I used to think sunscreen application was simple. Squeeze some out, rub it in, done. Then I had kids.

If you've ever tried to apply sunscreen to a toddler who has decided, with every fibre of their tiny being, that they do not want sunscreen on their face today, you know exactly what I mean. The mess. The tears. The speed at which a wriggling child can undo five minutes of careful application. The greasy hands you're then wiping on your own clothes before you've even made it out the front door. Not to mention the extra challenges that come when applying to a sensory-sensitive child.

That frustration, and my own family's personal experience with melanoma, is what led me to create SUNNYBOD™. And it's what led me to genuinely fall in love with a product category that most people haven't heard of. The sunscreen applicator.

If you've found yourself Googling "what is a sunscreen applicator" or "how to apply sunscreen to kids," you're in the right place. This is the complete guide.

Why sunscreen application actually matters

Before we get into what a sunscreen applicator is, it's worth understanding why how you apply sunscreen is just as important as which sunscreen you use.

According to Cancer Council Australia^[1], applying sunscreen correctly, meaning generously, to all exposed skin, and reapplied at least every two hours, is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, and research consistently shows that most people, adults and children alike, apply far less sunscreen than they should.

This isn't a knowledge problem. Most Australian parents know sunscreen matters. The problem is a behaviour problem. Sunscreen is messy, it can feel unpleasant, kids resist it, and when you're running late for school or sport, it's tempting to skip it or rush through it.

That's the gap that sunscreen applicators are designed to fill. Not by magically making sunscreen more effective, but by removing the everyday barriers that make people skip it in the first place.

As SUNNYBOD's founder says, "Small habit. Serious protection."

What is a sunscreen applicator?

A sunscreen applicator is any purpose-built tool that helps you apply sunscreen to your skin without using your bare hands as the primary contact surface.

The term covers a range of products, each with different designs and use cases. Let me walk you through the main types you'll encounter.

Types of sunscreen applicators

1. Refillable sunscreen applicator brush

This is the type I created SUNNYBOD™ around, and honestly, it's the one I think works best for families with children.

A refillable brush applicator consists of a handle that contains an internal canister holding your sunscreen, a pump mechanism, and a brush head with soft bristles. You fill the canister with your chosen liquid sunscreen, click the pump button to dispense the sunscreen through to the bristles, and brush it directly onto the skin. Face, neck, back, arms, wherever it's needed.

Why families love them

• No greasy hands
• Easier to reach awkward spots like ears, back, neck, and around the eyes and hairline
• Kids find the brush sensation gentler and more tolerable than fingers
• Fast and fun, transforming the SPF routine into something kids actually enjoy
• Compact and portable, fitting in your pocket, a school bag, beach bag, or handbag
• Refillable, so you use whatever sunscreen your family already trusts

The SUNNYBOD™ Refillable Sunscreen Applicator Brush holds approximately 20mL of sunscreen and is designed to work with cream and lotion-based formulations, including thicker mineral and zinc-based sunscreens. The bristles are made from PBT, sometimes called Taklon. It's a material chosen because it is more durable than ordinary nylon and less likely to harbour bacteria between uses.

Pros

• Truly hands-free from pump to skin, no rubbing in required
• Works on every part of the body including face, ears, hairline, neck and back
• Gentle brush sensation that most children, including sensory-sensitive kids, tolerate well
• Refillable with any cream or lotion SPF your family already uses
• Good for large and small areas of the body like the back and face
• Replaceable brush heads support long-term hygiene without replacing the whole tool
• Compact, sealed, and travel-ready at 20mL
• BPA-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and recyclable through the TerraCycle® Zero Waste Box™ program
• Great for encouraging sun safety routines in younger children

Cons

• Not suitable for powder sunscreen formulations
• Requires regular cleaning to maintain hygiene

2. Sponge applicators

Sponge-style sunscreen applicators use a sponge head pre-loaded with sunscreen, sometimes with a roll-on component, to dab and spread SPF onto the skin. The sponge head is saturated with sunscreen, which is then pressed or dabbed onto the skin and rubbed in by the child or caregiver. Some models come pre-filled and sealed, while others can be refilled.

Pros

• Child-friendly and easy for kids to use independently
• Simple roll-on or sponge design with no pump mechanism to learn
• Good for encouraging sun safety routines in younger children

Cons

• Not truly hands-free. The sunscreen still needs to be rubbed in after dabbing, meaning hands come into contact with the product
• Sponge material can absorb a significant amount of sunscreen, which means more product is used and potentially wasted compared to a brush
• Sponge heads can be harder to clean thoroughly, and sponge material is more porous, making bacteria build-up a consideration with repeated use
• Less effective on areas like the ears, hairline, and around the eyes where precision matters
• Generally larger and less portable than a brush applicator
• Most sponge applicators are not designed to work with the full range of sunscreen formulations, especially thick formulas

Sponge applicators are a genuine step forward from bare hands and deserve credit for making sunscreen more accessible for young children. For families wanting a fully hands-free option that works on every area of the body and with their preferred sunscreen formula, a refillable brush applicator offers a more complete solution.

3. Sunscreen roller applicators

Roller applicators use a ball-style head, similar to a roll-on deodorant, to spread sunscreen across the skin. They can be useful for larger body areas like the back and legs, however the SPF will still need to be rubbed in with hands.

Pros

• Quick to glide across large areas like the back and legs
• Familiar roll-on format that many people find intuitive
• Some models are refillable

Cons

• Not hands-free. Sunscreen applied by a roller still needs to be rubbed in with hands to ensure adequate contact with the skin
• Harder to control on small or irregular surfaces like around the eyes, the face, and ears
• Less effective around detailed areas like the hairline, around the nose, and around the eyes
• Rolling motion can cause some sunscreen to sit on the surface rather than being worked into the skin
• Most roll-on applicators are not designed to work with the full range of sunscreen formulations, especially thick formulas

4. Sunscreen sticks

Sunscreen sticks look and work a bit like a lip balm or solid deodorant. They contain sunscreen in a firm, waxy format that you apply directly to the skin. Sticks are popular for face application, particularly around the eye area, and for reapplication on the go.

Pros

• Mess-free and very portable
• Precise application around the eyes and nose
• No liquid spillage risk, making them good for travel
• Good for tactile-sensitive kids who don't like liquid SPF

Cons

• Not hands-free. The stick makes direct contact with skin but rubbing in is often needed for thorough coverage
• Work best with specific waxy formulations and can feel heavy or draggy compared to lotion-based sunscreens
• Not refillable, so once empty they are disposed of, generating more single-use plastic waste
• Limited capacity means they run out quickly with whole-family use

5. Spray applicators

Spray sunscreens come in their own pressurised can. They're popular because they feel quick and light on application.

Pros

• Fast to apply across large body areas
• Light and comfortable on skin
• Some formats are refillable

Cons

• Not hands-free. Spray sunscreens require rubbing in after application to ensure even contact with the skin
• Wind and outdoor conditions can significantly affect where the product actually lands, making consistent coverage difficult
• Not recommended for direct application to the face. Both the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)^[3] and Cancer Council Australia^[2] have raised specific concerns about aerosol sunscreens. The TGA advises that aerosols should not be sprayed directly onto the face due to the risk of accidental inhalation, and requires all aerosol sunscreen labels in Australia to carry warnings to avoid inhalation and use in well-ventilated areas^[4]. Cancer Council goes further, stating that because it is difficult to correctly apply aerosol sunscreen, they do not recommend aerosol sunscreens at all^[2]
• Inhalation risk is a particular concern around children, and around anyone with asthma or respiratory sensitivities
• Less suitable for targeted application to areas like the ears, hairline, and face where precision matters most

6. The makeup brush mum hack

This isn't a purpose-built applicator, but it's worth mentioning because many parents already do it. Using a clean makeup brush to apply sunscreen to a child's face is a clever workaround and it does help reduce resistance in sunscreen-averse kids.

Pros

• Helps spread sunscreen gently across the face
• Reduces direct hand contact with the skin
• Something many parents already have at home

Cons

• Not designed to hold or dispense sunscreen, so you need to dip the brush each time
• No sealed storage, which makes them messy and maintaining hygiene difficult
• Carrying it on the go is impractical due to mess and hygiene concerns
• No pump mechanism means it's hard to control how much product you're using
• Bristle quality and material varies widely, which affects hygiene and durability

A purpose-built refillable applicator solves all of these problems while keeping the gentle brush sensation that makes this hack worth doing in the first place.

How do they compare? A quick sunscreen applicator guide

This table gives you an at-a-glance view of how the main applicator types compare across the things that matter most for Australian families.

✅ Yes    ⚠️ Partially or depends on model    ❌ No

Every applicator on this list is a step in the right direction compared to bare hands and a bottle. The question is how far you want to go.

Who benefits most from a sunscreen applicator?

Parents of young children, especially toddlers and primary-school-aged kids who resist traditional sunscreen application. The brush sensation is often much better tolerated than hands or palms, and the process is fast enough to complete before the wriggling escalates.

Children and adults with sensory sensitivities. Parents of kids with sensory processing differences often find that a brush applicator is significantly easier than other methods. The sensation is more predictable, lighter, and doesn't involve the wet, slimy feeling of fingers on skin that many sensory-sensitive children find distressing.

Adults who want mess-free on-the-go SPF. The compact size of a refillable brush fits easily in a pocket, handbag, desk drawer, car glovebox, or gym bag. It's ideal for reapplication throughout the day without needing to wash your hands before or after.

People with limited hand mobility. A brush applicator can be easier to use and control than squeezing and rubbing in sunscreen, particularly for people managing conditions that affect dexterity. The wide, chunky handle makes gripping the applicator easier for some people.

Schools and childcare centres. A refillable applicator means hands-free application in childcare settings. It also means children who require particular formulas due to allergy or preference can have their brush filled with their chosen formula to be applied throughout the day, with less mess and more confidence. SUNNYBOD™ offers wholesale supply for schools and daycares.

Does using a sunscreen applicator brush actually work?

This is the question I know you're really asking, and I've written a full post answering it in detail over here: Do Sunscreen Brushes Work?

The short version is yes, when used correctly. What a brush applicator does is remove the barriers that cause people to skip or rush sunscreen. The mess, the resistance, the inconvenience. It doesn't replace good sunscreen habits. It makes those habits easier to form and maintain.

The things that always matter, regardless of application method, are listed below.

• Using a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ (Cancer Council Australia recommends SPF 50+^[1])
• Applying enough sunscreen to all exposed skin
• Reapplying at least every two hours, and immediately after swimming, towelling off, or heavy sweating
• Using sunscreen alongside other sun protection, including a broad-brimmed hat, UV-protective clothing, sunglasses, and shade

How to use a refillable sunscreen applicator brush

If you're new to brush applicators, here's the basic process.

1. Fill the canister with your chosen cream or lotion sunscreen. The SUNNYBOD™ brush holds approximately 20mL.
2. Click the pump button to dispense sunscreen through to the bristles. You may need a few clicks on the first use to prime the pump.
3. Brush onto skin using long strokes, then light circular motions to help the product blend in.
4. Cover all exposed areas. Don't forget ears, the back of the neck, the hairline, and the tops of the hands and feet.
5. Apply a second coat. Most people under-apply sunscreen significantly. A two-coat approach helps ensure more adequate coverage.
6. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming, sweating, or towelling dry.

For a complete how-to guide including cleaning instructions, visit How to Use a Sunscreen Applicator.

What to look for in a sunscreen applicator

Refillable design. This means you can use the sunscreen your family already trusts, rather than being locked into a single formula. It also reduces plastic waste compared to disposable formats. The SUNNYBOD™ applicator pumps SPF out cleanly, so no messy canisters to struggle with later.

Proper pump mechanism. The applicator should dispense sunscreen reliably and at a consistent amount, including with thicker sunscreen formulations. Sunscreen waste is a real problem with some applicators. The SUNNYBOD™ applicator's superior pump ensures SPF is cleanly dispensed from the canister, further reducing waste compared to other products.

Hygienic bristles. Look for bristles made from materials that resist bacteria build-up and are easy to clean. PBT bristles, used in SUNNYBOD™ applicators, are more durable and less absorbent than standard nylon, making them easier to maintain hygienically and minimising product waste. Cleaning a sponge head or roller can be tricky and time-consuming, not to mention removing the excess product from the sponge or roll-on canister.

Replaceable brush heads. Being able to replace the brush head rather than the entire applicator is more cost-effective and hygienic. SUNNYBOD™ recommends replacing brush heads monthly. The brush head can be fully submerged in a sanitising makeup brush solution, making cleaning easy.

Appropriate capacity. A 20mL canister is the sweet spot for portability without needing to refill constantly or waste product.

Eco-conscious materials. BPA-free, recyclable, vegan, and cruelty-free are all worth looking for. SUNNYBOD™ applicators tick all of these boxes and are recyclable through the TerraCycle® Zero Waste Box™ program.

High-quality construction. It's worth paying attention to what an applicator is actually made of. Some products on the market use low-grade plastics that can degrade over time or aren't suited to prolonged contact with sunscreen formulations. Brush heads on cheaper applicators can flex and bend during cleaning, shortening their lifespan significantly. The SUNNYBOD™ brush body is constructed from durable ABS and PE plastics, chosen specifically because they are stable, food-safe grade materials that won't break down with regular use or sunscreen exposure. The internal canister is made from PP and PE, similarly selected for their compatibility with sunscreen formulations. The PBT bristle heads are non-flexing and firm enough to hold their shape through repeated cleaning and use, while remaining gentle on skin. They are synthetic, vegan, and suited to sensitive skin types.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put any sunscreen in a refillable applicator brush?

Cream and lotion-based sunscreens work best. For very thick formulations, the canister may need a gentle tap on a flat surface whilst filling to help the product settle to the bottom so the canister can be filled completely. Powder sunscreens are not suitable. Always check your sunscreen manufacturer's guidance before decanting product from its original packaging, as this can affect efficacy over time. So far, SUNNYBOD™ has not been made aware of any liquid formulas that don't work in its applicator.

Is a sunscreen applicator brush hygienic?

Yes, provided you clean it regularly. SUNNYBOD™ recommends cleaning the brush head after every use with an antibacterial cosmetic brush cleanser. Replace the brush head monthly for optimal hygiene. For a full cleaning guide, see How to Clean a Sunscreen Applicator.

Is a sunscreen applicator suitable for children?

Yes. Refillable brush applicators are particularly well-suited to children because the brush sensation is gentler than hands and the application is easier. They're also a great tool for teaching older children to apply their own sunscreen independently, though SPF application should always be supervised by an adult to ensure complete coverage. They make SPF application fun and predictable for children, a bit like face painting.

Does sunscreen applied with a brush work?

What matters most is the sunscreen itself, including its SPF rating, its formulation, and whether it's applied in sufficient quantity to all exposed skin and reapplied regularly. The applicator is the delivery mechanism. The sunscreen does the protecting. Using a brush can make it easier to apply sunscreen consistently and thoroughly, which is the goal. It's also worth noting that a sunscreen applicator is not designed for the long-term storage of sunscreen. It is a tool to assist in creating meaningful sun care routines that are simple, positive, and repeatable, removing the barriers associated with traditional SPF application. Before removing SPF from its original container you should always consult your sunscreen manufacturer for specific guidelines for use.

Can a sunscreen applicator be taken on a plane?

Yes. At 20mL, the SUNNYBOD™ applicator sits within the standard 100mL liquid limit for carry-on luggage. Always ensure the lid is secured firmly before travel and place it in its travel pouch in a secure location.

Where can I buy a sunscreen applicator in Australia?

The SUNNYBOD™ Refillable Sunscreen Applicator Brush is available online at sunnybod.com with free shipping across Australia. Soon to be available worldwide, so follow along on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

The bottom line

A sunscreen applicator is a practical tool that makes sunscreen application easier, faster, less messy, and more tolerable, especially for children. The right applicator doesn't replace good sun safety habits. It makes those habits something your family may actually stick to.

In a country with Australia's UV intensity and melanoma rates, anything that helps more sunscreen get onto more skin, more consistently, is worth knowing about.

That's why I started SUNNYBOD™. And that's why I genuinely believe the future of sunscreen, for families at least, is a brush, not a bottle.