Review of Cancer Council Sunscreen
Proceeds from sales of Cancer Council sunscreens help fund research, patient support and education on cancer. But does the Cancer Council offer the right sun protection for your skin? Find out with Canstar Blue’s review.
It makes a lot of sense for one of Australia’s leading cancer organisations to provide products which help prevent skin cancer. It’s a double whammy, as it’s also a handy revenue raiser for the charity.
The Cancer Council website is more than just a sunscreen retailer – it’s a one-stop shop for all of your sun safety needs. There’s an incredibly wide product range on offer, from SPF rated cosmetics (such as BB cream, moisturisers and lotions, and lipstick), hats (in some truly interesting designs), clothing (for water play and land sports), and bigger gear for your poolside or beach chill-out zone such as umbrellas, cabanas, and ‘sunshine chairs’ (which are meant to actually block the sunshine).
There’s never been a better excuse to go shopping for beach gear. Read on to find out more about the Cancer Council’s Australian-made sunscreen range.
Everyday Sunscreen
Cancer Council Everyday Sunscreen SPF 30+
For an easy-application daily sunscreen, Cancer Council offers a light, non-greasy formula which rubs in easily without leaving any residue. It’s 4 hours water resistant and contains moisturisers, to leave your skin feeling light and soft.
Sizes available:
- 35mL tube
- 50mL tube with carabiner
- 75mL roll on
- 110mL tube
- 200mL pump spray
- 220mL bottle
- 250mL tube
- 500mL pump pack
- 1L pump pack
Cancer Council Ultra Sunscreen SPF 50+
The next step up in sun protection is the Cancer Council Ultra formula, rated at SPF 50+. This traditional style sunscreen is suitable for all skin types and leaves a clean, dry feeling when it absorbs into skin. It’s four hours water resistant. There’s also a refreshing cooling formula variant called the Ultra Cooling Sunscreen, offering the same high level protection as the regular Ultra Sunscreen.
Sizes available:
- 4g lip balm
- 75mL roll on
- 110mL tube (regular and cooling formulas)
- 175g aerosol (cooling formula)
- 200mL pump spray
- 220mL bottle
- 250mL tube
- 500mL pump pack
- 1L pump pack
Sport Sunscreen
Cancer Council Active SPF 50+
Ideal for activities on land, this formula dries quickly with a light non-greasy feel. It’s also a good formula for oily skin. It’s four hours water resistant so you don’t have to worry about losing your UV protection while gardening or washing the car. The Cancer Council Active sunscreen comes in a number of different sizes and application methods so you can easily carry it with you no matter what kind of active pursuit you’re up to.
Sizes available:
- 35mL tube
- 50mL bottle with carabiner clip
- 110mL tube
- 175mL aerosol
- 200mL pump spray
Cancer Council Sport Sunscreen SPF 50+
This sports sunscreen is recommended for use during watersports as it’s highly water resistant (four hours). The formula is also sweat resistant so even at your most active you can hang on to that barrier between dangerous sunshine and your skin.
Sizes available:
- 50mL bottle with carabiner clip
- 110mL tube
- 250mL tube
- 175mL aerosol foam spray
- 200mL pump spray
- 500mL pump bottle
Face Sunscreen
Cancer Council Day Wear Face SPF 30
For the beauty-conscious, premature aging caused by sun exposure can be a serious concern. You can prevent this by protecting your face from UV damage with sunscreen. The Cancer Council Day Wear Face sunscreen is designed to feel comfortable for everyday use while preventing sun damage. The formula is light, non-oily, and moisturising with added aloe vera to keep skin healthy. It can be worn under makeup and is compatible with all skin types. This face sunscreen comes in untinted, light tinted, and medium tinted formulas.
Sizes available:
- 75mL tube
Cancer Council Day Wear Matte Face SPF 50+
It can be hard to wear sunscreen and moisturiser when you’re prone to oily skin or breakouts. The Cancer Council Day Wear Matte Face sunscreen is designed to be gentle on such skin and prevent adding to that icky feeling oily skin can suffer from. It dries quickly to a matte finish – no more shiny skin! It’s suitable for all skin types and shades.
Sizes available:
- 50mL tube
Kids Sunscreen
Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+
Delicate young skin is highly vulnerable to burns and damage, so keeping little ones slathered in sunscreen is incredibly important. The Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen is fragrance and paraben free and dermatologically tested to be safe and comfortable for sensitive skin. It also offers four hours water resistance so children can play on land or in water and still stay sun safe.
Sizes available:
- 75mL roll on
- 110mL tube
- 250mL tube
- 500mL pump bottle
Cancer Council Peppa Pig Kids SPF 50+
Using the exact same formula as the regular Kids Sunscreen, this range is packaged with everyone’s favourite pig friend. There’s no extra charge for that extra fun packaging – the prices remain consistent with the regular formula. The Cancer Council Peppa Pig Kids sunscreen range does have different size options, however.
Sizes available:
- 50mL bottle with carabiner clip
- 75mL roll on
- 200mL pump spray
- 500mL pump bottle
Zinc Sunscreen
Cancer Council Classic Sunscreen SPF 50+
For traditional zinc sun protection with an updated tropical scent, the Cancer Council Classic sunscreen contains 20% zinc oxide in a water-in-oil formula. It’s suitable for all skin types, with moisturising properties from aloe vera and vitamin E.
Sizes available:
- 100mL tube
Cancer Council Zinc Stick SPF 50+
Swipe a stripe of zinc across your nose for that classic sunblock experience. It’s not so handy for all-over use, but zinc sticks do make sun safety a lot more fun and creative. The Cancer Council zinc stick formula is 4 hours water resistant so it sticks to your skin. Choose from white for a stripe or rubbed in to create a ghostly glow, neutral skin tone to blend in, or the triple pack to get your Aussie colours on with green and gold.
Colours available:
- White (single stick)
- Skin (single stick)
- Green/yellow/white (3 stick pack)
Specialty Sunscreen
Cancer Council Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 50+
For effective sun protection without irritating sensitive skin, the Cancer Council produces a sunscreen formula designed to be low irritant. This sunscreen is paraben and fragrance free, but contains aloe vera and vitamin E to moisturise the skin. It’s dermatologically tested to be comfortable for everyday use on all kinds of skin. It’s also 4 hours water resistant.
Sizes available:
- 110mL tube
Cancer Council Work Sunscreen SPF 50+
Working hard can be hard work on your skin, especially when it’s subject to hours of sun exposure. For heavy duty sun protection without leaving your hands dangerously greasy, the Cancer Council Work Sunscreen dries quickly and completely, so dirt doesn’t stick and tools don’t slip. It’s fragrance free, dermatologically tested and four hours water resistant.
Sizes available:
- 200mL pump spray
- 500mL pump bottle
- 1L pump bottle with handle
Cancer Council Repel Sunscreen SPF 30+
A combination sunscreen and insect repellent, this formula contains ingredients that deter annoying little bugs such as flies and mosquitoes from trying to take a bite out of your skin or use you as a hangout space. The Cancer Council Repel Sunscreen is two hours water resistant, so wandering around a pond won’t wash away your protection against UV damage and mozzie bites.
Sizes available:
- 50mL bottle with carabiner clip
- 110mL tube
Cancer Council Professional Sunscreen for Scars SPF 50+
Another dual-purpose product, this sunscreen is designed to help scars heal and become less noticeable. The formula is four hours water resistant and contains 20% zinc oxide for high UV protection, protecting recently damaged and vulnerable skin. It contains a natural tint to help cover inconsistent skin tone and appearance, as well as a number of ingredients which help the repair process. These include vitamin B3 to help skin regain elasticity, pro-vitamin B5 to reduce inflammation, allantoin to help boost skin barrier function, aloe vera to soothe irritated skin, and vitamin E to soften and smooth scar tissue.
Sizes available:
- 75mL tube
Should I use Cancer Council sunscreen?
The Cancer Council sunscreen range is quite large, covering many skin types and skincare needs, as well as offering a number of different application methods for user convenience. There are a few specialty sunscreens available with Cancer Council that can be very difficult to find elsewhere. The price range is generally in the middle of what you would normally expect to pay, depending on what size and product you’re looking at. If you want to spend your money in a way that funnels money towards worthy causes rather than lining corporate pockets, the Cancer Council seems a pretty worthy choice.
About the author of this page
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Content Producer Luciana Lawe Davies. She writes about streaming, appliances and consumer products and services. Luciana enjoys bringing readers the best in what’s on TV and at the shops, including the best deals and latest reviews.