Natio Sun Quick Dry Moisturising Sunscreen SPF 50+: What Consumer NZ Measured
Last updated November 2, 2026
Consumer NZ tested it at SPF 47 against an SPF 50+ label in October 2026, short of the SPF 60 Consumer NZ requires for a 50+ claim; Natio told Consumer NZ that three accredited laboratories support the claim.
Natio's quick-dry moisturising sunscreen came back from Consumer NZ's laboratory at SPF 47. That is well above the SPF 30 Consumer NZ treats as high protection, and the highest figure among the seven shortfalls in the round, but under Consumer NZ's own pass mark an SPF 50+ label needs a tested SPF of 60.
What was tested
Consumer NZ measured SPF 47, 30 October 2026
Consumer NZ measured SPF 47 against a label of SPF 50+. As the body's results table prints it:
DID NOT MEET SPF LABEL CLAIM · Natio Sun Quick Dry Moisturising Sunscreen SPF50+ · SPF (tested) 47 · 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
A Natio spokesperson told Consumer NZ the company was surprised by the result. Natio said it could not provide the reports it relies on, because they contain intellectual property and information covered by contractual obligations.
Natio has had the formula tested by three independent laboratories accredited to conduct the relevant testing, and all results received support the product’s stated SPF and label claims.
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 47 a fail for an SPF 50+ sunscreen?
On Consumer NZ's reckoning, yes: it states that to meet an SPF50+ label claim a sunscreen must achieve a tested SPF of 60 or higher. Consumer NZ still rated the product high protection.
Did Natio dispute the result?
Natio told Consumer NZ it was surprised, that three independent accredited laboratories had tested the formula, and that all results support the stated SPF. It said it was unable to release those reports.
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.