October 21, 2021
If you live in Australia you need to wear sunscreen — that’s just a fact. Aside from the fact that we boast the dubious title of “highest rate of melanoma in the world”, it’s a well-known fact that the sun is the number one cause of premature ageing, beating out every other lifestyle choice including smoking and drinking. On the upside, Australia does also boast some of the toughest sunscreen regulations in the world, and as such the quality of our SPF is the best on the planet.
As far as the “right” sunscreen for you, the truth is, the right one is the one you want to wear daily. It doesn’t matter if your preference is mineral sunscreen, natural sunscreen or chemical sunscreen, as long as it’s broad spectrum 50+ and you wear it (and the correct amount!). But, if you are going to keep your skin safe, there are a few more things you should know — so we made this handy list for you.
Here’s the thing: while all beauty products have an expiration date, with sunscreen they really mean it. That’s because ignoring it could be potentially damaging for your skin. See, the SPF ingredients degrade over time (some even oxidise) so they will no longer protect your skin in the same way. Just like other products, you can usually tell if a formula has gone bad by changes in the colour, texture or smell of the SPF, but also like other products, check the use by and ditch it if it’s out of date.
We’re going to go ahead and say it: you’re probably not using enough sunscreen. The recommendation by the Cancer Council is one teaspoon for your face, neck and ears — have you ever measure that out? It’s way more than you think. We’re not going to make you do it every time, but just once, get your measuring spoons out and pour it out, so at the very least you’ll be able to visualise it. The recommendations are there for a reason: it’s better to be more covered than leave areas unprotected.
The sunscreen in your glovebox? Yeah, it’s probably not faring too well. That’s because,like a lot of its product-friends, sunscreen does not like to be in environments that are too hot because it increases the rate of degradation and may potentially cause it to spoil sooner.
It’s a nice marketing claim, and also a nice to have, but SPF if in your makeup is not enough protection. Why? Simply, you don’t use enough. Remember that one teaspoon rule? No one uses one teaspoon of foundation. So, continue to make SPF your final skincare step and then apply your foundation with or without SPF.
Forgetting to reapply is one of the biggest —and most common— mistakes that people make with sunscreen. Your skin essentially uses up the active ingredients so so if you don’t top up, it will essentially be redundant. Reapplication needs to happen every two hours — especially if you’re going outside.
An important one: sunscreen is not the last thing you do before running outside into the blazing heat. It takes eight minutes for sunscreen to bind and form an even film on the skin, but most experts will tell you to wait 20 minutes because we know how bad everyone is with time, so if they say 20, most people will wait 10 and everyone wins.
Whether you’re a three or nine-step skincare person, let your products sink in before you apply your sunscreen - especially if they have lots of silicones. You just want to give your skin the best chance at even sunscreen coverage, and if it’s sliding around on top of a moisturiser, it won't have that.
Yes, we’ve said it alot, but we’re here again. Natural, mineral or “physical” sunscreens are not “better” for you. They simply have different active ingredients (namely zinc and titanium dioxide) and work in a slightly different way. They are also favoured by those with sensitive skin as few people react to zinc. Chemical sunscreens (also, confusingly called “organic” sunscreens) are also excellent especially on skin tones that find zinc leaves them with a white cast. At the end of the day it just comes down to personal preference: find the one you love and wear that. It’s really that simple.
While we are clearly big fans of SPF, it’s only one part of the picture. If you truly want to be sun safe there’s a few more boxes to tick including: wearing a hat and sunglasses and protective clothing; seeking shade where possible, and of course, staying out of the sun, where possible, in the hottest part of the day. We may love a sunburnt country, but we don’t love a sunburnt people.
Shop MU Australia’s range of mineral, natural and chemical sunscreens.
For everyone: Standard Procedure SPF 50+, $30
For the kids: Surfmud Surfbaby Sensitive Sunscreen SPF30, $32.95
For the lips: Standard Procedure Lip Balm SPF 50+, $12
Simple instalment plans available instantly at checkout
Use your existing debit or credit card
No long forms, instant approval online
Pay fortnightly, enjoy your purchase straight away!
All your need is:
1) An Australian Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card; 2) To be over 18 years of age; 3) To live in Australia
To see Afterpay's complete terms, visit https://www.afterpay.com.au/terms
© 2025 Afterpay
