From SPF 50+ to SPF 4: The Ultra Violette Lean Screen Recall
How can one sunscreen test as both SPF 4 and SPF 64? The Lean Screen saga is a masterclass in why SPF testing variability is a red flag, not a footnote.
Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ returned an SPF of just 4 in CHOICE's test; the brand's own follow-up testing across eight labs produced wildly inconsistent SPF readings of 4, 10, 21, 26, 33, 60, 61 and 64, after which it recalled all batches and cancelled the product from the ARTG.
Regulators like the TGA treat huge inter-lab spreads as a signal that a product cannot be relied on to deliver its claim, which is why a recall and ARTG cancellation followed rather than a simple averaging of the readings.
Questions we get a lot
Why did Ultra Violette recall Lean Screen instead of relying on a higher reading?
When eight labs return SPF results ranging from 4 to 64 for the same product, no single number can be trusted as the true SPF. Faced with that inconsistency, Ultra Violette pulled all batches and cancelled the product from Australia's ARTG. Regulators treat that kind of spread as evidence the product cannot reliably deliver its label claim.
Did other products share Lean Screen's base formula?
Yes. The TGA published guidance identifying sunscreens using the same base formulation as Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF 50+, because a shared base raises the chance of similar performance problems. Consumers were advised to consider alternatives for affected products. Checking that list is wise if you used a related sunscreen.
r/AusSkincare: 'How is it possible for the same sunscreen to score 4 at one lab and 64 at another? Which number do I even believe?'