News Letter

SPF Ratings: A Crisis of Reliability
By
Keunhyung Park
Translated by
James Lee
February
2026, No.6

OTCM 뉴스레터 
Who are you trusting with your UV clinical trials?

Sunscreen is no longer a seasonal commodity. It has become a fundamental daily skin-protection essential for everyone, regardless of age or gender.
Consumers make their purchase decisions based on the SPF/PA ratings displayed on the label, treating those numbers as a scientific "promise." But in today’s market, how well is that promise actually being kept?

01. SPF Reliability Crisis
The SPF Gap: Discrepancy Between Labels and Reality

Sunscreen ratings (SPF and PA) are determined through in-vivo human clinical trials. These results form the basis of the labeling you see on products in the market. The critical question, however, is: How accurately and rigorously were these trials conducted?

Recent international cases have provided some truly shocking answers to this very question.
Independent Australian Testing Reveals: "80% of SPF 50 Products Failed to Meet Standards"

In June 2025, an Australian consumer advocacy group conducted independent testing on 20 popular SPF 50 and 50+ sunscreens. These tests were performed by accredited, specialized UV testing laboratories.

The results were staggering: 16 out of the 20 products (80%) failed to meet their labeled SPF claims.

The findings have been officially reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for further action.

This case transcends individual brand failures; it serves as a stark reminder of why
reliability and reproducibility in UV clinical trials are non-negotiable.

02. Integrity of the Process: Why It Outweighs the SPF Rating
Focus on the ‘Process,’ Not Just the Number!

The takeaway from this study is clear: sunscreens are undeniably effective. The problem arises when inaccurate measurements or lax protocols prevent those labels from actually protecting the consumer.

Ultimately, the core issue is not the "sunscreen" itself, but the integrity of the evaluation process used to generate those SPF ratings. Without a reliable process, a number is just a number.

Who conducts the UV clinical trials—and how—is what truly matters.

The efficacy of a sunscreen is not determined by raw materials or formulation alone.

To ensure that both the SPF ratings and your brand’s credibility hold weight, the final stage of validation—the human clinical trial—must be impeccably reliable.

SCRC (Sunjin Clinical Research Center) is a leading institution specializing in UV clinical evaluation for cosmetics.



V Strict Protocol Design: We design rigorous tests based on international guidelines, covering products for various markets including Korea, Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia.

V Expert Synergy: Our team consists of seasoned clinical trial specialists working alongside internal and external UV experts.

V Reliability First: Through evaluation systems focused on reproducibility and consistency, our top priority is delivering SPF/PA results you can trust.
　


Numbers can be easily generated, but trust must be earned.

Consumers choose products based on the numbers on the label. However, for those of us in the industry, true credibility is built through the standards and integrity of the process behind those numbers.

At SCRC, we go beyond superficial testing. By adhering to rigorous scientific principles and ethical standards in UV clinical evaluation, we are committed to delivering results that both the market and consumers can rely on with absolute confidence.

Website: www.scrc.co.kr Inquiry: kiyonglee@sunjinbs.com

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