Daywalker needs protection: Australia edition
June 2, 2017 10:21 PM Subscribe
Flying into Sydney for a long stay. Will need sunscreen. What to get?
Pretty simple, I hope, what is the best sunscreen that is similar to Japanese and Korean brands that provide optimal protection and no white cast to the skin? I hate regular sunscreen that feels greasy and never absorbs. I am happy to include moisturizers with great sunscreen, too in this question. Also, is hat wearing common in Sydney or other parts of Australia in avoiding the sun as an every day thing? Going off of memories and a lot of TV, I am inclined to, "no" but happy to hear otherwise.
Pretty simple, I hope, what is the best sunscreen that is similar to Japanese and Korean brands that provide optimal protection and no white cast to the skin? I hate regular sunscreen that feels greasy and never absorbs. I am happy to include moisturizers with great sunscreen, too in this question. Also, is hat wearing common in Sydney or other parts of Australia in avoiding the sun as an every day thing? Going off of memories and a lot of TV, I am inclined to, "no" but happy to hear otherwise.
Best answer: Hats are huge - lots of people wear hats. There are huge sun-smarts educational efforts so no one will bat an eyelash, even in the CBD. Wide brimmed sun hats are required by daycares, issued as part of school uniforms and required at recess, etc. My husband has outdoor jobs and is issued a sun hat as part of his uniform or gear. Absolutely wear a hat.
I'd also recommend, if you're out walking, long lightweight light clothing - esp convienient if you pick up a shirt (or hat!) with SPF in it.
Make sure to sunscreen anything exposed - ears, backs of hands, tops of feet, etc.
I think most sunscreens in the 30-45 range would be fine, just keep re-applying!
posted by jrobin276 at 12:54 AM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'd also recommend, if you're out walking, long lightweight light clothing - esp convienient if you pick up a shirt (or hat!) with SPF in it.
Make sure to sunscreen anything exposed - ears, backs of hands, tops of feet, etc.
I think most sunscreens in the 30-45 range would be fine, just keep re-applying!
posted by jrobin276 at 12:54 AM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Are you willing to shop online? Because if you are then the best thing to do is buy Japanese or Korean sunscreen. I'm a big fan of this blog for reviews, and personally use Biore Perfect milk (slight white cast, but very light and mattifying) on face, and Nivea Water Gel on the rest of my body.
If you're after sunscreen brands in Australia, you really can't go past good old fashioned Cancer Council sunscreen for body. You can find it basically everywhere. For face, Mecca To Save Face is also pretty great.
Also, as an incredibly pale Australian, hats are definitely commonly worn. The sun is no joke down there, so do whatever you need to to protect yourself.
posted by nerdfish at 3:18 AM on June 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you're after sunscreen brands in Australia, you really can't go past good old fashioned Cancer Council sunscreen for body. You can find it basically everywhere. For face, Mecca To Save Face is also pretty great.
Also, as an incredibly pale Australian, hats are definitely commonly worn. The sun is no joke down there, so do whatever you need to to protect yourself.
posted by nerdfish at 3:18 AM on June 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I've found Australia to be my favorite place in the world to buy hats and sunscreen. Both are offered in much wider ranges than they are in the US or Europe, and sunhats in Oz tend to be (imo) more interesting/stylish than the hats in the US that generally (again imo) only really cater to older women. People also often have multiple hats that can be changed out to suit outfits so no, no one will look askance at you. (I mean, maybe if you're wearing a Crocodile Dundee hat in the Sydney CBD while wearing a suit for work. Then maybe. But otherwise? No. You'll be in very good company.) There are tons of shops where you can get both sunscreens and hats. Cancel Council stores are plentiful and have the basics. Stores in non-tourist areas will have even more, especially on the hat front. Stores in tourist areas that have a lot of signs in Chinese or Japanese on the storefront may have Japanese/Korean brand sunscreens more readily available.
Hats are definitely outdoor only, though. My Aussie husband with very fair skin who never leaves the house sans hat remains horrified by American men wearing ballcaps indoors.
posted by olinerd at 9:24 AM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hats are definitely outdoor only, though. My Aussie husband with very fair skin who never leaves the house sans hat remains horrified by American men wearing ballcaps indoors.
posted by olinerd at 9:24 AM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Blue Lizard is an Aussie brand of sunscreen that I use all the time. It's fantastic and I don't think it's greasy.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:08 PM on June 3, 2017
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:08 PM on June 3, 2017
Just to restate what was said before, sunscreen will only be required from October to March.
posted by wilful at 3:29 PM on June 3, 2017
posted by wilful at 3:29 PM on June 3, 2017
Best answer: Ehhhh, as a pale-skinned Canadian living in Australia, I disagree with wilful — a sunny Sydney winter day burns as quickly as a bright spring day in, say, Vancouver. I wear sunscreen year-round now.
You can buy huge bottles of Cancer Council sunscreen pretty much anywhere and it's great for arms and neck. I like Invisible Zinc for my face, also available at chemists (pharmacies). No one will look at you funny for wearing a hat, and you'll likely see Sydneysiders carrying umbrellas and sunshades on the brightest days.
I've never seen Blue Lizard sunscreen here, it might be an export-only brand?
posted by third word on a random page at 4:14 PM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
You can buy huge bottles of Cancer Council sunscreen pretty much anywhere and it's great for arms and neck. I like Invisible Zinc for my face, also available at chemists (pharmacies). No one will look at you funny for wearing a hat, and you'll likely see Sydneysiders carrying umbrellas and sunshades on the brightest days.
I've never seen Blue Lizard sunscreen here, it might be an export-only brand?
posted by third word on a random page at 4:14 PM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I love the Cancer Council sunscreen. Be warned that not every sunscreen in Australia has accurate SPF claims.
posted by daybeforetheday at 5:38 PM on June 3, 2017
posted by daybeforetheday at 5:38 PM on June 3, 2017
Best answer: I'm a fair-skinned Australian and I favour Banana Boat - Sensitive for general use, and Sport for if I'm going to be swimming or sweating a lot. The Sensitive one absorbs better than the Sport one (which is kind of gummy and takes a bit of effort to get off later) but you can still feel it once it's applied. I put up with the discomfort because the Australian sun is no joke - if you've been badly burned in Australia you will realise that the discomfort of wearing sticky sunblock is nothing compared to the discomfort and disfigurement of having all the skin on your face peel off!
(I also agree with third word - you can absolutely get burnt between April and September, and sun damage can occur throughout the year.)
posted by Cheese Monster at 6:36 PM on June 3, 2017
(I also agree with third word - you can absolutely get burnt between April and September, and sun damage can occur throughout the year.)
posted by Cheese Monster at 6:36 PM on June 3, 2017
(I also agree with third word - you can absolutely get burnt between April and September, and sun damage can occur throughout the year.)
Absolutely. I live in one of the sunniest parts of the country, at 800m, and hats/sunscreen are a year-round thing. Another vote for Cancer Council products too!
posted by GeeEmm at 8:02 PM on June 3, 2017
Absolutely. I live in one of the sunniest parts of the country, at 800m, and hats/sunscreen are a year-round thing. Another vote for Cancer Council products too!
posted by GeeEmm at 8:02 PM on June 3, 2017
Nthing the "buy your sunscreen in Australia" comments. I'm an American who travels to Australia regularly and I stock up on sunscreen when I'm there. I'm a fan of Cancer Council Sport because man, that stuff does not budge and never gets in your eyes. Also, Sunsense Daily Face (if you like a slight neutral tint) and Moisturizing Face (if you don't) are both excellent.
posted by rednikki at 10:23 PM on June 3, 2017
posted by rednikki at 10:23 PM on June 3, 2017
You 1,000% need to wear sunscreen year-round everywhere, I'd wager, but especially in Australia.
posted by nerdfish at 12:51 AM on June 4, 2017
posted by nerdfish at 12:51 AM on June 4, 2017
Ok so this is certainly a derail, but I'm a blue eyed blonde with a pale complexion and I'm quite sun smart, I burn easily, but I've never been burnt in years and only get the lightest tan ever, and I wear sunscreen for 6 months of the year, tops. September and March, only if I'm out in the middle of a sunny day. Sure, the aussie sun is strong, but it's not *that* strong.
posted by wilful at 4:49 AM on June 5, 2017
posted by wilful at 4:49 AM on June 5, 2017
Response by poster: Everyone is s winner! Thanks for all the input.
posted by jadepearl at 6:09 PM on June 5, 2017
posted by jadepearl at 6:09 PM on June 5, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
That said if you are talking about Sydney at the moment we are in winter and the sun is not intense at all. Still, no one would consider it weird if you do have one.
Sunscreen CAN be pretty cheap to get here - there will be a huge range in both supermarkets and chemists. The chemists will have more "premium" brands.
posted by trialex at 10:28 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]