It all started with a simple request. One afternoon, as we were getting ready to head out for lunch, I asked to use some of my wife’s sunscreen as I simultaneously gave a strong squeeze of the bottle into my hand. “That bottle costs 80 bucks,” she sheepishly replied, as a look of horror crossed my face.
That moment sparked a heated conversation—one that ended with us both feeling frustrated.
Why was that sunscreen so expensive? Why are so many people unsure about how to use it? And why, in a country like Australia — where 2 in 3 people will get skin cancer —are we still getting it wrong? As a skin cancer doctor, I see the devastating consequences of this confusion every day. Patients walk into my clinic with skin cancers that could have been prevented — some with scars they’ll carry for life, others facing life-threatening diagnoses. Yet so many Australians skip sunscreen because they’ve been misled. The skincare industry is filled with noise — products that make big claims but offer little protection.
Some brands push the idea that their sunscreen is "reef-friendly" without really understanding how UV filters work. Others claim their moisturisers with Niacinamide will transform your skin, without mentioning that the low concentrations used are often too weak to deliver any meaningful results. There are brands promoting tanning accelerators and sunscreens side by side, encouraging habits that contradict everything we know about sun safety. Then there’s the gimmicks — like stick-on sun patches—designed to protect specific moles as though you can predict which spots are dangerous (spoiler: you can’t). This endless confusion leads to Australians either spending too much on sunscreen they barely use, or relying on ineffective products that leave them vulnerable.
"That's why we created Actaskin – because sun protection shouldn't be this complicated."
So what is Actaskin?
Acta is Latin for Action—and that’s exactly what we’re here to do: take action against misinformation and give people the knowledge and tools they need to protect their skin.
Our mission is simple: to make sun protection second nature.
Because here’s the truth:
- 2 in 3 Australians will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
- Melanoma is the most common cancer in Aussies aged 20-39.
- 90% of skin cancers are caused by UV exposure—yet so many people don’t protect themselves daily.
Australia has some of the best sunscreen regulations in the world, but even then, the industry is full of noise. Products that claim to be “all-natural” (as if chemicals are the enemy), sunscreens that market themselves as “organic” (which means nothing in UV protection), and tanning oils with SPF that encourage sun exposure while pretending to be protective. It’s exhausting to keep up with, and frankly, dangerous.
What we stand for
We’re not here to scare you into buying sunscreen. We’re here to be honest about what works—and what doesn’t.
- Products that deliver results. No gimmicks, no unnecessary ingredients—just scientifically backed formulas that work in real life.
- Clear, no-nonsense information. So you know exactly what you’re putting on your skin and why it matters.
- Zero fear-mongering. We won’t confuse you with buzzwords like "reef-safe", “chemicals free” or "clean beauty" Our focus is simple: protection that works.
Why we’re so passionate
For me, this isn’t just business, it’s personal. Diagnosing, treating, and surgically removing skin cancers is my daily routine. I’ve seen too many faces permanently altered, too many lives turned upside down, and we’re still not getting sun protection right and that’s partly due to some misleading marketing.
And Daars? She’s a problem-solver by nature. Her background is in making sense of complex industries and cutting through the noise. Together, we knew we could create something that challenged the myths about sun protection and gave Australians something better—something they could trust.
Our promise to you
We’ll never claim to be perfect, but we’ll always be transparent. Our goal is simple: maximum efficacy, minimal bullshit. We’ll keep speaking out against misleading claims. We’ll keep educating Australians about what really works. And most importantly, we’ll keep creating products that make daily sun protection easy, affordable, and effective. Because everyone deserves to enjoy the outdoors—without the fear of skin cancer.
