Sunscreen before summer: an Australian label checklist

Start with the UV Index, not the weather

UV radiation can't be seen or felt, so a cool or cloudy day can still need sun protection. Cancer Council recommends sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above. ARPANSA publishes real-time UV readings for measurement sites around Australia, and the free SunSmart app shows daily sun protection times for your location.

A quick look at the forecast UV tells you whether you need sunscreen today and when the peak hours are. That matters more than temperature. In much of Australia, from now until autumn, sun protection is likely to be needed for most of the day.

The four label checks

1. SPF50 or SPF50+. Cancer Council recommends SPF50 or SPF50+ sunscreen. The plus sign means the product tested above the SPF50 threshold under the Australian standard. No sunscreen blocks all UV.

2. Broad spectrum. This means the product is labelled as filtering both UVA and UVB. Look for the words on the pack rather than relying on a retailer's product title.

3. Water resistant, and for how long. Australian labels state a water-resistance time, often 2 or 4 hours. That claim is not a reason to skip reapplying. Reapply after swimming, sweating or towelling, regardless.

4. The expiry date. Sunscreen is a therapeutic good in Australia, and the active ingredients can degrade over time. Check the date on last summer's bottle before you rely on it, and store sunscreen below 30°C. That means not leaving it in a hot car or on the beach in full sun.

Look for AUST L, and check the recall list

Most sunscreens sold here with sun-protection claims are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as listed medicines and carry an AUST L number on the pack. The TGA monitors sunscreens through compliance reviews and laboratory testing. Over the past year it has published several recalls and market actions for products found unlikely to meet their labelled SPF, including sunscreens sharing a base formulation with Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF 50+.

Before buying, or before using a bottle you already own, search the TGA's recalls and market actions for the product name. A recall affecting one product is not evidence that every product from that brand, or every mineral or chemical filter, performs poorly. Check the exact product and batch.

Most people apply too little

The SPF on the label is measured at a generous application thickness. Cancer Council's guidance for an average adult is about 35 ml for the whole body: roughly a teaspoon for each arm, each leg, the front and back of the body, and the face including the neck and ears. Apply about 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours.

This is where bottle size matters. A 50 ml face sunscreen suits daily face use. A family beach day can use a large part of a 110–150 ml bottle. If you are comparing value, work out the cost per 100 ml from the current delivered price. Then ask whether you will finish the bottle before it expires.

Face vs body formulas

Face sunscreens are usually sold in smaller sizes with lighter or mattifying textures so they can be worn daily, sometimes under makeup. Body lotions come in larger bottles and tend to cost less per millilitre. Either can be fine if it meets the label checks above. The best sunscreen is the one you will actually apply properly and reapply. If a texture stops you using it, it is the wrong pick for you.

If you have sensitive skin, look for no added fragrance on the label and patch test as the pack directs. Stop using any product that irritates, and speak to a pharmacist or GP if irritation continues.

Sunscreen is the last line of defence

Cancer Council's Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide message lists sunscreen alongside protective clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, shade and sunglasses. Sunscreen should not be used to extend the time you spend in the sun. A hat and shade cost nothing extra each summer and do much of the work.

Sources

• Cancer Council Australia: About sunscreen (choosing, applying and storing sunscreen)
• Cancer Council Australia: Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide
• Therapeutic Goods Administration: Sunscreens (regulation, testing and recalls)
• Therapeutic Goods Administration: Recalls and other market actions
• ARPANSA: Real-time UV Index