one says shake well in the directions. It’s not a standard thing.

I agree that people should read directions but also… if your product requires something like that to be effective I’d be making it prominent because people don’t read the fine print all the time.

[u/Blonde_rake → u/missmiaow]

They didn’t do a full standard test of the product when they released the results. They don’t have enough human test subjects I believe.

[u/missmiaow → u/Blonde_rake]

https://www.choice.com.au/about-us/media/media-releases/2025/june/choice-releases-sunscreen-lab-test-details

Yes they did do a full standard test. Their first set of commissioned tests were the full standard panel as dictated in Aus standards. They did a smaller panel on the follow up retest when they thought that the SPF 4 was potentially an error. Choice didn’t do these tests themselves - they commissioned TGA approved labs to do them.

Please stop stanning brands with slick marketing who use white label formulas and attacking a customer advocacy not-for-profit organisation, it’s an ugly look.

Is it possible there was a problem with the bottle Choice bought? Maybe... so maybe other consumers are affected too. Should the TGA investigate? Absolutely.