I've been immersed in the ocean since before I could walk — diving, snorkelling, and sharing my passion for marine life with others. Before I became a mum, the Queensland sun had me slip, slop, slapping for years (should have been decades).

Image by Kindel Media: Safe sunscreen should go far beyond the SPF rating!

So when the Choice report dropped — showing 16 of 20 sunscreens didn’t stack up to their own SPF claims — I felt that gut-drop moment.

Was I shocked? Nope!
Was I frustrated? Absolutely.

 

The Scandal:

• Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF50+ returned SPF4 in independent testing.
• Other brands flagged: Banana Boat, Neutrogena, Bondi Sands, Cancer Council.
  

The Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) is investigating, while brands are recalling or pausing sales. 

At first glance, the SPF numbers appear solid — La Roche-Posay at SPF 72, Neutrogena at SPF 56, Cancer Council at SPF 52, Mecca at SPF 51. But scratch the surface and the shine wears off fast. Neutrogena and La Roche-Posay have both been forced into recalls over benzene contamination — yes, a known carcinogen showing up in products we’re told to trust.

Mecca? Customers complain of irritation, and even their marketing copy has been hit with official complaints for overreaching claims.

While Cancer Council may appear pristine on this list, but none of these brands are addressing the broader issues: single-use plastics, chemical exposure, hormone disruption, and misleading 'cruelty-free' logos that greenwash their products.

SPF might pass the lab test — but it fails the Trust test.

We trust them for UV protection in the short term, but what’s the cost to our skin, our oceans, and our long-term wellbeing?

And then Ultra Violette… marketed as “lean” and “clean” zinc, yet testing at SPF 4 and 5 in two separate labs.

That’s not just a trust issue, that’s a trust crisis.

Photo by Mikhail Nilov: 

My Trust Issues With Today’s Top Sunscreens

Watching my fair-skinned son play in the sun, even during Queensland's mild winters, really makes it hit home — it’s all too real! The reef I love is at risk from chemical sunscreens, and now the chemicals are being discovered in our seafood too!

Even ‘trusted’ products can’t always be relied on. That’s why I created The Sunscreen List™ — to cut through the marketing noise, challenge profit-driven authority, and provide parents like me with advice they can trust.

With experts to guide the standards, I established the SunSafe® certification, to recognise the sunscreen companies doing it right, and inspire the industry to be more environmentally responsible and trustworthy.

Building a Circle of Trust for Safer Sun Protection — Globally

The sunscreen scandal isn't just a headline — it's a wake-up call. That’s why I’m building The Circle of experts — dermatologists, paediatricians, cosmetic scientists and reef guardians from at GBRMPA — and connecting with innovative Australian brands and SPF formulators. I’m also developing an education platform to help Aussies (and the world) finally understand what SPF numbers really mean and how to use sun protection safely.

 

In Part 2, we’ll dive into why SPF labels can’t always be trusted (greenwashing) and how you can actually stay safe in the sun — without risking your skin, your future or the reef.

Trust us, here's the full story

• CHOICE sunscreen test results: La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena, Cancer Council, Mecca

• The New Daily: Sunscreen protection tests and results

• Courier Mail: SPF testing and government probe article

• Consumer Reports: FDA Withheld Information About the Safety Risks of Aveeno and Neutrogena

• Independent UK: La Roche-Posay recall related to benzene

• Reddit: Mecca Cosmetica user experiences with irritation and marketing complaints
  

• ABC News AU: Neutrogena/Aveeno recall coverage

• PR Newswire: Neutrogena benzene class-action lawsuit