Best Sunscreen - The Definitive New Zealand Guide for Saving Money and Minimising Sun Damage
Updated 17 September 2023
Safe sunscreens can be separated into two markets; value-orientated bulk product (i.e. Sun365 sold exclusively in The Warehouse) and luxury cosmetic products (i.e. Olay, sold at supermarkets and pharmacies). There is no point investing in sunscreen that fails the required broad-spectrum protection from the sun - this can lead to the deadliest kind of melanoma if you’re exposed over time.
This guide outlines what you need to know about sunscreen – from how much to apply to our Best Buy guide. Sun protection is a priority interest of MoneyHub – if you have any tips or information you think we should include, please get in touch.
Special Thanks
Our list of sunscreen best buys piggybacks on the thorough work of Consumer New Zealand and Choice Australia, the public face of the Australian Consumers’ Association (ACA). The MoneyHub team wish to thank both of these organisations for conducting such extensive testing, indirectly making summer safer for all New Zealanders.
This guide outlines what you need to know about sunscreen – from how much to apply to our Best Buy guide. Sun protection is a priority interest of MoneyHub – if you have any tips or information you think we should include, please get in touch.
Special Thanks
Our list of sunscreen best buys piggybacks on the thorough work of Consumer New Zealand and Choice Australia, the public face of the Australian Consumers’ Association (ACA). The MoneyHub team wish to thank both of these organisations for conducting such extensive testing, indirectly making summer safer for all New Zealanders.
7 Must-Know Sunscreen Facts
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The SPF factor may NOT mean what it saysUnlike Australia, sunscreen products can be sold in New Zealand without being tested for their advertised SPF rating because the sunscreen standard was voluntary. This isn’t a great situation for anyone except sunscreen makers, and everyday Kiwis have no ability to test the accuracy of what’s advertised. Based on this hole in the law, it’s left to organisations like Consumer to undertake SPF testing. Their recent report in November 2017 highlighted major shortfalls actual SPF vs. advertised SPF from brands like the Cancer Society and Banana Boat, among others.
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Sunscreen IS expensive if you're not buying it rightThere are many reasons why we can end up paying more than we’d like to on sunscreen, but primarily the issue is due to lack of competition and brand awareness. There are few known brands, and given the importance of sunscreen, Kiwis are unwilling to take a chance on anything that sounds a bit dodgy. This means brands like Nivea, Banana Boat and The Cancer Society dominate the market with prices $10+ per 100 ml or more for SPF30 products. Fortunately, entrants like Surf Life Saving and The Warehouse have sourced sunscreen, the Consumer New Zealand awarding these suppliers as the best sunscreens of 2017. At $1.85-$2.50 per 100ml (when purchased in a 1-litre container), they are also the best value available in New Zealand.
Brands such as Nivea, Cancer Society, Le Tan, Skinnies and Cetaphil are well known but charge 5-15 times MORE for the same quantity. We believe this is due to the brands marketing them as luxury health products. Our Best Buys below disregard such brands even if their SPF testing checked out for the reason that we don't believe they offer value for money. |
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Sunscreen DOES expireResearch suggests sunscreen has a shelf life of three years, but check the labels first. Store it out of the sun and in a cool place to ensure it says effective. If you keep it in your car (i.e. sauna), this can expedite the clumping and separation of the ingredients which limits how effective it will be.
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Know how much you'll needGenerally accepted and followed New Zealand and American research suggests someone of average size and build will use approximately 25 ml to 35 ml of sunscreen per application, with an application lasting no longer than 2-3 hours even on cloudy days, and soon after swimming or sweating. Based on that, a family of four going to the beach for half a day could expect to use 180-300ml of sunscreen with two applications.
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The quality and effectiveness of sunscreen is not related to the priceAs our best buy sunscreens demonstrate below, cheap sunscreen does not mean burned skin. Sunscreen is a commodity and many brands price it to the market they are targeting. Your $15 jumbo bottle from a supermarket may be more (or less) effective than a $40 50ml travel-size tube from an airport.
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“Waterproof” sunscreen is a mythA truly waterproof sunscreen is a myth – ignore the labels and reapply when you get out of the water.
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Sunscreen does not prevent skin cancer or melanomaIt has never been proven. It certainly reduces the risk, but skin cancers can develop despite religious use of only sun protective clothing has a better effect. “Slip, slop, slap” only makes reference to one sunscreen (“slop”).
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Sunscreen Best Buys
We’ve used the latest research from Choice Australia and Consumer New Zealand to present the best buys available in New Zealand.
Both the Surf Life Savings Sunscreen and The Warehouse's Smart365 Sunscreen Lotion offer SPF50+ at a bargain price of around $1.80 per 100ml.
Both the Surf Life Savings Sunscreen and The Warehouse's Smart365 Sunscreen Lotion offer SPF50+ at a bargain price of around $1.80 per 100ml.
1. Surf Life Saving SPF50 Sunscreen Lotion
Recommended by: Consumer New Zealand
SPF: 50+
Price and Size: $22.50 for 1 litre
Price per 100 ml: $2.25
Expected applications (33.33 ml) per $10: ~13
Buy from: Pharmacies, supermarkets and other retailers around the country
SPF: 50+
Price and Size: $22.50 for 1 litre
Price per 100 ml: $2.25
Expected applications (33.33 ml) per $10: ~13
Buy from: Pharmacies, supermarkets and other retailers around the country
2. Smart365 Sun Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+
Recommended by: Consumer New Zealand
SPF: 50+
Price and Size: $18 for 1 litre
Price per 100 ml: $1.80
Expected applications per $10: ~12
Buy from: The Warehouse
SPF: 50+
Price and Size: $18 for 1 litre
Price per 100 ml: $1.80
Expected applications per $10: ~12
Buy from: The Warehouse
Our Conclusion
- We have not listed a variety of other brands, because we don't think they offer good value for money.
- While the products listed under Best Buys are in a 1-litre size, both brands sell their product in smaller 100ml - 400ml tubes at substantially less cost per 100ml than any other proven brand.
- We believe that by buying right, sunscreen can no longer be seen as "expensive" given the two SPF50+ value options available throughout New Zealand.
