By now you’ve probably heard what incredibly scorcher days Melburnians have been having for the past few weeks. Fans, air conditioners, evaporative coolers have been selling like hotcakes just so people could try to keep cool. Another item, I reckon, which is on the hot market right now (or at least, it should be), is sunscreen.

I don’t think I’ve ever used that much sunscreen in my life, until I experienced the brunt of the summer here. One of the sunscreens I’ve been using is Banana Boat’s Ultra Defence SPF 30+.

Description:

Pamper your skin with Banana Boat Ultra Defence SPF30+ Sunscreen Lotion, enriched with botanicals, moisturises and protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. This broad-spectrum UVA and UVB sunscreen gives you 30+ times your skin’s natural sunburn protection and 4 hours of water-resistant protection. Its enriched botanical formula hydrates your skin and leaves it with a light, soothing fragrance.

This product can aid in the prevention of premature aging of the skin.

My first impression of the sunscreen was that it actually smelt good. Now you know what sunscreens normally smell like. You get an intense whiff of a chemical-y scent everytime you open that tube/bottle. There’s a light floral fragrance with this one, and it really is a refreshing change.

This sunscreen lotion is richer in texture than most of the sunscreens I’ve used. It also moisturises and hydrates the skin at the same time. My legs are normally very dry, and this helped a lot. However, with its richness in cream, it isn’t sticky on the skin at all. Another plus point there.

A thing about the Ultra Defence though – you get a shiny sheen after rubbing the lotion onto the skin. This sheen goes away after a while. It gave me a glow whenever I use it on my bare legs and arms whenever I go out in shorts and a top. Kinda like a bronzed look, but without the colour :p

This Banana Boat Ultra Defence SPF30+ Sunscreen Lotion was a collaboration with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, hence the pink tube (well, I think it’s purdy). For every tube purchased, $0.10 will be donated to the foundation. So here I am, doing my bit 🙂

This is available at Priceline, Coles, local drugstores for approximately AU$10.

What I like about it: A sunscreen which actually smells good. I was sold! It’s also non-greasy.

What I did not like about it: The shine takes a while to get used to, if you’re not into that whole bronzed-glow look.

Note: Do carry a travel-sized tube of sunscreen in your purse. This way, you can reapply your sunscreen (this is a must for all sunscreens to work effectively) whenever you want. I like to do mine whenever I’m in the car.