The Best Sunscreen
Zinc Oxide (Microfine) - 7.5% non nanoparticle is the GOLD Standard for protection against UVA both short and long wave, and UVB radiation.
Zinc oxide is the closest thing to a total sunblock on the market today, and no other sunscreen ingredient provides broader protection.
Meet your Maximum Duty of Care Ultra Protect SPF 30 + Broad Spectrum
How Much Sunscreen Should I Be Using?
Research has found that many people do not wear enough Sunscreen. If you are struggling to figure out the right amount, try the "teaspoon guide".
For the average sized adult, that is one teaspoon per arm and leg, one for the front of the body, one for the back, and one for the face, ears and neck.
In total, you should use about 35 ml. of sunscreen for one full body application.
SPF 50+: What It Means For You
A new sunscreen "Factor" does't mean we can relax the slip, slop, slap If you see sunscreens labelled SPF50+ later this year, don't get excited and spend hours roasting in the sun. The reality is the proposed 50+ rating, which may come into effect later this year or early next year, is only a one percent improvement from an SPF30+ rating in terms of blocking harmful rays. Since the 1900s, The Australian Government has capped the maximum rating at 30+, despite enhanced sunscreen technology taking some formulations up to SPF90 or higher. But while SPF30+ guards against 96.7 per cent of UVB rays, SPF50+ only inches up to 98 per cent. SPF (sun protection factor) is the numerical rating that denotes the extra time a product will allow you to stay outside before you start to burn. A sunscreen with a rating of SPF15+ would provide a fair-skinned person 15 times more protection for their exposed skin than if they didn't use a sunscreen, says the Austrlian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. So if a person starts to burn after 10 minutes in the sun, correctly applied SPF 15 will provide a protection for 10 times longer or 150 minutes. However, sunscreen is rarely applied in real life as it is in lab-testing conditions, and it sweats and rubs off, so never assume you're safe for the entire period. Your best bet is to re-apply a high-factor sunscreen every two hours. The nano effect Over the past few years, the use of nanotechnology in sunscreens has caused controversy. THe process, in which ingredients are refind to incredibly small sizes (one nanometre equals one billionth of a metre), has caused concern among consumer groups who fear the nano-ingredients have the potential to slip through the skin and into the system. Zinc oxide and ittanium dioxide are often nanosized to change them from being white and opaque to transparent. Despite the Therapeutic Goods Administration saying there is insufficient evidence that nanoparticles cause adverse health effects, most sunscreens now contain actives that are either microfined (with a particle size that is much larger than the nano range) or have a chemical filter (to absorb rays within the skin and neutralise them) that is clear on the skin, so doesn't require nanosizing. Whole spectrum UVB rays are known as the "burning" rays, but you may also have heard UVA light referred to as the "ageing" rays. A broad-spectrum sunscreen defends skin against both types. There is currently no national standard on UVA testing, which means some broad-spectrum products will give better protection than others (though none can protect you 100 per cent). Good broad-spectrum ingredients to look for include zinc oxide, Helioplex (used by Neutrogena) and Mexoryl (used by L'Oreal Paris and Centaphil). The Vitamin D debate Vitamin D is a hormone triggered by the sun that is essential for good health. However, the more we hear about the benefits of vitamin D, the more concerned experts are that we are forgoing sunscreen and risking skin cancer. The key is to find a balance with safe sun care (for example, staying out of the midday danger period) in order to get just the right amount of sun exposure to clock up good vitamin D levels. A useful tool to help you do this is the Cancer Council's SunSmart iPhone app. Tailor it to suit your clothing coverge and location (and therefore the UV index) and the "sunscreen calculator" will tell you when to apply sunscreen and let you know how much you need. In general, follow the "Spoon" rule: a teaspoon-full of sunscreen for your face, neck and ears; a teaspooon for each limb; and a teaspoon each for the front and back of the body.
Meet your Maximum Duty of Care Ultra Protect SPF 30 + Broad Spectrum