As the heat arrives, the demand for sunscreen is increasing, and there are suggestions that some products have omitted ingredient labeling or made exaggerated claims about their functionality, which requires caution.

On the 26th, the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) stated that, as a result of its investigation into 38 sunscreen products available on the market, some items posted functional advertisements that consumers might misinterpret, related to effects such as whitening, anti-aging, and trouble care that were unrelated to the products.

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Among the 38 products in the survey, six were found to advertise functionality without undergoing functional cosmetics review (report) or used advertising phrases like 'trouble care' without scientific or objective evidence. 'Seedmul Ultra Facial Moisturizing Sunscreen' and 'Enesti New UV Cut Perfect Sunstick' advertised functions that had not been reviewed, while 'Round Lab Birch Water Sunscreen' used phrases that could mislead regarding the properties of the ingredients as the efficacy of the finished goods.

In addition, 'Bontree Berry Essence Sunblock,' 'TONYMOLY The Moisturizing Green Tea Sunscreen,' and 'Fromm Le Vegan Easy F Cica Water Sun Ampoule' each used phrases like 'anti-aging,' 'low irritation,' and 'trouble care' in their advertisements without objective evidence.

Furthermore, in the case of 'Dr. Jart Every Sun Day Moisturizing Sun,' it was found that the ingredient names listed on the online sales page differed from those on the product. Accordingly, the KCA recommended that the operators of seven products modify or remove misleading phrases in their labeling and advertisements.

Also, among the products surveyed, four contained '4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC)' as a UV blocking agent. The 4-MBC content in these products ranged from 2% to 4%, which meets the current domestic usage limit (4% or lower). However, the European Union (EU) is set to prohibit the distribution of cosmetics containing 4-MBC starting in 2026 due to concerns that significant absorption into the body may act as an endocrine disruptor. Additionally, one product, 'InnoLab California Multi-Protection Sunscreen,' was found to have omitted 4-MBC from its ingredient labeling.

The KCA recommended that operators manufacturing and selling the products cease the use of 4-MBC. Operators plan to either refrain from using 4-MBC or change the UV blocking functional ingredients to alternative substances.

The KCA emphasized, 'When using sunscreen, please carefully check the ingredients and be wary of advertisements that highlight effects lacking objective evidence.'