Highly Rated: Explaining Australia’s SPF Standards

First things first – let’s talk all things TGA. More formally known by its slightly-less-sexy name, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, this all-important Australian government body is responsible for regulating therapeutic goods such as prescription medicines, vaccines, vitamins and of course, sunscreens. Any product that falls into this category must be listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before it can be supplied in Australia, and let’s just say, there is a really strict process in terms of what can and cannot be listed – and for good reason. We know how dangerous UV rays can be for our skin, so the TGA ensures that only the highest quality, verified SPF products can be sold in Australia. 

So, if you purchase SPF elsewhere in the world, while it may have passed the local country's testing and regulations, there's no guarantee it would also pass the Australian test. For instance, if you purchase a product from overseas that is labelled as an SPF30, and you’re wondering why it’s not stocked at MECCA – or elsewhere in Australia – it’s likely because it doesn’t meet Australian regulatory standards. 

SPF stands for ‘sun protection factor’ and we often see it used in conjunction with a number such as SPF30. This number represents how much time UV (that stands for ultraviolet, FYI) rays take to burn skin with the sunscreen on, compared to skin that’s had no sunscreen applied. It also takes into account both UVA (the kind associated with skin ageing) and UVB (associated with skin burning) rays, so you can rest assured that if a sunscreen is labelled as ‘broad spectrum’, it’s filtering both UVA and UVB rays. 

How do they work out the rating? According to the TGA, if skin protected with sunscreen takes 300 seconds to burn (with sunscreen applied liberally), but only 10 seconds to burn without sunscreen, the SPF is 300/10, which is 30. 

If you’re not the numbers-y type, the basic takeaway is this: the higher the SPF, the longer UV rays will take to burn your skin. 

Regardless of which rating you opt for, be sure to apply your SPF liberally every two hours. It’s recommended to apply one teaspoon for the face, neck and ears (and one cupped adult hand – 30 to 40mL – for an adult body). 

Similar to SPF, the PA+ system is a way to measure the efficacy of sunscreens. However, unlike SPF, it isn’t a universal ranking system. Essentially, the PA+ system measures only UVA protection, whereas broad-spectrum SPF measures both UVA and UVB protection. 

So why does this matter? Well, it’s crucial to have sunscreen that covers both bases. That’s because both UVA and UVB rays impact the skin. UVA rays don’t tend to burn the skin, but they’re no less problematic. While you can’t feel them causing any damage, UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin and cause tanning – but also signs of photo-ageing like dark spots and uneven skin tone. Plus, they can penetrate glass, so even sitting inside near a window or in the car puts you at risk. Meanwhile, UVB rays are responsible for those painful red sunburns.  
 
All in all, it’s important that you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB, rather than focusing on the PA+ symbol. 

If your skin is on the sensitive side, Naked Sundays’ Cabana Clear SPF50 Serum has got you covered (and hydrated). The clear, water-based gel-serum is packed with skin-loving ingredients like thirst-quenching hyaluronic acid and calming Kakadu plum. Emma Lewisham’s Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Face Crème is also a great zinc-based option that feels like skincare – and also offers protection against blue light and environmental stressors, in addition to the sun’s harsh rays. 

Finally, if you’re looking for a body SPF, MECCA COSMETICA’s To Save Body SPF50+ Hydrating Sunscreen not only feels soothing (it’s packed with aloe vera and vitamin E) but hydrating too, all while offering broad-spectrum high protection.