Finding the Best Sunscreen made in Australia: Our Tests!

Let’s talk sunscreen from Australia.

Look at the picture above from Australia’s most popular beaches, Bondi Beach. Not a cloud in that sky. Not a tree to catch some shade. No wonder Australians are serious about sunscreen.

Given the increasing popularity of Australian sunscreen, we decided to do some tests. First, we asked our parent readers Down Under for their favorites. Then we tried out several of the popular brands. Finally, we interviewed two dermatologists to ask about which Australian sunscreens had the most effective ingredients.

As most sunscreen shoppers know, there are two basic types of sunscreen: chemical and physical. Each has its pros and cons.

And what about reef-friendly sunscreen? Many sunscreens have chemicals that are alleged to cause damage to coral reefs. Some states (Hawaii, we are looking at you) have banned the sale of sunscreens that have octinoxate and oxybenzone.

After trying out several Australian sunscreens, here are the ones that worked the best in the real world.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!