The Best Sunscreen for Surfers in Australia
The Sunscreen Made for Australian Surfers
Surfing in Australia
Some of the world’s best surfing spots exist here in Australia, with waves suitable for all levels of ability. The significant size of the island continent means that there are a variety of beaches known for their outstanding beauty and incredible breaks. It’s no surprise then that surfing is a way of life for many coastal Australians and, if surfing is a part of your life, then sunscreen should be too.
Why Surfers Need Sunscreen
If you’re a surfer, then I’m sure you know that the biggest threat whilst out at sea is UV radiation! Spending time at the beach means that you are more exposed to the sun’s rays. What’s more, the sand, sea and foam reflect up to 25% of these, adding to the overall radiation you experience.
For those of you who don’t know, the sun’s radiation consists of UVA and UVB. Whilst UVB is responsible for the more obvious damage, sunburn, UVA rays penetrate deeper and cause skin ageing. Both increase your risk of skin cancer. In fact, Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world! Therefore, it’s incredibly important for surfers to protect themselves using the best possible sunscreen.
The Best Sunscreen for Surfing in Australia
There are many factors to consider whilst choosing the best sunscreen for surfing in Australia, which are described in more detail below:
The Best Broadspectrum Sunscreen
Since both UVA and UVB rays are harmful, it makes sense that we defend our skin against both of them. This UVA and UVB coverage is referred to as broadspectrum, which you will find describes all of our sunscreen products here at SunButter.
The Best High SPF Sunscreen
If you read our previous blog discussing the best sunscreen for Australia, then you will know all about SPF. In brief, it stands for sun protection factor and is a measure to determine how much time it takes for UV to burn skin.
If your skin takes 10 minutes to burn with no sunscreen, then an SPF30 sunscreen will protect your skin 30 times longer and an SPF50 sunscreen will protect your skin 50 times longer. This means that an SPF50 provides roughly 500 minutes of protection, as opposed to the 300 minutes provided by an SPF30.
No sunscreen provides complete protection, but if you want to enjoy a long surfing session then you will want to use a sunscreen with a high SPF, such as our SunButter SPF50.
Moreover, we all love and deserve a bit of Vitamin D, and you can still get this by using our Surf Zinc Sunscreen.
The Best Water-resistant Sunscreen
This goes without saying. It’s pretty logical to assume that submerging yourself in water will subsequently wash off your sunscreen and leave you with little (if any) protection from the UV rays. Therefore, finding a waterproof or water-resistant sunscreen should be a top priority for surfers.
At SunButter, our sunscreen provides the ultimate protection whilst surfing, with 4 hours water resistance! Due to variabilities, such as salt content and fast-moving water, it is still recommended to reapply this every 2 hours.
For even longer-lasting waterproof protection for those extended surfing sessions, why not try one of our SunButter Surf Zincs? These are thicker than our normal formula and much more difficult to wash away. More about this later!
The Best Natural Sunscreen
We’ve already discussed the benefits of using a natural sunscreen, as opposed to a chemical-based one. If you haven’t had the chance to read it yet, chemical sunscreens penetrate our skin and create toxins, which can irritate, burn and cause breakouts. Not to mention the damage it causes to our beloved oceans!
Most surfers are ocean lovers, taking every opportunity to be in the sea; whether's it's riding waves or taking a dip whilst they're waiting for the swell to kick in. This is why it’s so important to find a sunscreen that can be applied frequently without upsetting our skin. Fortunately, our zinc-based sunscreen is suitable for all skin types and doesn’t contain any skin- or environment-damaging compounds, enabling you to enjoy a chemical-free summer.
The Best Surf Zinc Sunscreen for Extended Surfing Sessions
If you’re addicted to extended ocean and surfing sessions, then SunButter's Surf Zinc is designed for you! By using a thick and tinted zinc paste, it creates a physical barrier on your skin that is clearly visible and sticks for hours. It’s the type of sun protection that needs to be scrubbed off, so you can trust it won’t be washed away whilst you’re out surfing, diving, sailing, trail running, etc.
We’ve made them in 3 different colours: Coco Tan, Salmon Run and Golden Sands! You can even grab yourself a Christmas bundle deal, alongside some of our other products, for just AUD$50.00!
The Best Sunscreen Made for Surfers
There you have it. The best sunscreen for surfers in Australia should be broad-spectrum, high SPF, water-resistant and natural. Just remember that sunscreen shouldn’t be your only method of protection against UV rays. It’s just as important to wear protective swimwear, eyewear, and hats and nothing beats the protective powers of some sweet sweet shade.