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Cancer Council has been crowned the best sunscreen brand. Competing against brands like Bondi Sands, Banana Boat and Nivea, Cancer Council received top scores for ease of absorption, texture, consistency and effectiveness.
Ever picked up a sunscreen bottle and been overwhelmed by the acronyms and other jargon on the label? Let's take a look at a few key terms you should know when buying sunscreen.
The sun emits different types of ultraviolet light, and there are two we need to worry about when protecting our skin: UVA and UVB. Both of them can cause cancer, which is why it's important to look for a sunscreen labelled as being broad spectrum – this means it offers protection against UVA and UVB rays.
SPF stands for sun protection factor. This rating indicates the amount of UV rays a sunscreen allows to reach the skin.
The highest rating for sunscreens sold in Australia is SPF50+. According to the Cancer Council, this filters out 98% of UV radiation, with the remaining 2% (or 1/50th) getting through to the skin. SPF50+ sunscreen is only slightly more effective than SPF30+ sunscreen, which filters out 96.7% of UV radiation but lets 1/30th reach the skin.
The higher the SPF rating, the higher the level of protection a sunscreen offers.
Sunscreen is sold in many different forms:
Each option has its own pros and cons. For example, the Cancer Council doesn't recommend aerosol spray sunscreens because they're difficult to apply correctly. Roll-ons are portable and convenient, while some people prefer gels that aren't as sticky as creams and lotions.
In many cases, it all comes down to personal preference. Just make sure the product you choose has a high SPF rating and is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – look for the sunscreen's Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods listing number (AUST L number) on the label.
Can't decide which sunscreen to buy? Make sure to consider these factors when comparing products.
The Cancer Council recommends choosing a sunscreen with an SPF30+ rating or higher. For the highest level of protection, use SPF50+ sunscreen.
Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
Make sure the sunscreen features an Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods listing number (AUST L number) on the label. This means it has been approved by the TGA.
Check the label to find out if the sunscreen is water-resistant and, if so, for how long. Only sunscreens that have an SPF of 30 or greater can claim to be water-resistant for four hours.
If your skin reacts to sunscreen or other creams and lotions, look for a product designed for people with sensitive skin.
Prices vary between brands and depending on the type of sunscreen (e.g. cream, roll-on or spray) you buy. However, when comparing two products of the same type, as long as they have the same SPF rating, waterproof rating and are TGA approved, there's no reason not to go for the cheaper option.
Ready to buy? Check out our roundup of the best sunscreen in Australia
Australia's skin cancer statistics make for sobering reading. It's estimated that more than 16,000 melanoma of the skin cases will be diagnosed in 2020, with melanoma expected to cause 1,375 deaths in 2020. And at the end of 2015, more than 57,000 Australians were living with melanoma of the skin, having been diagnosed in the period from 2011 to 2015.
Sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer, but it's just one way to protect yourself against the harsh Aussie sun. It also doesn't protect you against all UV rays, so other measures like wearing a hat, donning protective clothing, staying in the shade and avoiding the sun in the middle of the day are also important.
There are a few more things to consider before you choose the right sunscreen for your family:
Check out our list of the best face sunscreen in Australia
Overall rating | Value for money | Effectiveness | Ease of absorption | Texture and consistency | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALDI Ombra | 4.55 | 4.63 | 4.39 | 4.29 | 4.37 |
Banana Boat | 4.43 | 4.14 | 4.41 | 4.25 | 4.31 |
Bondi Sands | 4.19 | 3.81 | 3.9 | 3.86 | 4 |
Cancer Council | 4.59 | 4.49 | 4.67 | 4.45 | 4.59 |
Coles | 3.84 | 4.14 | 3.94 | 3.98 | 3.84 |
Invisible Zinc | 4.35 | 4.1 | 4.45 | 4.15 | 4.2 |
La Roche-Posay | 4.48 | 4 | 4.55 | 4.34 | 4.45 |
Le Tan | 4.24 | 3.95 | 4.24 | 3.9 | 4.14 |
Neutrogena | 4.26 | 4.12 | 4.38 | 4.42 | 4.34 |
Nivea | 4.25 | 3.96 | 4.24 | 4.16 | 4.16 |
Reef | 3.6 | 3.55 | 3.95 | 3.75 | 3.65 |
Sun Bum | 2.75 | 2.63 | 3.25 | 3 | 3.25 |
SunSense | 4.28 | 4.14 | 4.35 | 4.21 | 4.21 |
Woolworths | 4.04 | 4.22 | 4.1 | 3.94 | 3.86 |
Other | 4.34 | 4 | 4.4 | 4.23 | 4.23 |
From the best overall face moisturiser for dry skin to the best body moisturiser, hand moisturiser and tinted moisturiser for dry skin, these are the best 7 moisturisers for dry skin you can buy in Australia right now.
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