SPF is the single most evidence-supported intervention for protecting your skin from premature photoageing and for protecting the results of your aesthetic treatments.¹ In aesthetic medicine, consistent daily sunscreen use is considered a foundational component of any treatment plan — whether that involves laser, injectables, skin needling, or active skincare. And yet, it remains one of the most misunderstood products in skincare.
So let's change that.
What UV (and visible light) actually does to your skin
Most people know sunscreen protects against sunburn. Fewer people know what's actually happening beneath the surface.
UVB rays are the ones responsible for sunburn and direct DNA damage. They're strongest between 10am and 3pm, and the SPF number on a sunscreen reflects protection against UVB specifically.
UVA rays are a different story. They penetrate glass and cloud cover, they're present every single day of the year, and UVA — particularly UVA1 — is the dominant driver of photoageing: collagen breakdown, loss of firmness, and pigmentation changes. You don't need to be at the beach for UVA to be doing its work.
Importantly, in Australia, any therapeutic sunscreen labelled "broad spectrum" has been tested for UVA protection under the AS/NZS 2604 standard — so the SPF number tells you about UVB, but the broad spectrum claim is what tells you about UVA. A clinical nuance worth noting: a gap exists in the longer UVA1 range (380–400nm). Zinc oxide protects only up to around 380nm, and newer filters extending coverage to 450nm are approved in the European Union but are not yet available in Australia.
Then there's visible light — specifically high-energy visible (HEV) or blue light — which directly triggers melanin production in the skin, independently of UV radiation. This one surprises a lot of patients, because standard SPF testing measures UVB only, and there is currently no internationally standardised method for testing visible light protection. We'll come back to this.
The evidence for daily SPF use is robust. A landmark Australian randomised controlled trial — the Nambour Skin Cancer Prevention Trial — found that participants using daily sunscreen showed 24% less skin ageing over 4.5 years compared to those using sunscreen at their own discretion.¹ That's not a small effect. And the fact that the trial was conducted in Queensland makes it directly relevant to anyone living under Australian UV conditions.
A note on the 2025 SPF testing investigation
If you've followed Australian news in 2025, you may have seen the consumer advocacy group CHOICE publish testing results suggesting a number of popular sunscreens didn't meet their labelled SPF. The TGA has since investigated, several products have been recalled, and reforms to sunscreen regulation are currently under consultation.
It's a fair question to ask: how can patients have confidence in their SPF?
At Avery, we don't stock based on marketing. We curate our SPF range based on formulation quality, clinical performance, and the reputation of the manufacturer's testing and quality assurance practices. The brands we work with are ones we'd use on ourselves, our families, and our post-procedure patients.
Mineral, chemical, or hybrid — what's the difference?
The terminology can be confusing, so here's a plain-language breakdown.
Mineral SPF uses zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide — inorganic UV filters that primarily sit on the surface of the skin and within the outermost layer (the stratum corneum). They work by both scattering and absorbing UV radiation before it can damage deeper skin structures. Because they remain largely on the skin surface rather than penetrating into living skin layers, mineral sunscreens are often preferred after procedures, during pregnancy, and for patients with highly reactive or compromised skin barriers. The trade-off is texture: mineral formulas can feel heavier, and some leave a white cast (though micronised zinc significantly reduces this).
Chemical SPF uses organic (carbon-based) filter molecules that absorb UV energy and convert it to heat. Modern-generation filters — like Bemotrizinol (Tinosorb S) and Bisoctrizole (Tinosorb M) — are highly photostable, rigorously tested, and approved for use in Australia. They tend to be lighter in texture and invisible on the skin, which supports better daily compliance. They're not suitable on disrupted or post-procedure skin, but for most patients they're an excellent option.
Hybrid SPF is where it gets nuanced. Many products marketed as "mineral" actually contain organic UV-absorbing molecules — most commonly Butyloctyl Salicylate or Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene — in their inactive ingredients. These products are effective and well-tolerated, but they're not strictly mineral. If your clinician has recommended mineral-only SPF post-procedure or during pregnancy, this distinction matters.
Tinted SPF: not just cosmetic
This is one of the most clinically important things we tell our patients, and it often surprises them.
If you're managing melasma, hyperpigmentation, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), or rosacea — a tinted SPF with iron oxides and/or pigmentary titanium dioxide isn't a preference. It's a clinical recommendation.
Here's why: approximately 45–50% of the solar energy reaching your skin is visible light, not UV. Visible light independently triggers melanin production. And no untinted SPF — regardless of how high the SPF number is — provides meaningful protection against visible light.
The topical filters with the strongest evidence for attenuating visible light on the skin are iron oxides and pigmentary titanium dioxide, which is why tinted sunscreens are visible on the skin (they have to be, to block visible light).² There is also emerging evidence that topical antioxidants may provide adjunctive visible light protection by neutralising the reactive oxygen species visible light generates in the skin.
Randomised controlled trials have shown that sunscreen with iron oxides combined with UV protection is more effective than UV-only sunscreen for treating and preventing melasma relapse.²,³
So if your clinician has recommended tinted SPF and you've been swapping it for an untinted option because you prefer the texture or finish — this is worth knowing.
Five SPF myths we hear every day
"SPF50 protects me from everything." SPF measures UVB protection only. Even an SPF50+ provides limited protection against visible light without iron oxides or pigmentary titanium dioxide present. The number matters less than quantity, frequency, and formulation.
"Mineral SPF is always safer." Many products labelled as mineral contain organic molecules in the inactive ingredients. Both filter types are regulated and effective — the label isn't always the full story.
"I don't need SPF indoors." UVA penetrates glass and is present year-round. Cumulative daily exposure near windows — at a desk, in the car — adds up. Daily SPF is warranted regardless of whether you go outside.
"My foundation SPF is enough." To achieve the SPF number on a foundation, you'd need to apply approximately ¼ teaspoon of it — far more than any of us actually use. Foundation SPF is a bonus. It is not a substitute for dedicated SPF underneath.
"Chemical filters are dangerous." The modern-generation filters in the products we stock — such as Tinosorb S and M — are among the most rigorously tested and photostable UV filters available. Older concerns about oxybenzone don't apply to these contemporary filter systems.
How to get the most from your SPF
The best sunscreen in the world won't protect you if it's applied incorrectly. A few fundamentals that matter more than which product you choose:
Use enough. The guideline is approximately ¼ teaspoon (around 1.25ml) for the face — or ¼ to ½ teaspoon (1.25–2.5ml) for face and neck combined. Most people apply 25–50% of that, which dramatically reduces the effective SPF they're receiving.
Apply it last in your skincare routine, around 15 minutes before sun exposure: cleanser → actives → moisturiser → SPF → make-up.
Reapply every two hours when you're in direct sun. One morning application is not sufficient for a day outdoors.
Wear it every single day — including overcast days, winter days, and days you plan to be indoors.
Don't mix drops into your moisturiser. Products like the Avocado Zinc Drops are tested at a specific application density. Diluting them changes that density unpredictably, and the resulting SPF cannot be calculated or guaranteed. Apply directly to skin only.
Finding the right SPF for your skin
At Avery, we stock a carefully curated range of SPF products across mineral, hybrid, and chemical categories — selected for clinical performance, formulation quality, and patient tolerability.
Whether you're managing melasma, navigating rosacea, recovering from a procedure, or simply looking for the best daily skin health habit you can build — there's a product suited to your skin. Your clinician can help you identify the right one based on your full skin history and treatment plan.
In the meantime, our full SPF guide — including filter type explanations, skin concern matching, and detailed product profiles — is available on our website.
References
- Hughes MCB, Williams GM, Baker P, Green AC. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158(11):781–790. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002. PMID: 23732711.
- Castanedo-Cazares JP, Hernandez-Blanco D, Carlos-Ortega B, Fuentes-Ahumada C, Torres-Álvarez B. Near-visible light and UV photoprotection in the treatment of melasma: a double-blind randomized trial. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2014;30(1):35–42. DOI: 10.1111/phpp.12086. PMID: 24313385.
- Boukari F, Jourdan E, Fontas E, Montaudié H, Castela E, Lacour JP, Passeron T. Prevention of melasma relapses with sunscreen combining protection against UV and short wavelengths of visible light: a prospective randomized comparative trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015;72(1):189–190.e1. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.08.023. PMID: 25443629. (Note: one author is an employee of the sunscreen manufacturer Bioderma; finding is consistent with independently-funded research.)
Supporting review: Lyons AB, Trullas C, Kohli I, Hamzavi IH, Lim HW. Photoprotection beyond ultraviolet radiation: A review of tinted sunscreens. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;84(5):1393–1397. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.04.079. PMID: 32335182.
This article is for patient education only. Content is based on peer-reviewed clinical evidence current as of 2025–2026. Sunscreen formulations and regulatory standards change over time — always verify current product information with packaging and check the TGA website for the latest regulatory updates. For personalised recommendations, speak with your Avery clinician.
Posted 28 May 2026