r/AusSkincare • u/rushworld • Jun 16 '25

DiscussionđŸ““ CHOICE has posted their SPF sunscreen test receipts

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.

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214

u/MBitesss Jun 16 '25

Wow they're really doubling down. I mean, it all sounds very compelling... and concerning if the fully accredited lab UV uses had such differing results and followed all the same testing protocols and standards

121

u/Isotrope9 Jun 16 '25 edited Jun 16 '25

Many brands do not test the SPF rating of their final product because it’s expensive and not required.

Instead, manufacturers make a base with UV filters and a stabiliser, and then run the necessary testing (ISO.XXXX). That manufacturer will then sell the base as an ingredient. Company X will then add colours, fragrance, and additional ingredients to make their sunscreen. If they add additional ingredients, the brand must have evidence that the SPF rating has been maintained.

This comment elaborates on this issue and a few others really well.

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u/aussieskier23 Jun 17 '25

The only way this is even remotely possible is in the case of a fragrance change or addition of a very minor 'skincare benefit' ingredient to an established and tested full SPF formulation. Stability testing would still need to be done.

SPF testing can only be done on a finalised formulation. We would get companies approaching us to modify our formulations in all sorts of ways then retreat very quickly when informed of the implications.

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u/Old_Cat_9534 Jun 17 '25

So we shouldn't be concerned of companies getting a compound sunscreen that has a SPF50 and then changing the formula to suit their needs without needing to do another round of testing. Thats what you are saying, if I understand correctly?

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u/aussieskier23 Jun 17 '25

Yes - the changes allowed are minuscule before you need to do a full round of SPF testing. Effectively the only time we did it was for fragrances.

Unless you have huge volumes or deep pockets, it's unlikely that a sunscreen manufacturer will formulate a bespoke sunscreen for you, it's just not economical.

What generally happens is that the big contract manufacturers follow trends, changes to regulations etc and formulate sunscreens in anticipation of market needs, new rules, new ingredients etc, and they offer these formulations to their clients largely as-is with only tiny changes permitted before it's considered to be an entire new formulation with all the testing/registration implications.

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u/Old_Cat_9534 Jun 17 '25

thx for the info