Natural Sunscreens

Mineral sunscreens filter UV with zinc oxide instead of chemical absorbers, which is why they suit babies and reactive skin. SPF 50+ means the product measured 60 or above in testing. Both types need reapplying every two hours, whatever the water resistance claim says.

Natural Sunscreens Information

Mineral filters and chemical filters do different jobs

Every sunscreen works by stopping UV reaching living skin, but there are two ways to do it. Mineral filters, almost always zinc oxide and sometimes titanium dioxide, sit on the surface and scatter and absorb UV from the moment they are spread. Chemical filters absorb UV within the film on the skin and convert it to heat. Chemical formulas are generally lighter to wear and leave less white cast; mineral formulas are the usual choice for babies, for reactive or post-procedure skin, and for anyone who has reacted to a chemical sunscreen before.

Every product in this range that is sold as a therapeutic sunscreen is regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and carries an AUST L number printed on the pack, alongside its SPF rating and broad spectrum statement. That number is worth checking: it is the difference between a tested sunscreen and a cosmetic moisturiser with an SPF claim.

What SPF 50+ actually measures

SPF 30 filters roughly 96.7 per cent of UVB. SPF 50 filters roughly 98 per cent. The difference sounds trivial, and in a laboratory it is. In practice it is not, because almost nobody applies sunscreen at the tested thickness, and the higher rating gives you margin for that. Australian labelling caps the printed figure at 50+, which means the product measured 60 or above in testing.

"Broad spectrum" is a separate test. It confirms the product filters UVA as well as UVB. UVB drives burning; UVA drives photoageing and contributes to skin cancer risk. A high SPF without a broad spectrum statement is only telling you half the story.

How much to use, and how often

SPF is tested at 2 mg of product per square centimetre of skin. For an adult body that works out to about 35 mL, or seven teaspoons: one teaspoon each for the face, neck and ears, each arm, each leg, the front of the torso and the back. Applying half the tested amount does not give you half the SPF, it gives you considerably less.

Reapply every two hours outdoors, and straight after swimming, heavy sweating or towelling off. Water resistance in Australia can be claimed for a maximum of four hours, and towel drying removes sunscreen regardless of the rating on the front of the pack.

Choosing by where it goes

Face, daily wear: lighter mineral formulas such as Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Light SPF 50+ and the Wotnot SPF 40 face range, which comes untinted and in two tinted shades.
Body and outdoors: Sunbutter SPF 50+ water resistant, MooGoo Clear Zinc SPF 40 in 120 g and 200 g, People4Ocean SPF 50.
Babies and children: Wotnot Sunscreen Baby 30+, Little Urchin Natural Sunscreen SPF 30, Simple As That Natural Children SPF 30+. Shade, clothing and avoiding the middle of the day still come first for infants.
Lips: SPF lip balms are incidental cover, not primary protection. They are applied far more thinly than the tested amount and rarely reapplied.

Where a practitioner changes the answer

Sunscreen choice is usually a skin conversation, not an SPF one. If you are managing melasma, rosacea, eczema or post-procedure skin, the filter type and the base matter more than the number on the front. Our practitioners look at what else you are using, retinoids, acids, prescription topicals, because that is what most often decides whether a formula sits well or stings.

Mr Vitamins has been trading since 1992 with practitioners on the floor, and the conversation is free: book a 10-minute phone consultation, or read who you will be speaking to on our practitioners page. You can also browse related ranges in hair, skin and nails.

If you are managing melasma, rosacea, eczema or post-procedure skin, the filter type and the base matter more than the SPF number. Book a free 10-minute phone consultation with one of our practitioners and we will work through it with you. You can also browse related ranges in hair, skin and nails.

Mineral filters and chemical filters do different jobs

Every sunscreen works by stopping UV reaching living skin, but there are two ways to do it. Mineral filters, almost always zinc oxide and sometimes titanium dioxide, sit on the surface and scatter and absorb UV from the moment they are spread. Chemical filters absorb UV within the film on the skin and convert it to heat. Chemical formulas are generally lighter to wear and leave less white cast; mineral formulas are the usual choice for babies, for reactive or post-procedure skin, and for anyone who has reacted to a chemical sunscreen before.

Every product in this range that is sold as a therapeutic sunscreen is regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and carries an AUST L number printed on the pack, alongside its SPF rating and broad spectrum statement. That number is worth checking: it is the difference between a tested sunscreen and a cosmetic moisturiser with an SPF claim.

What SPF 50+ actually measures

SPF 30 filters roughly 96.7 per cent of UVB. SPF 50 filters roughly 98 per cent. The difference sounds trivial, and in a laboratory it is. In practice it is not, because almost nobody applies sunscreen at the tested thickness, and the higher rating gives you margin for that. Australian labelling caps the printed figure at 50+, which means the product measured 60 or above in testing.

"Broad spectrum" is a separate test. It confirms the product filters UVA as well as UVB. UVB drives burning; UVA drives photoageing and contributes to skin cancer risk. A high SPF without a broad spectrum statement is only telling you half the story.

How much to use, and how often

SPF is tested at 2 mg of product per square centimetre of skin. For an adult body that works out to about 35 mL, or seven teaspoons: one teaspoon each for the face, neck and ears, each arm, each leg, the front of the torso and the back. Applying half the tested amount does not give you half the SPF, it gives you considerably less.

Reapply every two hours outdoors, and straight after swimming, heavy sweating or towelling off. Water resistance in Australia can be claimed for a maximum of four hours, and towel drying removes sunscreen regardless of the rating on the front of the pack.

Choosing by where it goes

Face, daily wear: lighter mineral formulas such as Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Light SPF 50+ and the Wotnot SPF 40 face range, which comes untinted and in two tinted shades.
Body and outdoors: Sunbutter SPF 50+ water resistant, MooGoo Clear Zinc SPF 40 in 120 g and 200 g, People4Ocean SPF 50.
Babies and children: Wotnot Sunscreen Baby 30+, Little Urchin Natural Sunscreen SPF 30, Simple As That Natural Children SPF 30+. Shade, clothing and avoiding the middle of the day still come first for infants.
Lips: SPF lip balms are incidental cover, not primary protection. They are applied far more thinly than the tested amount and rarely reapplied.

Where a practitioner changes the answer

Sunscreen choice is usually a skin conversation, not an SPF one. If you are managing melasma, rosacea, eczema or post-procedure skin, the filter type and the base matter more than the number on the front. Our practitioners look at what else you are using, retinoids, acids, prescription topicals, because that is what most often decides whether a formula sits well or stings.

Mr Vitamins has been trading since 1992 with practitioners on the floor, and the conversation is free: book a 10-minute phone consultation, or read who you will be speaking to on our practitioners page. You can also browse related ranges in hair, skin and nails.

If you are managing melasma, rosacea, eczema or post-procedure skin, the filter type and the base matter more than the SPF number. Book a free 10-minute phone consultation with one of our practitioners and we will work through it with you. You can also browse related ranges in hair, skin and nails.

Natural Sunscreens