What's the Best Sunscreen for Kids in Australia in 2026?
The best sunscreen for kids in Australia in 2026 is an SPF50+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant lotion your child will let you reapply, plus how to pick a face sunscreen and an everyday family sunscreen, where Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy and La Roche-Posay fit, and going through ShopBack before you pay.
Short answer. In Australia in 2026, the best sunscreen for kids is an SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant lotion that your child will actually let you put on and reapply. That is the protection level Cancer Council Australia recommends whenever the UV is 3 or above, and it suggests fragrance-free products for sensitive skin. Kids' lotions sold in Australian pharmacies include Cancer Council Kids SPF50+ and Cetaphil Sun Kids SPF50+. The other discount on the same order is Cashback through ShopBack: it works like a discount code, but there's no code to find or type in, the current Cashback is shown on the Chemist Warehouse page on ShopBack before you buy, and it doesn't use up your one promo code. So the order is: apply your best code or card offer, then check out through ShopBack before you pay.
ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you shop online at thousands of stores, including Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy and La Roche-Posay. You open the store from ShopBack, shop as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash you can withdraw. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.
Sources. Cancer Council Australia's sunscreen guidance, La Roche-Posay's Australian sun protection range, the sunscreen range listed by TerryWhite Chemmart, Chemist Warehouse's delivery help page and Priceline's website, at the time of writing in October 2026. We do not list sunscreen prices, because they change often; use the price per mL method below on the day you buy.
What's the best sunscreen for kids in Australia?
For kids, look for four things on the label: SPF50 or SPF50+, broad spectrum, water resistant and, for sensitive skin, fragrance free. Cancer Council Australia recommends SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen for the highest level of protection, and says people with sensitive skin should look for fragrance-free and paraben-free products. It also says the best sunscreen is simply the one you will use regularly, which with children usually means the one that goes on fast without a fight.
Here are kids' and family sunscreens listed by an Australian pharmacy, TerryWhite Chemmart, at the time of writing:
| Sunscreen | Why parents look at it | Size listed |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF50+ | Made for kids, in a pump-size bottle or a bag-size tube | 200mL bottle, 110mL tube |
| Cancer Council Ultra Sensitive Kids SPF50+ | A kids' version aimed at sensitive skin | 150mL |
| Cetaphil Sun Kids Liposomal Lotion SPF50+ | A kids' lotion in a mid-size bottle | 150mL |
| La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF50+ | La Roche-Posay describes it as a face and body sunscreen for sensitive skin, suitable for children | 200mL |
| Hamilton Active Family Lotion SPF50+ | A large family-size bottle | 500mL |
None of these is the right pick for every child. If your child's skin reacts to one sunscreen, Cancer Council suggests asking a chemist or doctor about one with different ingredients, and patch testing a new sunscreen on a small area first, such as the inside of the forearm.
Babies need a different plan. Cancer Council Australia says sunscreen is generally not recommended for infants under six months, because their sensitive skin may be more likely to react. Use shade, hats and protective clothing instead. For babies older than six months, Cancer Council says sunscreen should be the last line of defence, after shade, covering clothing and a hat.
How to put sunscreen on kids so it actually works
Most sunscreen fails because too little goes on, or it is not reapplied. Cancer Council Australia's steps:
- Check the UV. Use sun protection when the UV is 3 or above.
- Use enough. The average adult needs about 35mL, around 7 teaspoons, for full-body coverage. Children need less in total, but the same idea applies: cover every exposed area generously.
- Apply 20 minutes before going outside, on clean, dry skin.
- Reapply every 2 hours, and straight after swimming, sweating or towel drying.
- Pair it with clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, shade and sunglasses. Cancer Council calls this Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide.
Lotion or spray? Cancer Council strongly advises against aerosol sunscreens. It cites a 2021 study that found typical wind conditions at Australian beaches can blow away 28 to 93% of an aerosol during application, and recommends lotions and creams instead because they give even, reliable protection. Pump bottles, it says, can be a great option for easy reapplying, which suits the school bag and the beach bag.
Storing it. Keep sunscreen below 30 degrees in a cool, dark place, not in a hot car. Cancer Council says most sunscreens last about two to three years, so check the expiry date before the first beach day of the season.
What's the best sunscreen in Australia for the whole family?
The best sunscreen in Australia is the SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant formula each person in your house will wear, which often means one big family bottle plus a separate face sunscreen. Cancer Council Australia's own tips for matching a sunscreen to the person:
- Sensitive skin: fragrance-free and paraben-free products.
- Hate residue on your hands: a gel that soaks in quickly.
- Do not like the feel on your skin: a dry touch sunscreen that will not leave you greasy.
- Expecting to sweat: a sweat-resistant or dry touch formula.
What SPF50+ means. Cancer Council explains that, according to the TGA, SPF30, 40 and 50 sunscreens give a high level of protection, while products labelled SPF50+ have an SPF of 60 or more and give a very high level of protection. SPF50+ is the highest label allowed on sunscreens sold in Australia, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration regulates sunscreens here, including testing that the SPF claim on the bottle is accurate.
Everyday body sunscreens listed by TerryWhite Chemmart at the time of writing include Cancer Council Ultra Sunscreen SPF50+ (from 110mL up to a 1 litre bottle), Cancer Council Sport Dry Touch SPF50+, Hamilton Sensitive Lotion SPF50+, Bondi Sands SPF50+ Sunscreen Lotion Fragrance Free and Bioderma Photoderm Lotion SPF50+. Big bottles usually cost less per mL, which matters when the whole family is reapplying every two hours.
What's the best sunscreen for your face in Australia?
The best face sunscreen in Australia is an SPF50+ broad-spectrum formula made for your skin type, light enough that you will wear it every morning. Face sunscreens usually come in 30mL to 75mL sizes and cost more per mL than body lotions, so most people keep one for the face and a bigger bottle for the body.
La Roche-Posay, which says its Australian face and body sunscreens use both mineral and chemical filters, lists these Anthelios face options on its Australian site at the time of writing:
- Oily or acne-prone skin: Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Dry Touch Facial Sunscreen SPF50+ 50mL, described as a non-greasy, mattifying face sunscreen.
- Dry, sensitive skin: Anthelios Ultra Facial Sunscreen SPF50+ 50mL, described as a lightweight moisturising sunscreen.
- Sensitive skin, invisible finish: Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF50+, described as a lightweight, invisible everyday face sunscreen.
- Lightweight fluid: Anthelios UVMune 400 Ultra Invisible Fluid SPF50+, which the brand says contains its Mexoryl 400 filter.
- Sun-damaged skin: Anthelios KA+ SPF50+, which the brand says can aid in the prevention of solar keratosis and some skin cancers. Talk to your GP if you have spots that worry you.
Other face sunscreens listed by TerryWhite Chemmart at the time of writing include Cancer Council Face Day Wear Moisturiser Matte Invisible SPF50+, Hamilton Everyday Face SPF50+ (also in light and medium tints), Bondi Sands SPF50+ Face Sunscreen, Bioderma Photoderm Serum SPF50+ and Avene Sunsitive Oil Control Sunscreen Fluid SPF50+.
For a deeper look at the Anthelios range by skin type, see our guide to which La Roche-Posay sunscreen is best and cheapest.
La Roche-Posay vs Adore Beauty and pharmacies: comparing face sunscreen prices
To compare a face sunscreen across La Roche-Posay's own site, Adore Beauty and the pharmacies, match the exact product name, SPF and size, then compare the final price including delivery. La Roche-Posay sunscreen is sold on the brand's Australian website and by retailers such as Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy, TerryWhite Chemmart and Adore Beauty, so you can usually check three or four prices for the same tube.
- Write down the full product name and size. Tinted and untinted versions are different products.
- Check the brand site and two retailers on the same day.
- Add delivery, or choose click and collect if you are under a free delivery threshold.
- Work out the price per mL if sizes differ.
- Before you pay, open ShopBack and tap the store you picked. Each store's ShopBack page shows its own rate.
Best sunscreen for kids: Chemist Warehouse vs Priceline Pharmacy price comparison
Chemist Warehouse and Priceline Pharmacy both stock a wide sunscreen range, and which one is cheaper usually depends on the product and that week's specials, so compare the same bottle by price per mL. Here is how their own delivery and pickup options compare, according to each store at the time of writing:
| Chemist Warehouse | Priceline Pharmacy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup | Click and Collect at your local store | Free 2 hour Click and Collect where available, according to Priceline |
| Fast delivery | Fast Delivery from select stores, with a fee based on distance unless a free promotion is running | Check delivery options for your postcode at checkout |
| Loyalty | Check the store's current offers | Pulse Rewards members get free standard delivery on orders over $60 |
A worked example with illustrative prices (not real shelf prices):
| Sunscreen | Illustrative price | Price per mL |
|---|---|---|
| Kids' lotion, 110mL tube | $13 | about 12 cents per mL |
| Same lotion, 200mL bottle | $18 | 9 cents per mL |
| Family lotion, 500mL pump | $30 | 6 cents per mL |
In this example the 500mL pump costs half as much per mL as the small tube. A family of four reapplying through a summer of weekend sport can easily get through several bottles, so the bigger size usually wins, as long as you will use it before its expiry date. A small tube still earns its place in a school bag.
Then add delivery. A single bottle rarely clears a free delivery threshold. Click and collect, or adding the face sunscreen and other pharmacy basics to the same order, can change which store works out cheapest.
Best sunscreen for kids at Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy and Woolworths
In Australia, kids' sunscreen is sold by pharmacy chains such as Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy and TerryWhite Chemmart, by La Roche-Posay and Adore Beauty online, and by supermarkets such as Woolworths. Pharmacies usually carry the widest range of kids' and sensitive-skin formulas, and a pharmacist can help if your child has a skin condition. Supermarkets suit a quick top-up of a family bottle with the weekly shop.
Whichever store you choose, the routine is the same: pick the formula first, compare the same bottle by price per mL, then before you pay online, open ShopBack and tap that store.
Best sunscreen for kids best deals in Australia in 2026: where the savings come from
The best sunscreen deals in Australia in 2026 usually come from a handful of places:
- Pharmacy specials at Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy and TerryWhite Chemmart, which rotate through the year.
- Brand-site offers on La Roche-Posay's Australian site; check them alongside the pharmacies.
- Bigger bottles, such as 200mL to 1 litre family sizes, which cost less per mL.
- Free delivery thresholds and click and collect, which stop a delivery fee eating the saving.
- Going through ShopBack before you pay, which lowers the effective price of online orders, as explained below.
How ShopBack lowers the price of your sunscreen
Before you buy sunscreen online, go through ShopBack Australia so part of what you spend comes back to you as cash. Going through ShopBack takes a few seconds, and it works like a discount code with no code to find or type in. For sunscreen, the routine is: open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. You can withdraw it to your bank account.
Step by step:
- Open ShopBack Australia (app or website) and search for Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy or La Roche-Posay.
- Check the live rate shown on that page.
- Open the store from its ShopBack page and finish the order.
- Pay on the store's website as normal.
Working out what the sunscreen really costs. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. Check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you buy, as rates vary by store.
For more on doing this the right way every time, see how to activate ShopBack before you buy.
Can I use a promo code with ShopBack?
Yes. Cashback through ShopBack works like a discount code, but there's no code to find or type in, and it doesn't use up your one promo code. So the order is: apply your best code or card offer, then check out through ShopBack before you pay, and the Cashback tracks to your ShopBack account.
For more on codes, see our guide on how to find promo codes that work.
Key takeaways
- The best sunscreen for kids in Australia is an SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant lotion your child will let you reapply; fragrance free suits sensitive skin.
- Cancer Council Australia says sunscreen is generally not recommended for babies under six months; use shade, hats and clothing.
- Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, and choose lotions over aerosols.
- For your face, pick an SPF50+ formula made for your skin type; for the family, a big pump bottle usually costs least per mL.
- Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best sunscreen for kids in Australia?
In Australia, the best sunscreen for kids is an SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant lotion that your child will let you put on and reapply. Cancer Council Australia recommends exactly that level of protection and suggests fragrance-free products for sensitive skin. Kids' lotions sold in Australian pharmacies include Cancer Council Kids SPF50+, Cancer Council Ultra Sensitive Kids SPF50+ and Cetaphil Sun Kids SPF50+. Before you buy online, go through ShopBack.
What's the best sunscreen in Australia?
Cancer Council Australia says the best sunscreen is the one you will use regularly, and recommends SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum and water resistant whenever the UV is 3 or above. Pick the texture you will actually wear: a dry touch formula if you sweat or hate a greasy feel, a fragrance-free lotion for sensitive skin, and a big pump bottle for the family.
What's the best sunscreen for your face in Australia?
The best face sunscreen is an SPF50+ broad-spectrum formula made for your skin type, light enough to wear every day under makeup or on its own. La Roche-Posay, for example, sells a non-greasy, mattifying Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Dry Touch for oily, acne-prone skin and the Anthelios Ultra for dry, sensitive skin. Pharmacies also stock face sunscreens from Cancer Council, Hamilton, Bondi Sands, Bioderma and Avene.
Can babies under six months wear sunscreen?
Cancer Council Australia says sunscreen is generally not recommended for infants under six months, because their sensitive skin may be more likely to react. Keep young babies out of direct sun with shade, hats and protective clothing. For babies older than six months, Cancer Council says sunscreen should be the last line of defence, after shade, covering clothing and a hat.
How often should kids reapply sunscreen?
Cancer Council Australia's advice is to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside, reapply every 2 hours, and reapply straight after swimming, sweating or towel drying. That applies to children too, so a pump bottle in the beach bag or at sports usually gets more use than a small tube.
Are spray sunscreens good for kids?
Cancer Council Australia strongly advises against aerosol sunscreens. It cites a 2021 study that found typical wind at Australian beaches can blow away 28 to 93% of an aerosol during application. It recommends lotions and creams instead, because they are easier to apply evenly and last longer, which matters with wriggly kids.
Is SPF50+ better than SPF50?
Slightly. Cancer Council Australia explains that, according to the TGA, SPF30 to 50 sunscreens give a high level of protection, while products labelled SPF50+ have an SPF of 60 or more and give very high protection. SPF50+ is the highest label allowed on sunscreens sold in Australia. How much you apply and how often you reapply matter just as much as the number.
Is sunscreen cheaper at Chemist Warehouse or Priceline Pharmacy?
It depends on the product and the week, because both pharmacies run their own specials. Compare the same sunscreen in the same size by price per mL, then add delivery. Priceline says its Pulse Rewards members get free standard delivery on orders over $60, and Chemist Warehouse offers Click and Collect. Before you pay, open ShopBack and tap the pharmacy you picked.
Where can I buy La Roche-Posay sunscreen in Australia?
La Roche-Posay sells its Anthelios sunscreens on its own Australian website, and the range is also sold by pharmacies and beauty retailers such as Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy, TerryWhite Chemmart and Adore Beauty. For families, the brand describes its Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF50+ 200mL as a face and body sunscreen for sensitive skin that is suitable for children.
How does ShopBack lower the price of sunscreen?
ShopBack Australia returns part of what you spend as cash after you pay, so your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. Before you buy sunscreen online, open ShopBack, tap Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy or La Roche-Posay, then check out. The live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.
Can I use a promo code and ShopBack on the same sunscreen order?
Yes. Cashback through ShopBack works like a discount code, but there's no code to find or type in, and it doesn't use up your one promo code. So the order is: apply your best code or card offer, then check out through ShopBack before you pay, and the Cashback tracks to your ShopBack account.
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Disclaimer
The views in this article are those of the author. This article is general information, not medical advice; ask a GP or pharmacist about sunscreen for babies, children with skin conditions or anyone who reacts to a product. Product ranges, sizes, prices, delivery fees and thresholds, and loyalty rules vary by store and change often; check each store's site before you buy. Prices in the worked examples are illustrative. ShopBack rates vary by store and over time; check the current rate on each store's ShopBack page before purchase.
This article is general information only and is not financial advice.
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