Michelle Wong from Lab Muffin Beauty Science Scientist reveals sunscreen sprays shouldn’t be used

A scientist has revealed why you should never buy aerosol sunscreen – and even the TGA is having another look at them.

Michelle Wong, a qualified cosmetic scientist and organic medicinal chemistry PhD graduate, posted a video on her Lab Muffin Beauty Science Instagram explaining the issue she has with the popular sprays. 

She said each can of aerosol sunscreen only has enough actual SPF inside for two or three full-body applications. 

‘This study found that a standard aerosol sunscreen has about one third propellant,’ she said referring to a study by the University of Technology in Queensland.

‘But it can be as much as 60 per cent,’ she added.

She explained the propellants are pressurised gasses which help push the sunscreen out of the can. 

‘SPF tests are done on the sunscreen without the propellant, so you are actually getting about one third less product than it says,’ she said. 

‘Some of the propellant also lands as liquid on your skin so it’s hard to tell how much actual sunscreen you have applied.’

The aerosols typically use butane, propane, isobutane and hydrocarbon – which are included on the label of the can.

‘The Australian TGA is currently re-evaluating aerosol sunscreens because of this study… stay tuned,’ she wrote in the caption.

And her video struck a chord with many of her followers.

‘This is so wild! No wonder I have always thought these were not effective,’ a makeup artist wrote.

Some revealed they had been burned after using the sunscreen, not knowing it was out.

‘Can confirm from personal experience. Which also involved explaining to a burns surgeon colleague why my back was bright red,’ one doctor said.

She also explained the common gasses used in the aerosol sunscreens 

‘My poor husband literally just arrived home from a nice day out on the golf course… SUNBURNED. When asked if he applied sunscreen, he replied yes… and yep, it was spray. I just showed him this video, and he’s sold. No more spray can for us. Lotion only… gobs of it,’ one woman wrote.

Others were stunned by the results of the study.

‘I have never thought of this before. I used to love using those because they’re faster, but luckily they were sold out of the propellant anthelios so I didn’t get it this year,’ one woman wrote.

Michelle said while they are convenient she can’t move past the volume issue.

‘They are definitely convenient! I think they’re OK if you spray a ton on, but the 2/3 value is just upsetting for me.’ 

She added that pump sunscreen has its own set of problems – but are not impacted by the aerosol issue.