Bondi Sands, Honestly Reviewed

By June Ramli

Bondi Sands is one of those Australian brands you see in every chemist, so I put a whole kit to the test: the Self Tanning Foam in Dark, the application mitt and blending brush, two SPF 50+ face sunscreens, and the Caramel Sunny Kiss lip balm.

Self Tanning Foam, Dark (200 mL)

The foam comes out as a rich olive-brown dollop, so you can see exactly where it’s going. That guide colour is a real help for avoiding missed patches, and it has a light coconut scent.
Rubbed in, it spreads easily and gives an instant bronze glow.
On my skin, though, the Dark shade blended in so well that I couldn’t see any difference once it developed. If you already have a medium to deeper skin tone like mine, don’t expect a dramatic change. This foam is likely to make more of a visible difference on fairer skin. My advice would be to blend it well over knees and elbows. The foam settles into dry skin and fine lines, so moisturise those areas first.

Application Mitt and Blending Brush

The mitt keeps your palms from staining and gives a smoother finish than bare hands. The brush is handy for the face, hands and feet, where the mitt is too clumsy.

SPF 50+ Face Sunscreen Lotion (75 mL) & Sunny Cream SPF 50 Face Lotion (50 mL)

Two face options, and both have a light texture. They feel breathable under makeup rather than heavy or greasy, so they work well as a daily base.
Both come in travel-friendly sizes. At 50 mL and 75 mL, they’re under the 100 mL limit for liquids in carry-on luggage.

Caramel Sunny Kiss Lip Balm, SPF 50+ (10 g)

Lips are easy to forget when applying sunscreen, so a balm with SPF 50+ and UVA/UVB protection is a smart addition. It’s small and lightweight, so it slips easily into a handbag, making it ideal for travel and top-ups on the go.

The verdict: 3.5/5

The foam is easy to apply, and the guide colour makes it beginner-friendly, but on my skin tone the final colour wasn’t noticeable. It’s better suited to fairer skin. The sun-care range is the more useful buy for me: the face sunscreens are light and breathable under makeup, and together with the lip balm, they’re all small enough for a handbag or carry-on.

Editor’s note: The products featured in this review were gifted to DailyStraits by Bondi Sands. DailyStraits received no payment for this review, and Bondi Sands had no input into or approval of its content. All opinions are the author’s own.