Scientist debunks the sunscreen ‘toast test’ and details why the popular experiment is a misleading
- Replies 2
If you’ve been on the internet long enough, then chances are you’ve come across multiple skin care experts constantly urging people to wear sunscreen even if they have no plans to step out into the sun for the day. It’s a well-known tip among beauty fans and is often hailed as the ultimate key to defying age.
Recently, one video featuring an experiment that involves using a piece of toast to measure the efficacy of sunscreen made the rounds online.
One side of the toast was slathered with a dollop of sunscreen from a particular brand and the other side was left unadulterated. After popping it in a toaster, simple observation determined that the side coated with the sunscreen didn’t cook at all while the other half turned brown. Seems pretty logical, eh?
Well, one Australian scientist begged to differ. Michelle Wong, a qualified Cosmetic Scientist and Organic Medicinal Chemistry PhD graduate deemed the ‘sunscreen toast test’ a complete lie and found the thought of applying skincare products to bread absurd.
“Beauty standards have gotten out of control!” Image Credit: @labmuffinbeautyscience
In an Instagram video, the scientist said that the experiment does nothing but prove that “beauty standards have gotten out of control.”
“This [test] just shows that water absorbs heat. Browning bread is the ‘Maillard’ reaction. It uses heat and water is great at absorbing heat,”
“This [test] would also work with a moisturiser,” she added.
According to Alimentarium.org, the ‘Maillard’ reaction is a series of chemical reactions that usually happens when we cook meals. It’s responsible for the browning of food as well as the release of flavour and aroma when it’s exposed to heat.
“The pH level, the water content and the temperature of the food all influence the speed of the reaction and directly influence the aromas that are released,” they state on their website.
Several users agreed with Ms Wong and said that videos testing skincare products on food items are generally 'ridiculous'.
“This is worse than the vitamin C serum on apple slices,” one woman hissed.
“Skincare on food, food as skincare… Not sure where it’s all leading,” wrote another.
“This is the stupidest test. Obviously, this is a marketing tactic, but it’s still very stupid. Sunscreen is not meant to work on bread and even if it did, it would not tell us anything about how it works on skin.” argued a third.
However, thousands of people believed that the ‘sunscreen toast test’ was genuine.
Video Credit: @labmuffinbeautyscience
This isn't the first time Ms Wong has dropped ‘truth bombs’ about sunscreen products.
Recently, she divulged why you shouldn’t waste your money on aerosol sunscreen (or sunscreens in spray bottles) – and even the TGA is having another look at them.
She explained that each can of aerosol sunscreen only has sufficient SPF inside for two to three full-body applications.
“This study found that a standard aerosol sunscreen has about one-third propellant,” she said, referring to a study conducted by the University of Technology in Queensland.
“But it can be as much as 60 per cent,”
The scientist went on to explain that propellants are pressurised gases that help push the sunscreen out of the can.
Ms Wong explained why aerosol sunscreens ‘suck’. Image Credit: labmuffinbeautyscience
“SPF tests are done on the sunscreen without the propellant, so you are actually getting about one-third less product than the bottle says,” she warned.
“Some of the propellants also land as liquid on your skin, so it's hard to tell how much actual sunscreen you have applied.”
Aerosol sunscreens typically use the chemicals butane, propane, isobutane and hydrocarbon – which you can confirm by taking a quick glimpse at the ingredients section included on the label of the can.
“The Australian TGA is currently re-evaluating aerosol sunscreens because of this study... Stay tuned,” she added in the caption.
Her nifty tip left thousands stunned, with users flooding the comments section of her video to express their awe.
“This is so wild! No wonder I have always thought these were not effective,” one makeup artist wrote.
One shared that they had suffered from sunburns after using this type of sunscreen, saying: “I can confirm this from personal experience. Which also involved explaining to a burns surgeon colleague why my back was bright red,”
“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 cans for us. Lotion only… Gobs of it,” a third shared.
“I have never thought of this before. I used to love using those because they’re faster, but luckily they were sold out so I didn’t get any this year,” a fourth commented.
Although Ms Wong admitted that aerosol sunscreens are certainly convenient, she said that the volume issue is simply non-negotiable.
“They are definitely convenient! I think they're OK if you spray a ton on, but the two-thirds value is just upsetting for me,”
What do YOU think of the ‘sunscreen toast test’? Is it ridiculous or does it actually seem logical? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Watch Ms Wong's full Instagram video on sunscreen aerosols below:
Video Credit: @labmuffinbeautyscience
Recently, one video featuring an experiment that involves using a piece of toast to measure the efficacy of sunscreen made the rounds online.
One side of the toast was slathered with a dollop of sunscreen from a particular brand and the other side was left unadulterated. After popping it in a toaster, simple observation determined that the side coated with the sunscreen didn’t cook at all while the other half turned brown. Seems pretty logical, eh?
Well, one Australian scientist begged to differ. Michelle Wong, a qualified Cosmetic Scientist and Organic Medicinal Chemistry PhD graduate deemed the ‘sunscreen toast test’ a complete lie and found the thought of applying skincare products to bread absurd.
“Beauty standards have gotten out of control!” Image Credit: @labmuffinbeautyscience
In an Instagram video, the scientist said that the experiment does nothing but prove that “beauty standards have gotten out of control.”
“This [test] just shows that water absorbs heat. Browning bread is the ‘Maillard’ reaction. It uses heat and water is great at absorbing heat,”
“This [test] would also work with a moisturiser,” she added.
According to Alimentarium.org, the ‘Maillard’ reaction is a series of chemical reactions that usually happens when we cook meals. It’s responsible for the browning of food as well as the release of flavour and aroma when it’s exposed to heat.
“The pH level, the water content and the temperature of the food all influence the speed of the reaction and directly influence the aromas that are released,” they state on their website.
Several users agreed with Ms Wong and said that videos testing skincare products on food items are generally 'ridiculous'.
“This is worse than the vitamin C serum on apple slices,” one woman hissed.
“Skincare on food, food as skincare… Not sure where it’s all leading,” wrote another.
“This is the stupidest test. Obviously, this is a marketing tactic, but it’s still very stupid. Sunscreen is not meant to work on bread and even if it did, it would not tell us anything about how it works on skin.” argued a third.
However, thousands of people believed that the ‘sunscreen toast test’ was genuine.
Video Credit: @labmuffinbeautyscience
This isn't the first time Ms Wong has dropped ‘truth bombs’ about sunscreen products.
Recently, she divulged why you shouldn’t waste your money on aerosol sunscreen (or sunscreens in spray bottles) – and even the TGA is having another look at them.
She explained that each can of aerosol sunscreen only has sufficient SPF inside for two to three full-body applications.
“This study found that a standard aerosol sunscreen has about one-third propellant,” she said, referring to a study conducted by the University of Technology in Queensland.
“But it can be as much as 60 per cent,”
The scientist went on to explain that propellants are pressurised gases that help push the sunscreen out of the can.
Ms Wong explained why aerosol sunscreens ‘suck’. Image Credit: labmuffinbeautyscience
“SPF tests are done on the sunscreen without the propellant, so you are actually getting about one-third less product than the bottle says,” she warned.
“Some of the propellants also land as liquid on your skin, so it's hard to tell how much actual sunscreen you have applied.”
Aerosol sunscreens typically use the chemicals butane, propane, isobutane and hydrocarbon – which you can confirm by taking a quick glimpse at the ingredients section included on the label of the can.
“The Australian TGA is currently re-evaluating aerosol sunscreens because of this study... Stay tuned,” she added in the caption.
Her nifty tip left thousands stunned, with users flooding the comments section of her video to express their awe.
“This is so wild! No wonder I have always thought these were not effective,” one makeup artist wrote.
One shared that they had suffered from sunburns after using this type of sunscreen, saying: “I can confirm this from personal experience. Which also involved explaining to a burns surgeon colleague why my back was bright red,”
“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 cans for us. Lotion only… Gobs of it,” a third shared.
“I have never thought of this before. I used to love using those because they’re faster, but luckily they were sold out so I didn’t get any this year,” a fourth commented.
Although Ms Wong admitted that aerosol sunscreens are certainly convenient, she said that the volume issue is simply non-negotiable.
“They are definitely convenient! I think they're OK if you spray a ton on, but the two-thirds value is just upsetting for me,”
What do YOU think of the ‘sunscreen toast test’? Is it ridiculous or does it actually seem logical? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Watch Ms Wong's full Instagram video on sunscreen aerosols below:
Video Credit: @labmuffinbeautyscience
.png){kind=icon}
