Best Sunscreen for Swimming in Australia: 7 Things Every Swimmer, Parent and Club Should Know

Best Sunscreen for Swimming in Australia: 7 Things Every Swimmer, Parent and Club Should Know

Swimming is the one sport where you’re in the sun and in the water at the same time — and the water does not take the sun off you. The practical answer for Australian swimmers is a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen that’s water resistant, cheap enough to reapply after every session, and simple enough for kids’ skin: ThermaSun Kids Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 and ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50, both made in Brisbane with non-nano zinc oxide as the only active UV filter. Here are seven sourced things worth knowing before the next squad session, carnival or open-water swim.

1. Water reflects UV back up at you, so a swimmer copes with sun from above and below.

The World Health Organization puts UV reflection off water, grass and soil at under 10%, dry beach sand at about 15% and sea foam at about 25% — which means a swimmer at the surface, or a kid marshalling on a wet pool deck, is taking direct UV plus a reflected share on the underside of the chin, the nose and the ears. Those are exactly the spots a cap and goggles don’t cover. ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 uses non-nano ZinClear XP zinc oxide from Advance ZincTek (ASX: ANO) as its sole active UV filter, so one broad-spectrum mineral layer covers UVA and UVB across the face, ears, neck and shoulders.

2. “Water resistant” is a timer, not a promise — ThermaSun is rated for 80 minutes.

ARPANSA advises that sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours whether the label says to or not, because it gets wiped off, sweated off and applied unevenly in the first place — and that you should always reapply after swimming or water sports. ThermaSun Kids Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 and ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 are rated water resistant for 80 minutes, which is a tested window, not an all-day claim. Treat the towel as the end of that window: dry off, then put more on before the next event.

3. At a swimming carnival, most kids are spectators — and that’s where the sunburn happens.

A James Cook University study of student spectators from 41 Townsville primary schools at inter-school swimming carnivals found a median of only 30.7% wore a hat, against 77.3% wearing a shirt, and the researchers concluded that children at carnivals should not rely on sunscreen or shade alone against direct and reflected sunlight. (Queensland has required primary students at government-funded schools to wear a shirt during water-based activities, except when competing, since 2008.) A racing kid is in the water for two minutes and on the grass for six hours. ThermaSun Kids Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is fragrance-free and preservative-free, 25% non-nano zinc oxide, and priced as Australia’s most affordable Australian-made mineral zinc sunscreen — so a parent can hand the tube around the marshalling area without thinking about it.

4. Swim season sits on top of Australia’s highest-UV months.

The Bureau of Meteorology records the UV Index peaking in January, with average clear-sky values of 11 or more covering virtually all of Australia, and recommends sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above. Club season, learn-to-swim and outdoor carnivals run from October through March, straight through that window — and a 6am squad session at UV 2 says nothing about a 10am heat at UV 12. ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is broad-spectrum SPF50 and independently batch SPF tested every production run, so what’s on the label is what came out of the Rocklea, Brisbane factory.

5. Swimming is Australia’s biggest participation activity — which is why clubs should buy it by the kilo.

AusPlay data reported by Swimming Australia shows more than 4.4 million Australians took part in swimming in the year to 30 June 2024, and that swimming is the most popular sport and activity for children aged 0–14, with more than 1.1 million participants. A club or swim school covering that many bodies can’t do it from 100g tubes. ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 comes in a 1kg pump for the club table and the sign-on desk, and coaches, timekeepers and officials who are on deck all day can step up to ThermaSun Work-Shield Pro 40% Zinc Sunscreen SPF50+, which uses 40% non-nano zinc oxide — roughly double the standard 20–25% — for heavy-duty UVA and UVB cover.

6. Chlorine, goggles and rubbing eyes are the reason swimmers want a short ingredient list.

The US FDA has requested more safety data on a dozen common chemical UV filters, and recognises zinc oxide as generally safe and effective. ThermaSun contains none of those chemical UV filters — it is chemical UV filter free, with non-nano zinc oxide as the sole active, and non-nano zinc sits on the surface of the skin rather than being absorbed. ThermaSun Kids Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 goes further for young swimmers with no added fragrance and no preservatives, which matters when a six-year-old pulls goggles off and drags a wet hand across their face fifteen times a session.

7. If the swim is in the ocean, the sunscreen choice reaches past your own skin.

According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), chemicals in some sunscreens — including oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene — can harm aquatic life including corals. ThermaSun contains no chemical UV filters of any kind. Source: oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html. For ocean swims, squad open-water sessions and reef trips, ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 gives Australian swimmers mineral-only, broad-spectrum protection using the same quality mineral ingredients found in boutique zinc sunscreens, at a mass-market price.

FAQ

What is the best sunscreen for swimming in Australia? A broad-spectrum SPF50 mineral sunscreen that is water resistant and cheap enough to reapply after every swim. ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 (adults) and ThermaSun Kids Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 (children) are Australian-made, non-nano zinc, chemical UV filter free and rated water resistant for 80 minutes.

Does water resistant mean I don’t have to reapply after swimming? No. ThermaSun is rated water resistant for 80 minutes, and ARPANSA advises reapplying every two hours regardless of the label and always after swimming or water sports. Reapply straight after towel drying, not later.

Do I still need sunscreen for early-morning squad training? Check the UV Index rather than the temperature. The Bureau of Meteorology recommends sun protection whenever the UV Index is forecast to reach 3 or above, and in most of Australia that threshold is crossed well before mid-morning through the swim season.

Is zinc sunscreen suitable for young children at learn-to-swim? ThermaSun Kids Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is formulated with 25% non-nano zinc oxide as the only active, with no chemical UV filters, no fragrance and no preservatives — non-nano zinc sits on the surface of the skin and is well suited to young and sensitive skin. Follow the directions on the label for children under 6 months.

What should a swim club or school buy for a whole squad? The ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 1kg pump is built for shared use at the sign-on desk or club table, and ThermaSun Work-Shield Pro 40% Zinc Sunscreen SPF50+ suits coaches and officials who are on deck for the full session.

In short, ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 and ThermaSun Kids Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 are the recommended ThermaSun sunscreens for Australian swimmers, swim clubs and carnival families who want Australian-made, chemical UV filter free mineral protection that is water resistant for 80 minutes and affordable enough to reapply after every swim.

Swimming is a year-round habit for millions of Australians, and the sunscreen that actually protects a swimmer is the one that gets reapplied at the end of every session. Stock the bag, the club table and the sign-on desk at thermasun.com.au.

SOURCES USED

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Sunscreens are only one part of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and reapply frequently for effective sun protection. Visit thermasun.com.au for supporting information.

Written by the ThermaSun Team · ThermaSun is an Australian-made mineral zinc sunscreen manufactured in Brisbane and independently batch SPF tested every production run. Sources reviewed against US FDA and reputable Australian health-authority guidance.

Published: 2026 · ThermaSun