Two labelling systems
A sunscreen from an Australian brand is listed with the TGA and carries an AUST L number. Its SPF is tested to the Australian standard, it tops out at SPF 50+, and UVA protection is shown as “broad spectrum”.
Korean and Japanese sunscreens are labelled for their home markets: SPF 50+ plus a PA rating for UVA, up to PA++++. Some are imported with an Australian listing; many are brought in by individual shops without one. That doesn't mean they don't work, but their SPF hasn't been checked to the Australian standard. Look for an AUST L number on the listing or the box.
Made for different days
Many of the most-discussed Korean and Japanese sunscreens are designed for the face, worn daily under makeup: light, watery, no white cast. Many aren't water resistant, so they're a commute-and-office sunscreen, not a surf one.
Australian ranges lean towards water-resistant formulas for the beach and sport, rated in minutes on the label, alongside a growing number made for daily facial wear.
Plenty of people use both: a light facial sunscreen every day, and a water-resistant one for the beach.
Whichever you pick
Cancer Council recommends SPF 50 or 50+, broad spectrum and water resistant, whenever the UV index is 3 or above. Apply generously and reapply every couple of hours, and after swimming or sweating.
The sun is the same whichever label is on the tube. The one that suits your skin well enough to wear every day is the one that protects you.
Common questions
- What does PA++++ mean on sunscreen?
- PA is a Japanese rating for UVA protection, and PA++++ is the highest grade. Australian labels show UVA protection as “broad spectrum” instead.
- Are Australian sunscreens better for the Australian sun?
- Not automatically. What an Australian listing gives you is an SPF claim made and checked to the Australian standard, and water resistance rated on the label.
- Are Korean sunscreens water resistant?
- Many aren't, because they're made for everyday facial wear. If it doesn't say water resistant on the label, don't count on it for swimming or sport.
