You may have noticed: The market today is filled with hundreds of thousands of products and of course, the price range is wide. Manufacturers of sunscreens estimate that the Therapeutic Goods Administration, or TGA (USA), has approved approximately 1,000 different cream formulas for sale.
Today we can buy a protective cream with SPF for less than 1000-2000 ALL, or another for 10,000 ALL. What confuses us, is that basically, all of these products do the same thing.
This means that all sunscreens with a certain SPF - let's say 50+ - should offer exactly the same sun protection.
There are many different formulas for sunscreens, which is why there is such a wide variety of active ingredients in bottles, but they all give the same result - or at least, that's the theory. An investigation by Choice found that four of the six SPF50 + sunscreens tested did not meet the TGA guidelines for sun protection.
"While they are good for consumer confidence, TGA laws pose a real problem for manufacturers of sunscreens," says John Staton, Commercial Director at Technical Consulting Services, who regularly advises on the production and design of sunscreens.
Because all sunscreens offer the same protection, manufacturers need to find other ways to reduce the market.
Market segmentation is a science in itself. Higher cost brands are focused on elegance. Active ingredients may be more sophisticated. The product can claim to resist 4 hours in water.
"Elegance" is becoming a key trend for consumers of sunscreens, says Mr Staton. But that may not be for the best.
Consumers are looking for a product that feels extremely light on the skin. This needs more expensive ingredients, so some brands cost a little more, he said.
Spray sunscreens are the industry's response to consumer demands for sunscreens that feel lighter and less greasy. While sunscreen is just as effective, spraying with it is far less effective than "foaming," at least according to Staton.
"You're paying for a lot of gas that does not get on your skin. These types of products automatically feel lighter, softer, more elegant - because people are not putting in enough. So make sure you at least reapply it!"
So what causes the wide price range?
Generally sun protection does not cost much. Some of the added costs come from additional features like water resistance. Some come from the inefficiency of the manufacturer; some manufacturers are better than others.
What should you buy?
Buy sunscreen that suits your needs. If you want a cheap sunscreen, no problem, they all work the same. Just make sure you read the label and know what you are wearing!
Burimi: The Sydney Morning Herald
