Is the sun hotter in Australia? Yes.
That’s why you need to learn how to avoid sunscreen fails when traveling down under.
I know all my fellow Northern Hemisphereans think they’ve got the sunscreen and tanning game mastered. You may think that because you can lay out all day in California or England, that you’ll be fine when you get to Oz. But, sis, you won’t. The sun really is hotter in Australia, and it will leave you with a sick burn, bro.
Let’s review Exhibit A.
Think that’s a ham hock ready for the barbie? Wrong! It’s my human leg sizzled to perfection.
Listen, I don’t want to brag, but I used to be a pool lifeguard. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I *might have* put on SPF 15 at 9am and then pranced under the sun for the rest of the day. Hideous Speedo bikini tan line, sure. Dirty looks from parents, obviously. Blistering sunburn, no way. I was golden brown, baby.
I learned the hard way though, in Australia, not wearing SPF 50 and not reapplying multiple times throughout the day, well, that’s a sunscreen fail.
That pig leg above, that’s the result of just a couple hours of surfing in Manly, even after applying SPF 50.
The Sun is Hotter in Australia
Maybe you’re thinking that I’m just a basic pale, white Becky (true), so that’s why I got so sunburned (false!). According to Specialist Australia, the sun really is hotter in Australia. Australia is near the hole in the ozone layer, which means UV radiation levels are higher in Oz than countries in the Northern Hemisphere. If that weren’t bad enough, in the summertime, the Earth’s orbit moves Australia even closer to the sun, resulting in extra UV intensity. The higher the UV radiation levels, the more likely you are to sunburn (and get skin cancer and – gasp – wrinkles).
Protect Yourself
Follow Cancer Council‘s advice and slip, slop, slap (i.e., slip on protective clothing, slop on some sunscreen, and slap on a hat) whenever spending time outdoors in Australia. The easiest way to spot tourists are by the painful looking sunburns in the outline of sunglasses or triangle bikinis. Australians have been getting PSAs about sunscreen fails since the early 1980s, and applying sunscreen daily, wearing a hat or sunglasses, and avoiding outdoor activities during peak UV radiation time (10am to 3pm) is now deeply ingrained. In primary school, no hat no play was even the mantra at recess.
Think you’ll only be out for a few minutes and you’ll be fine?
Let’s review Exhibit B.
This lovely sunburn fail occurred because I was jumping in and out of a car to take pictures at scenic sites on a road trip in WA. I was only out of the car for a total of 45 minutes over the course of a couple of hours on a cloudy day, but the sun still fried me to a crisp.
The clouds didn’t protect me, and they won’t protect you either. In fact, according to healthline, over 90 percent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through the clouds and reach your exposed skin.
Apply then Reapply to avoid Sunscreen Fails
Importantly, you need to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going into the sun to let it soak in.
When it’s time to reapply, do so frequently. The label on that sunscreen might say to reapply after every two hours, but if you’re in the water surfing or swimming, in my experience, it’s best to reapply every hour. When you reapply, you also need to stay out of the water and in the shade for 20 minutes to let it sink in or it will just wash off – zapping your wallet and your skin.
If you’re in a rush, I recommend using zinc. It’s effective immediately (no need to let it sink in), and, in my opinion, stays on longer. Zinc comes in different shades, so if you find one that matches your skin tone, it essentially becomes concealer and your face will look flawless.
Cover Up
When you’re surfing, a full-body wetsuit will go a long way in protecting most of your skin from a sunburn fail. When the weather and the water are warm, you’ll start boiling in a wetsuit – enter the stinger suit – full body sun, board rash, and jelly fish sting protection (bonus mine gives me the illusion of abs).
Wetsuit
Stinger Suit + 6 pack
Seek Shade
If you’re lounging on the beach, seek some shade under a beach tent. I love light ones that are easy to set up and travel with. Mine even fits in my scooter.
Final Thoughts
The sun really is hotter in Australia, and a sunburn fail can ruin your vacation. I get we all want to be tan, but for the love of your skin, PLEASE use sun protection. I beg you, learn from my mistakes!