Bondi Sands

The streets of Melbourne were filled with colour, energy and pride last weekend, and we were honoured to be part of it. The Bondi Sands team joined our colleagues from across Kao Australia & New Zealand to march in the Midsumma Pride March, standing alongside the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies in a powerful celebration of visibility, connection and belonging. For us, Pride is about more than a single moment or march.  It’s about showing up consistently, listening, learning, and creating a workplace where everyone feels safe to be themselves.  Our Pride Employee Resource Group certainly lead the way in rallying support whilst also creating an inspiring calendar of events throughout the year for all of our team members to enjoy and grow. Marching together was a reminder of the impact that allyship, representation and collective action can have when people come together with shared purpose. We’re proud of our teams for continuing to champion a culture where individuality is celebrated. Thank you to Midsumma Festival for creating space for voices, stories and communities to be seen and heard.

2026 marks a new chapter for Bondi Sands, with the launch of our global platform, Summer Never Ends, and the introduction of three new global ambassadors: Australian beauty entrepreneur Sammy Robinson, UK personality Chloe Burrows, and US TikTok twins Azra and Aisha Mian. Together, our new ambassadors represent the diversity of our growing international audience and will star in global content, host brand events and inspire our community to embrace a healthy glow through skin enhancing care and sun protection. Rolling out globally from this month, our Summer Never Ends campaign is designed to unlock the confidence, freedom and radiance of an endless summer. To celebrate the campaign launch, a select group of media and influencers joined our new ambassadors for an endless summer celebration in Sydney. The launch also signals a broader brand evolution, including refreshed packaging designed to improve navigation across ranges, alongside continued improvements to packaging materials in line with our sustainability commitments. From Bondi Beach to more than 30 countries worldwide, Bondi Sands continues to inspire inner and outer confidence - proving that summer is more than just a season.

Bondi Sands is inspired by beautiful Australian beaches, the lifestyle they represent, and the community that surrounds them. And with our head office so close to Port Melbourne beach, we feel it's important to play an active role in supporting and protecting our local shoreline. Team members from our global head office recently participated in BeachPatrol Australia Inc’s ‘Clean My Beach’ initiative, an ongoing community program dedicated to protecting and preserving Australian beaches. Taking part in a hands-on clean was a meaningful way to give back to the environment that inspires our products and supports our community. We’re proud to support organisations like BeachPatrol Australia and would like to thank them for all they do.

We recently joined our Kao Australia & New Zealand family at the Japan Culture and Art Festival in Melbourne, where Kao was an event sponsor.   Under perfect sunny skies (and over 30°C!), more than 2,500 attendees came together to celebrate the richness of Japanese culture, creativity, and community spirit. With 40 interactive workshops spanning traditional art, music, and food, the festival offered an immersive experience that honoured Japan’s vibrant heritage - values that deeply resonate with Kao’s own Japanese roots. Team members volunteered their time on the day, sharing product samples and engaging with festival-goers. Events like the Japan Culture & Art Festival are a reminder of the beauty of cultural exchange and the power of bringing people together. We’re grateful to have been part of this inspiring celebration and would like to thank everyone who stopped by to say hello.

Last week, our Global Associate Director of Digital, Chloe Clark, joined fellow Australian brands Hismile and EHP labs on a panel at SXSW Sydney to chat about Going Global with TikTok Australia. Chloe shared some of our global wins on TikTok over the past five years, including: ·     Being the first Australian brand to run TopView in the US ·     Becoming the #1 searched self tan brand on TikTok TikTok has been a key platform to grow the Bondi Sands brand globally, leveraging best-in-class content, creator and influencer partnerships, and a full-funnel media strategy to connect with audiences around the world.

This September, we joined our Kao Corporation Australia family for Steptember. We walked to raise funds and awareness for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, a global centre of expertise for cerebral palsy research, advocacy, intervention and assistive technology innovation. Together, across Kao Australia, we logged an incredible 13.87 million steps and raised $9,250 to support early detection and therapy for babies with cerebral palsy. A huge shoutout to Ella Nichols who took home number one spot with a massive 617k steps in preparation for the Melbourne Marathon. Big thanks to everyone who participated, donated, and cheered each other on - every step made a difference.

To celebrate the global launch of our latest innovation in self tan - Ultra Express Self Tanning Foam - we headed to iconic racing events around the world to put it to the ultimate speed test. Across Melbourne, Miami & Silverstone, we set out to show how easily you can achieve your deepest glow in one hour flat. Ultra Express delivered flawless results, fast. In a Bondi Sands first, our VIP guests were self tanning right before stepping out to their events. Powered by our world-first Colourlock Accelerator technology, the innovative, first to market formula creates a thin, protective barrier that locks in your tan at lightning speed. It’s designed to let you wash off and glow in just one hour, so you can be same day ready. A huge congratulations to our teams across the globe who made this campaign happen. You dreamed big, worked fast, and achieved something unforgettable. Ultra Express is available online at bondisands.com, bondisands.com.au, bondisands.co.uk, bondisands.eu and in store and online at major retailers. #BondiSandsUltraExpress #SelfTanInnovation  

We’re proud to be part of a wider Kao Corporation community that’s committed to building a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered. As part of this commitment, we recently celebrated the launch of the AUNZ Kao Pride ERG during our Glow With Pride event, held in honour of Pride Month. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are employee-led networks designed to support and connect individuals with shared identities, passions or experiences. The Kao Pride ERG provides a dedicated space for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies to come together, advocate for inclusivity, and help shape a more diverse and supportive workplace. During the launch, Steven Kelaher (he/him) and Brianna Grassi (she/her) introduced themselves as the new AUNZ Kao Pride leads, sharing powerful reflections on why this work matters to them and their hopes for what the group will achieve. “As someone who cares deeply about people, personal relationships and belonging, being part of Kao Pride is an honour. I’m passionate about creating a workplace where everyone feels safe, supported, and celebrated for who they are," said Brianna. "This is close to my heart, and I feel a strong responsibility to stand up, speak out, and be a loyal advocate for real inclusion, not just as a policy, but as a culture,” she added.   Steve also reflected: “I am incredibly proud to represent Kao Pride and help drive better understanding, education, and allyship within Kao. Nominating myself for this leadership position was about improving my own understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community and making sure I am doing my part to create a more open and inclusive workplace so that my daughter can grow up in an environment where she feels comfortable being herself, whoever that may be."   We’re constantly inspired by the passionate individuals who continue to champion equality, belonging, and visibility across the entire Kao business and are proud to contribute to building a more inclusive future.   #KaoPride #EmployeeResourceGroups #GlowWithPride

Kao Corporation supports employees to create meaningful change, encouraging employees to dedicate time to making a positive impact. Our Global Brand team recently stepped away from their desks and into the Empower Australia warehouse for a morning spent giving back to the community. Empower Australia is a not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting Australians in need through food relief, care packages and essential supplies. The team were proud to lend a hand, packing food hampers, stocking shelves in the food relief centre, and learning more about the incredible work the Empower team does year-round. “Days like this are a reminder of the deeper impact we can make when we work together. Volunteering alongside the passionate Empower Australia team was both humbling and extremely inspiring, and it was a privilege to be able to assist an important cause,” said Caitlyn Keely, Bondi Sands Global Head of Brand. A huge thank you to Empower Australia for welcoming our Global Brand team into your organisation and sharing your mission with them. #BondiSands #EmpowerAustralia #VolunteerDay #GivingBack

Ever wondered where a new product idea is born? Or what it takes to bring an innovation from concept to shelf and e-commerce stores? It starts right here - our greatest minds from across our global team stepping away from phones and laptops for a day to come together for a dedicate innovation workshop. Bringing together experts from New Product Development, Brand, PR, Marketing, Design, and Category, we set out to tackle the future of self tan and suncare. The challenge? To create breakthrough, consumer-first solutions that elevate the Bondi Sands experience. After a day of collaboration, creativity, and big ideas, a shortlist was formed. Shortlisted concepts are now on the path for further R&D, with some of these ideas sure to find their way into our global product portfolio. Stay tuned for some very exciting innovation to come! #NewProductInnovation #FromConceptToShelf #BondiSandsInnovation