Why are SPF formulas in the UK and Australia different?

Planning a trip to Australia, or are you a local down under who’s just discovered indu?

You might have noticed that the indu Everyday Hero SPF50+ isn’t yet available in Australia or New Zealand. There are lots of rules around skincare formulas, and they differ from country to country around the world. Particularly when it comes to SPF.
Our SPF isn’t live in ANZ yet for a number of reasons, but it’s particularly because SPF is treated very differently across these countries, compared to the UK.

Australia treats this product like a therapeutic product, since it needs to be even more protective against higher UV levels.

If you didn’t know already (this one’s for the Brits), summer in the southern hemisphere is closer to the sun, so Australia unfortunately has the highest skin cancer rate in the world and there is much stricter testing as a result. Basically, it’s tested to make sure that the SPF is less likely to budge, even if you’re sweating or swimming in 40+ degrees.

This is partly why we follow different rules and regulations. The UK and the rest of Europe classifies SPF as cosmetics, like most other everyday skincare products. Your cleanser, moisturiser, etc.

That doesn’t mean it’s not as strictly tested – there’s a whole other detailed set of rules and tests that must be carried out too, it’s just different ways of classifying.

Different regulations also mean that brands like us have to develop different SPFs to follow different rules, to meet the requirements of that country. Our team is currently hard at work making an Australia-approved version of Everyday Hero SPF50+.

We’re going above and beyond for every requirement and more, to make sure it has all the same features UK teens know and love. Things like that lightweight, non-sticky texture, it’s non-comedogenic (so it won’t clog pores), there’s no white cast, it’s the perfect makeup primer, to name just a few.

You can shop all other indu products exclusively at Sephora ANZ. indu is available to shop at Sephora UK and in 38 stores across Australia and New Zealand. Explore the store list here.