Your skin will be celebrating summer with our guide to the top 10 Australian sunscreen brands!

It’s not long before we’re going to be packing our beach bags with all of our summer essentials. Of course, sunscreen is high on that list as we know the importance of protecting our skin from harmful UV rays. However, have you ever thought about the environmental impact of your sunscreen?

With studies proving the harm certain ingredients have on marine ecosystems (most especially oxybenzone and octinoxate) which may further contribute to coral bleaching; now is the best time to uncover the layers of ingredients found in our most commonly used skincare products.

While these terms may sound like a foreign language, the alternative ingredient you’ll want to look for instead is zinc oxide which physically blocks UVA/B rays, instead of soaking up the rays as chemical sunscreens do. It also won’t harm the reefs when worn in the water. So both your body and our pristine oceans will thank you for it.

To help you celebrate the season of summer or even to add that much-needed step into your beauty routine; we’ve found the 10 best Australian made sunscreen brands that are sustainable, eco-friendly and great to wear!

<strong>Beachfox</strong> Sunscreen SPF50+
Image via The Iconic website.

Beachfox Sunscreen SPF50+

Grapefruit, Vanilla, Lime and Coconut. Intrigued? Well you should be! Meet Beachfox – an Australian made sunscreen brand that specialises in scented, quick-dry, dermatologically tested and eco-friendly sunscreen products. Suitable for all skin types, this face and body sunscreen will have you feeling like you’re at a day spa! Great for applying on both wet and dry skin 20-minutes before exposure, Beachfox’s Sunscreen SPF50+ ($29.99) is water-resistant up to four hours and, it’s also sweat-proof too! Be sure to add this one to your cart before we do.

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<strong>DU'IT</strong> Tough Lips
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DU'IT Tough Lips

Another essential skincare summer product to add to your beach bag is a lip balm to pop on after your day in the sun. Packed with natural ingredients such as grape seed extract, beeswax, Vitamin E, and shea butter, the Tough Lips intensive lip balm by DU’IT ($5.95) will instantly rehydrate and repair your lips, especially if they have had excessive UV exposure. While this lip balm doesn’t contain any SPF, a moisturising lip balm is the perfect addition to your post-beach skincare routine.

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<strong>Grown Alchemist</strong> Invisible Natural Protection SPF-30
Image via The Iconic website.

Grown Alchemist Invisible Natural Protection SPF-30

Animal-friendly and free from harmful ingredients such as parabens, mineral oil and phthalates; what more could you ask for from an Australian made sunscreen! Unlike others, Grown Alchemist’s Invisible Natural Protection SPF-30 ($59) is light weight, invisible once applied and blends effortlessly. It’s an all natural, completely reef safe vegan sunscreen. Free from artificial colours and fragrances, Grown Alchemist’s sunscreen will provide a high level of protection from damaging UVA and UVB infrared rays. Just apply 30-minutes before sun exposure.

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<strong>Little Urchin</strong> Natural Sunscreen
Image via the Little Urchin website.

Little Urchin Natural Sunscreen

This sunscreen is named after the sea urchin, a critter who has amazingly evolved to produce its own natural sunscreen. Driven by mother nature, the Little Urchin Natural Sunscreen ($24.95) has all the qualities we are after – it’s non-greasy, reef-friendly, water-resistant and packaged in eco-friendly recyclable materials. The formula is also rich in antioxidants, boasting ingredients such as organic cucumber, green tea and rosehip. Plus, Little Urchin also sells a tinted sunscreen and a daily moisturiser to add to your skincare collection too.

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<strong>Seed & Sprout</strong> Natural Sunscreen
Image via the Seed & Sprout website

Seed & Sprout Natural Sunscreen

Seed & Sprout’s Natural Plastic-Free Sunscreen ($29) comes in a reusable tin and is infused with beneficial coconut, jojoba and avocado oils. It is available in tinted or untinted shades and is 100 per cent reef-safe, palm oil-free, is SPF-50 and one of the best vegan sunscreens to top this list. Started by Byron Bay based mother, Sophie, Seed & Sprout hopes to create plastic-free alternatives to everyday products. Their line also includes lunch boxes, shampoos, hand sanitising bars and more.

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<strong>SunButter Skincare</strong> SunButter Sunscreen
Image via the SunButter Skincare website

SunButter Skincare SunButter Sunscreen

Founded in 2016 by marine biologist Sacha and conservation ecologist Tom, the Australian sunscreen brand was created by the duo who wanted to make a reef-friendly sunscreen whilst they were working with whale sharks on Western Australia’s pristine Ningaloo Reef. Leading the way in sustainable sunscreen, SunButter offers a plastic-free, four-hour water resistant, SPF-50, ocean-friendly sunscreen that is easy to rub in and leaves your skin feeling moisturised. Be sure to also check out their Surf Zinc and Family Sunscreen Pack!

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<strong>Tribe Skincare</strong> Protect Me! Day Moisturiser
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Tribe Skincare Protect Me! Day Moisturiser

Tribe Skincare is an Australian sunscreen brand that prides itself on being natural, vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, with skincare designed to soothe and hydrate sensitive skin. As well as other high-quality products, they offer the lightweight and non-greasy Protect Me! Day Moisturiser ($58) with SPF 30, which is great for everyday use under the harsh Australian sun. Featuring cute tropical packaging, having a bottle of this moisturiser in your collection might just be the incentive you need to start incorporating SPF into your daily skincare routine. Also using zinc oxide, this moisturiser is another natural sun-blocking alternative.

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<strong>Ultra Violette</strong> Sheen Screen Lip Balm SPF50 Shimmer
Image via The Iconic website.

Ultra Violette Sheen Screen Lip Balm SPF50 Shimmer

Pucker up! Renowned for their Queen Screen SPF50, Ultra Violette’s Sheen Screen Lip Balm ($25) is well worth mentioning in this guide. Think of it as sunscreen-based lipgloss! Available in two shades, this lip balm is infused with a soothing cocktail of  lanolin, shea butter and cacao seed butter. Offering SPF 50 protection, this gender neutral lip balm helps to keep your lips hydrated and protected with each wear. Plus, it’s cruelty free and has no trace of parabens, oxybenzone or that sticky white grease most sunscreens provide.

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<strong>We Are Feel Good Inc.</strong> Signature Sunscreen Lotion
Image via the We Are Feel Good Inc website

We Are Feel Good Inc. Signature Sunscreen Lotion

Designed to make you feel good both inside and out, this eco-friendly sunscreen will glide smoothly onto your skin without stickiness. Available in a 200mL ($27.95) or 400mL bottle ($42.95), We Are Feel Good Inc. makes some of the best sunscreens in Australia without the undesirable chemicals of oxybenzone and octinoxate. You’ll also come across the Sensitive Sunscreen, the Coconut Sunscreen and other products such as the Sticky Zinc and Coco Milk Moisturiser for your sun-care range. Plus, they also have a great zero-waste sunscreen recycling program for used and empty bottles – simply wash it and drop it off at your local collection point.

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<strong>Wotnot Naturals</strong> Natural Sunscreen
Image via the Wotnot website

Wotnot Naturals Natural Sunscreen

Wotnot pride themselves on being suitable for the whole family with a wide range of products that are all natural and certified organic. Their 30 SPF Natural Sunscreen ($28.99) is reef-friendly, moisturising, suitable for sensitive and delicate skin, and utilises the ingredient zinc oxide that is used to reflect the UV rays instead soaking them up. On top of that, Wotnot’s packaging is recyclable! For parents wanting to purchase a safe, Australian made, family-friendly sunscreen, this is a great choice.

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Looking for some more beauty products to try? Be sure to add these 5 Australian Skincare Brands on Your 2021 Watchlist. Otherwise, enjoy the summer with our guide to the 10 Best Hotel Pools in Australia of 2021.

Feature image: Photographed by Retha Ferguson. Image via Pexels.
This article was first published on October 07 2020. It was updated and edited by Hunter and Bligh on December 01 2021.