Hawaiian Tropic Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Allegedly Inflated SPF Ratings

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit alleges Hawaiian Tropic’s SPF 50 Sport sunscreen provides only SPF 20 protection, deceiving consumers and putting their skin at risk.

Consumers Affected: U.S. buyers of Hawaiian Tropic Everyday Active SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Lotion.

Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Edgewell Personal Care Brands, the maker of Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen, misleads consumers about the protection level of one of its popular products, a new lawsuit claims. 

The class action lawsuit claims the company’s “Everyday Active SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Lotion” actually provides only SPF 20 protection, less than half of what’s advertised, deceiving buyers into paying premium prices for inferior protection.

Plaintiffs Say Hawaiian Tropic’s SPF 50 Sport Lotion Offers Far Less Protection

The lawsuit was filed by Illinois resident Agatha Lewandowska Giannese and Florida resident Andrea Fahey, who both bought bottles of Hawaiian Tropic’s SPF 50 Sport lotion from major retailers including Amazon and Publix. 

Both women said the sunscreen’s labeled SPF rating was their main reason for choosing the product, expecting it to provide high-level defense against UV rays. After using it, they say the lotion did not perform as advertised, offering less absorption and filtration than expected. 

Independent lab testing commissioned by their attorneys allegedly confirmed the product’s true SPF level was closer to 20.

The plaintiffs claim that Edgewell marketed and sold the sunscreen nationwide with identical packaging and ingredients, meaning all bottles likely offered the same lower level of protection.

They argue that consumers like them paid extra for what they believed was a high-SPF product, resulting in financial loss and potential health risks.

Lab Tests Allegedly Show SPF Level Closer to 20

According to the complaint, sunscreens are priced and marketed according to their sun protection factor, or SPF, a measure of how much longer a person can stay in the sun without burning compared to wearing no sunscreen. 

Products labeled SPF 50 should allow roughly 50 times more protection time. However, the plaintiffs say the Hawaiian Tropic lotion falls far short, despite being advertised, distributed, and sold as an SPF 50 formula by Edgewell, which also owns brands like Banana Boat and Schick.

The lawsuit alleges the company either knew or should have known about the discrepancy based on its own product testing, formulation, and labeling procedures. The plaintiffs say the company continued to market the lotion as SPF 50 to capitalize on consumer trust and charge higher prices than lower-SPF competitors.

A Wave of Skincare Lawsuits

The case joins a growing list of lawsuits targeting major personal care brands for alleged false advertising or safety issues. Similar cases have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, Aveeno, and Neutrogena over products allegedly contaminated with benzene, a carcinogenic chemical. 

Other companies, including Nivea, Dove, and e.l.f. Cosmetics, have faced lawsuits accusing them of misleading consumers with exaggerated natural claims or underfilled products.

Giannese and Fahey are seeking to represent all U.S. consumers who purchased Hawaiian Tropic Everyday Active SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Lotion during the relevant period.

They’re asking for damages, restitution, and an injunction to stop Edgewell from continuing the alleged mislabeling, alleging unjust enrichment and violations of consumer protection laws. 

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Lewandowska Giannese, et al. v. Edgewell Personal Care Brands, LLC.
• Case Number: 3:25-cv-01717 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• James J. Reardon, Jr. (Reardon Scanlon LLP)
• Frank S. Hedin and Elliot O. Jackson (Hedin LLP)

Have you used Hawaiian Tropic’s SPF 50 sunscreen? Did it perform as expected? Share your experience in the comments below.