Le Tan Coconut Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+: What Consumer NZ Measured
Last updated November 2, 2026
Consumer NZ tested it at SPF 46 against an SPF 50+ label in October 2026; the distributor did not respond when Consumer NZ sent the results.
Le Tan's coconut lotion tested at SPF 46 in Consumer NZ's October 2026 round, against a label of SPF 50+. Consumer NZ reports that the claim on the label rests, on the distributor's own account, on a test from 2020.
What was tested
Consumer NZ measured SPF 46, 30 October 2026
Consumer NZ measured SPF 46 against a label of SPF 50+. As the body's results table prints it:
DID NOT MEET SPF LABEL CLAIM · Le Tan Coconut Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ · SPF (tested) 46 · SPF protection High
A row of Consumer NZ's results table, transcribed cell by cell with its column headings; the dots separate the cells. Consumer NZ embeds the table in its article.
Method, as Consumer NZ states it: Sunscreens bought from stores and sent “blind” to an accredited laboratory, which Consumer NZ does not name, in light-resistant packaging, and tested against two aspects of the Australian/New Zealand sunscreen standard. Each sunscreen first underwent a five-person panel test; the seven with preliminary results below their SPF claim then went on to the full 10-person test the standard requires. Product applied at 2mg per cm2 and left to dry for 15 minutes, then a lamp simulating the sunburn-causing part of the UV spectrum shone on protected and unprotected skin, with redness assessed by a technician around 24 hours later and the results from all 10 participants averaged. Broad-spectrum protection measured by spectrophotometer on a thin film of sunscreen on a plate, against a critical wavelength and a UVA protection of at least one-third of the tested SPF.
What the brand said
Consumer NZ reported that Le Tan's distributor did not respond to the results, and that earlier in the year the distributor had told it which laboratory tested the sunscreen, and when.
The distributor of Le Tan did not respond when we sent it our test results. However, earlier this year it told us this sunscreen was tested by PCR Labs in 2020.
What happened next
Market status: no change has been published by any source cited here. Statuses in this story moved repeatedly between 2025 and 2026, so check the regulator before assuming a product is still on sale.
Alternatives that passed
Consumer NZ reported that three of the 10 sunscreens in the same test met their SPF label claim. It sent only the seven whose preliminary five-person result fell short on to the full ten-person test, so these three carry no tested figure: Smart365 Sun Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+, met its claim, Cetaphil Sun Ultra Light Lotion SPF50+, met its claim, Cancer Society Everyday Protection SPF50, met its claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SPF 46 still high protection?
Consumer NZ rated it high protection. The shortfall is against the label: an SPF 50+ claim needs a tested SPF of 60 or higher on Consumer NZ's stated pass mark.
Which laboratory tested Le Tan's own claim?
Consumer NZ reported that the distributor told it earlier in 2026 that the sunscreen was tested by PCR Labs in 2020. The distributor did not respond to the new results.
SPF List did not test this product. The results on this page were published by the named test body or regulator; quotes and links go to the original publication. Brand responses and later developments are listed where they were published. Formulations change; a result applies to the batch and date tested.