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Ombra Daily Defence SPF50+ Face Moisturiser Untinted or Light Tint 60ml $3.99 @ ALDI

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The once-a-year release of Aldi face sunscreens just hit the shelves this week, still priced at $3.99/60ml or $6.65/100 ml. That makes it cheaper per ml than the 200ml Hamilton face sunscreen even when half price. The Aldi ones have the same ingredients list as the 2023 formula for Hamilton face sunscreen, except for differences in the iron oxides which would affect the tint (see full ingredients lists below).

This is a face sunscreen that's designed for everyday use, it's more like a light moisturiser. It has no claims to water-resistance, so it's not designed for a sweaty bush walk or swimming outdoors.

This year's formula has been changed slightly and now includes bemotrizinol 10 mg/g, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane 50 mg/g, ethylhexyl triazone 50 mg/g and octocrylene 30 mg/g as sunscreen filters. The previous formula was very lightweight and comfortable, absorbed nicely without being sticky or greasy. I have not tried the 2023 formulas myself, but I don't think it should be too different given that most of the ingredients remain the same.

Full ingredients as listed on TGA:

If you are trying to decide which one to get out of the three, the untinted Ombra has no tint. Hamilton has a very light tint that should just blend out for most people. The tinted Ombra from 2022 has a stronger tint than the Hamilton, and it's a slightly orange-y beige that would suit those leaning towards medium skin tones (not fair-light).

Note: This is a seasonal special, once it runs out, there will be no more stock until next year. So if you want it, buy it when you see it.

Cancer Council recommends using sunscreen every day on days when the UV Index is forecast to be 3 or above. Sunscreen should be part of your daily morning routine on these days. source. Note that the UV index during daylight hours in summer easily exceed that even on rainy days.

Tried it and liked it? Vote for it in our best everyday sunscreen 2023 poll!

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closed Comments

  • +3

    Here is the formula breakdown of the Ombra face sunscreens from 2022 and 2023 and the Hamilton Everyday face 2023 formula. Note that ingredients after the sunscreen filters are sorted by alphabetical order, not concentration. You can see that the 2023 formulas are almost identical, except for the iron oxides added to Hamilton, which gives it the slight tint.

    Ombra Face 2022 (AUST L 387000) Ombra Face 2023 (AUST L 408969) Hamilton Face 2023 (AUST L 408954)
    4-methylbenzylidene camphor 20 mg/g bemotrizinol 10 mg/g bemotrizinol 10 mg/g
    butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane 30 mg/g butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane 50 mg/g butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane 50 mg/g
    ethylhexyl triazone 20 mg/g ethylhexyl triazone 50 mg/g ethylhexyl triazone 50 mg/g
    octocrylene 30 mg/g octocrylene 30 mg/g octocrylene 30 mg/g
    alkyl (C12-15) benzoate alkyl (C12-15) benzoate
    Aloe vera Aloe vera Aloe vera
    aluminium magnesium silicate aluminium magnesium silicate aluminium magnesium silicate
    cetostearyl alcohol cetostearyl alcohol cetostearyl alcohol
    dibutyl adipate dibutyl adipate
    dimeticone 100 dimeticone 100 dimeticone 20
    dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate
    edetate sodium edetate sodium edetate sodium
    hydrated silica
    hydroxyacetophenone hydroxyacetophenone hydroxyacetophenone
    iron oxide red
    iron oxide yellow
    isopropyl palmitate
    neopentyl glycol diheptanoate
    phenoxyethanol phenoxyethanol phenoxyethanol
    polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate
    purified water purified water purified water
    Rice Bran Wax Rice Bran Wax
    silicone dioxide silicone dioxide
    sodium hyaluronate sodium hyaluronate
    stearic acid stearic acid stearic acid
    trolamine trolamine trolamine
    xanthan gum xanthan gum xanthan gum
  • +1

    So is this any good? Never used it or Hamilton before

    • +4

      Both are excellent, though both have tweaked their formulas this year. See previous year's discussion

    • Can't be that good if they only sell it once a year.

      • +1

        You could say that about every special buy

  • +9

    "Cancer Council recommends using sunscreen every day on days when the UV Index is forecast to be 3 or above"

    So basically every day including night time in australia.

  • +4

    Didn’t realise it’s a once-a-year product till now. Have been checking the shelves and thought it’s been discontinued. I can vouch that they’re the better ones out there, not sticky

    • Didn’t realise it’s a once-a-year product till now.

      Wow, does this mean I can only apply it once and have sun protection all year round??!

    • Yeah I usually stock up for the year when I see them

    • Why only 60ml though, what use…..

      • For face, use anything else all over..
        Doesn't seem like much though, Neutrogena is 118mL, but $4 no risk.

    • So how many should you buy to last a year? Or two years, if you want to stock up and not forget 12 months from now.

      • I buy 6

        • I should buy some. Getting skin cancer sounds just about right at this point.

  • +8

    Thanks for the write up OP.

  • Good size for traveling, less than 100mL

  • +1

    I just want the Hamilton to go on sale again 😢

    • +2

      Probably won't be half price for a while I'm afraid. No harm getting this one though - they are almost twins if you look at the ingredients list.

    • Good thing I stocked up.

  • +4

    I personally think mineral sunscreens are way better, I'd skip the chemical ones.
    But hey, this is OzBargain, so I'll zip it and let everyone do their thing!

    And if you men are above 80 then no worries, go for the cheap chemical sunscreens, lol.

    • +3

      What would you recommend/what are the benefits?

      • Physical sunscreen basically contains Zinc Oxide(naturally occurring mineral) Vs Chemical Sunscreen( Which are dozed with chemicals and whose safety is yet to be conclusively proven). Obviously you will hear that chemical sunscreens are absolutely safe but do remember that corporates make a fortune out of chemical sunscreens as ingredients are super cheap to source and they can still charge you a premium for it. Now for you to decide. For bit more clarity keep in mind that you are choosing between Natural vs Synthetic.

        • What's your favourite mineral brand?

          • @Save Medicare: Its something that I purchased overseas. I don't think its available here. Found the couple of them I tried here to be quite greasy and fading my complexion.

            • +7

              @ninohax: Only problem I have with foreign sunscreen brands is the reliability of their sun protection. Australia has strict testing standards whereas the same can't be said for foreign brands. Unless proven otherwise I am still betting on chemical sunscreens tested within Australia.

          • @Save Medicare: I saw they sell this here but haven’t tried myself: https://goforzero.com.au/collections/sunscreen-zinc

          • @Save Medicare: The Mrs swears by Sukin, currently half price @ Big W

    • Could you explain your reasoning? Genuinely curious

    • I’m always looking for a good more natural sunscreen so please share your experience.

    • +15

      I'm not sure what @kyla1975's reasons are, but there are a lot of people who prefer mineral sunscreens over chemical. For those with sensitive skin or tend to get eye sting, mineral has been shown to be a better option.

      However, there are also some questionable claims surrounding the superiority of mineral/physical sunscreens over chemical ones. Michelle Wong goes through them in detail at the start of this video.

      if you men are above 80 then no worries, go for the cheap chemical sunscreens, lol.

      I disagree with this statement. Regardless of age, using a TGA-regulated sunscreen, physical or chemical, is a good thing, regardless of the price point.

      • +9

        100% agreed, and upvoted for providing a reputable source.

        To add to this, she also has an excellent comparison on her website if you prefer reading.

        The best sunscreen is whatever you'll regularly use that works well with your skin. I personally love the Aldi one.

      • https://firststepsfertilityclinic.com/fertility-is-sunscreen….

        In a 2014 study, it was suggested that exposure to certain benzophenone UV radiation filters found in sunscreen might be linked to infertility in men. Researchers tested concentrations of the said UV filters in the urine of men and found that two of them were associated with reduced fertility in men.

        As always, the choice between non-mineral and mineral sunscreens depends on your individual preferences.

        • What is your preferred mineral brand. I’ve tried a few more natural sunscreen and the experience hasn’t been good -too greasy - but I’m opened to try if recommended.

          • +1

            @1bargain: I have only started using Mineral sunscreens for less than a year, I still have the greasy one, I found that applying smaller amounts in layers helps.

    • +2

      More reading if interested, the nuance seems to be which chemicals are used and at what concentration.

      https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscr…

  • -1

    can this be applied to other parts of body that's exposed to Sun or just on the face? wondering if i can use it when i head to the n*de beach

    • No.

    • +1

      People will chuckle…
      But hot climate concreters, roof tilers (and probably others) all know someone who've burnt their balls. Wearing absolute-minimal clothing, (no jocks) and not knowing that UV bounces.

  • +1

    non-comedogenic?

  • +1

    Just wondering if it’s comparable to the premium brands such as “La Roche-Posay”? At only 15% of the cost of the La Roche-Posay 50ml, I’d be happy to buy even if it’s only 60% - 80% as good, provided it’s still safe and only less pleasant to use.

    • +4

      This is very subjective, as different people prefer different textures. Assuming the texture of 2023 Aldi formula is similar to 2022, the LRP is more runny/liquidy, but both of them are pleasant to apply, absorb nicely and are non-greasy and non-sticky. I don't feel like I'm wearing sunscreen for either, and both don't pill under make-up. I personally can't justify spending on LRP because I don't find it heaps better, and I go through a lot of face sunscreen. Some people who tend to get eye sting from sunscreens do say that LRP is the only one that doesn't give them eye sting though. YMMV.

      Edit: In terms of safety, like any other Australian-made sunscreen, it is regulated by the TGA. I would trust a TGA-regulated sunscreen, even though there are no 100% guarantees. A few well-known big brands have had products shown to fall short of their SPF claims due to a fraudulent SPF-testing company in the US that they used to conduct SPF testing.

      • +1

        Thanks for your comments. I’m sold on the Aldi one and will stock it up!

        • +1

          I think we've missed the boat on this one. Checked a couple of stores. Long gone.. came out a few weeks ago now I guess

          • @G-rig: I'd be surprised if that was the case - not that many people know about it, and it usually lasts a month or two. The tinted ones are not that popular and usually there's still those ones left late summer. Note that these are placed on the shelves next to the other sunscreens, not with the special buys.

            • @moocher: Checked 3 or 4 stores between me and family member, gone.

              • @G-rig: I wonder if it is a distribution thing, if it helps, I'm in Sydney metro and it only arrived last week in my store. Maybe just check the shelves the next time you visit Aldi.

                • @moocher: Nah checked enough stores and gone.
                  Special buys don't hang around too long, will look out for it next time.

                  • @G-rig: My local in QLD just put out a fresh display, so there may be hope of restocking

                    • @Last Seen: Ok, nice, were only out for about a week.

                    • +2

                      @Last Seen: You were correct, more stock out this morn.
                      Got mostly the normal ones and 1x tint. Cheers

                      • @G-rig: Good stuff, hopefully it's worth the effort.

                        I'm trying to wean my household off LRP, it's gotten so expensive lol

                        • @Last Seen: Yeah haven't tried it enough, wouldn't recommend tinted the normal one prob k

  • Not as good as nivea or neutrogena or even natio - no charcoal tint available
    I use Bondi Sun soo good

    • Was thinking of trying some for 4$, still got some Neutrogena SPF 15 and Natio - both are thinner than normal sunscreen but don't leave your skin feeling nice or moisturized (still a tad dry or greasy). Think you need to spend $50+ on those beauty brands for something nicer.

      Ultra violet queen screen was recommended before, when they had 2 for 1 promo on.

      Just noticed a poll on this thread:
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/810453

    • Interesting that you mentioned Natio. Note that Aldi ombra sunscreens are all made by Ross Laboratories - same family behind Natio.

      Max is a third-generation member of the Ross family to work within cosmetic manufacture. Ross Cosmetics (now Ross Laboratories) was founded in 1921 by James Ross, Max's grandfather who was an early adopter of cosmetic import before establishing a local laboratory in Melbourne in the 1930s.

      • Wasn't overly impressed with natio either. I think you have to pay white a lot for the non-greasy good brands that you can wear as mosituriser.

  • Wouldn’t be it cheaper to get 1l Nivea this https://amzn.asia/d/2evQXSA?
    And the Aldi one to top up on the go?
    Plus the Nivea you can use to go to the beach for all the family.

    • +1

      that looks like normal sunscreen good for the beach etc.
      Facial stuff is different, includes a moisturiser. You don't want thick and greasy stuff.

      • The reviews say it’s also a moisturiser. I use sunkin only but I should probably add a sunblock if I go out.

        • +2

          go for it. dont think many of them would be nice on the face.

          • @G-rig: Also in summer applying moisturiser/sunblock really makes you sweat 😅 Small price to pay I suppose (to protect skin).

            • @fozzie: Not wrong, i usually wait till get in the office/AC.
              Just don't need the greasy and chemical stuff on top of that, makes you feel hotter.

            • @fozzie:

              in summer applying moisturiser/sunblock

              I apply it all the time. It really comes down to the formulation and your skin type. Not all moisturisers and sunscreen/block are the same, hence why some cost more and people are willing to pay to not look like a disco ball.

        • Is it actually a moisturizer? I'm getting old and err I think it might be time soon.

          • @hamwhisperer: wouldn't consider that a moisturizer lol.
            moisturizer should keep you from looking old

            • +1

              @G-rig: The implication from the top post is this is a dual purpose moisturiser and sunscreen, they def exist, wife uses them.

              • @hamwhisperer: Yeah I was talking about that NIVEA SUN Protect and Moisture Sunscreen SPF50+ 1L.
                Obviously more of a sunscreen than beauty moisturizer. Getting sweaty or greasy doesn't matter if jumping in the surf or the pool.

                Just get whatever works with your skin.
                May grab one of the aldi ones to test anyway.

            • @G-rig:

              moisturizer should keep you from looking old

              To expand on that a bit:
              Moisturisers prevent transepidemal water loss (TEWL) by hydrating, softening and forming an occlusive layer so that helps to prevent your skin from drying out too quickly. That means a healthier skin barrier and less dryness. Less dryness means wrinkles take longer to form.

              However, moisturisers vary greatly in texture and ingredients. This Ombra face sunscreen is an excellent base to provide light hydration plus SPF protection (UV rays are your worst enemy in terms of aging skin), but there's no anti-aging ingredients in there to help existing fine lines and wrinkles. Just clarifying that to manage expectations.

              • @moocher: Agree, besides staying hydrated and avoiding dry skin I know that sun is what ages people the most (as well as drinking and smoking). Look at all those people tanning on the beaches in the 60s, all wrinkly old prawns now.

                Which one is best. The ALDI I went to didn't have those sunscreens. Has to be fairly non greasy if using as a daily or over moisturiser otherwise I find skin gets too dirty, clogged pores, irritations and breakouts are possible.

                • +2

                  @G-rig: It's possible that not all ALDI stores have received stock yet.

                  I totally get not wanting a greasy, clogging sunscreen. I also get congested pores that can turn into comedones if I use unsuitable products.

                  I have personally used the first 6 options in the face sunscreen poll though not the 2023 tweaked formulas. All are supposed to be non-greasy and light. If you are sensitive to fragrance, avoid the Nivea UV shine control as that has fragrance. The first 5 are fragrance-free.

                  However in terms of bang for buck, the Aldi one above is cheapest and also has one of the newer sunscreen filters Tinosorb S/Bemotrizinol which is very photo-stable. The 2023 Hamilton everyday face also has this since it's almost a twin, but it's not on sale right now.

                  You could also go for the tried and tested Cancer council matte with the pink label which has a massive following on skincare forums. Note that the 2022 Aldi Ombra face sunscreen was an almost-twin to that - I wrote about it in last year's deal.

                  • @moocher: Cool thanks for the info. Will check some other stores, keen to get a couple of each.

                    • +1

                      @G-rig: No worries, hope you'll find some!

              • @moocher:

                there's no anti-aging ingredients in there to help existing fine lines and wrinkles. Just clarifying that to manage expectations.

                Are you aware of any that can help with age spots or is it best to see a dermatologist about it?

                • +1

                  @CodeXD: You can try some over the counter stuff first, but best to use a targeted product rather than rely on a moisturiser which needs to do their main function of moisturising. If the spots are quite light, you could try The Ordinary's Alpha Arbutin which is a watery serum that you apply after cleansing and drying face, but before moisturiser. If it's a bit more pronounced, then the strongest over the counter stuff I've seen is the John Plunketts SuperFade Face Treatment Cream - which is to be used carefully as a spot treatment, not over your entire face. It contains 2% hydroquinone.

                  • +1

                    @moocher:

                    but best to use a targeted product rather than rely on a moisturiser which needs to do their main function of moisturising

                    I take that back. Looks like Plunketts has a moisturiser which has 2% alpha arbutin, which is a better option than The Ordinary's 2% alpha arbutin serum in terms of simplifying your skincare routine. It also has 2% niacinamide which is another brightening ingredient.

    • +1

      no, that is more for going to the beach or a tradie working outdoors all day.

      ombra is more of a beauty product. you wear it all day everyday. i wouldn't use it to go to the beach and be outside for a long period of time, i would use nivea.

  • Thanks op, bought one each and also the sensitive one with zinc

  • Anyone know how this compares to the cancer councils liquid invisible face one?

  • Can any ozbargain resident sunscreenologists recommend a good lip balm with UV protection?

  • -2

    Will this protect and bleach my ring when I receive the sun beam

  • Been trying this now a few days and it does seem fairly decent 'greasewise' so I'll stick with it.
    Use a tiny bit each day ,grabbed about 10 in total, expect it may last me a year

  • Any idea if this is still available in stores? I got one bottle but my family has also been using it so I think i will run out fast…

    As an alternative, does the Hamilton Everyday Face stain clothes? and does it wash off with water?

    Or is the Cancer council pink one the same as this?

    • +1

      Still available at the Aldis near me (Eastwood and Macquarie Centre NSW)

      As an alternative, does the Hamilton Everyday Face stain clothes?

      If you let it dry down, no. The tint is almost invisible anyway (not orange)

      Or is the Cancer council pink one the same as this?

      See this comment for full ingredients list comparison. Short answer, the 2022 Aldi formula as almost a dupe for CC pink. The 2023 one, less so, but has a more advanced sunscreen filter.

      Hamilton 2023 formula is closer to this 2023 aldi untinted formula

      • Thanks heaps for the info!

        • +1

          No worries. I just realised I put in the wrong comment link - fixed now.

        • +1

          See new table above comparing the Aldi and Hamilton 2023 formulas. You'll see how they are almost identical except for the iron oxides.

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