’Tis the season to slip, slop, slap, wrap, and in 2020, scan, but do you know what's going on your skin (and into the ocean) when you use sunscreen?

Consumer NZ recently tested out 10 of the most popular brands of sunscreen in New Zealand, and they found that only half of them actually had the SPF rating that they claimed on the label. 

The sunscreens that passed the test were:

• Cancer Society Everyday SPF50+
• Cetaphil Sun Kids Liposomal Lotion SPF50+
• Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen SPF50+
• Skinnies Conquer with Manuka Oil Sports Sunscreen SPF50+
• Nivea Sun Sensitive Protect SPF50

Consumer NZ will be testing more sunscreens. However, delays due to Covid-19 mean that these results won't be available until early 2021.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of skin cancer and melanoma in the world, but there’s no requirement for sunscreen manufacturers to regularly test their products, or even test them at all.

Another issue that comes with some sunscreen use is the danger that it can cause to the environment. The popular mermaid pools in Matapouri had a rāhui tapu placed over them to give the sensitive ecosystem time to recover after it was damaged by thousands of visitors leaking sunscreen into the pools. 

According to National Geographic, about 14,000 tons of sunscreen are estimated to wash into the ocean each year. Research has shown that some of the ingredients found in some sunscreens can cause damage to coral reefs, alongside increasing ocean temperatures and acidification of the ocean.

Chemical sunscreens typically contain ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, as well as parabens and other preservatives, which are known to damage coral and disrupt normal hormone balance.

So next time you reach for the sunscreen on the shelf, think about what it is you are putting on your skin and into the water. Do a bit of research before buying a bottle and get the one that's right for you, your family and the planet.