Recalled Twice in 2025: The Separated Kids' Zinc Sunscreen Parents Should Check
A watery, separated sunscreen can quietly lose its SPF - here's the simple visual check before you slather zinc on your child.
In December 2025, Vitality Brands recalled three batches of Cancer Council Clear Zinc Kids SPF50+ 110g in Australia after the product could separate (with water visibly separating out), which can reduce SPF performance; this followed earlier 2025 SPF-testing concerns where the same product measured SPF 33 instead of 50+.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration flagged the separation as a problem because a sunscreen that has split apart may not deliver its labeled SPF, leaving children less protected than parents expect.
Questions we get a lot
Which kids' sunscreen was recalled in December 2025 and why?
Vitality Brands recalled three batches of Cancer Council Clear Zinc Kids SPF50+ 110g in Australia in December 2025 because the product could separate, with water visibly separating out. The TGA flagged that this separation can reduce SPF performance. Affected batches were identified in the official recall notice.
Was this the only problem with that sunscreen in 2025?
No. The December separation recall followed earlier 2025 SPF-testing concerns in which the same kids' product was reported to measure SPF 33 rather than the labeled SPF 50+. Consumer body CHOICE covered both the testing findings and the subsequent recall. Together they prompted closer scrutiny of the product.
Does a separated sunscreen really lose protection?
It can. When a sunscreen separates so that water visibly splits out, the UV filters may no longer be evenly distributed, which can reduce the SPF you actually get. That is why the TGA treated the separation as a safety issue worth recalling. A quick visual check before applying any sunscreen is a reasonable precaution.
r/AusSkincare: 'My kid's Cancer Council zinc sunscreen looks watery and separated at the top - is that the batch that got recalled?'