Frequently asked questions

All Ultrasun products need to be applied to clean, dry skin at least 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun. Use plenty and really let it sink in before going out into direct sunlight. Look out for easy to miss bits (around shoulder straps and your clothing). How you apply sun cream matters. Make sure you do it first thing, that you’re indoors and you apply enough. Any application in direct sunlight increases evaporation before it’s had a chance to bond with the skin, reducing its power to protect. Ultrasun products are based on a lamellar structure which means the product is absorbed quickly and they bind perfectly to the stratum corneum because they are very similar to the skin’s natural membrane lipids. This means the UV filters are protected and work for longer below the skin’s surface, leaving no greasy residue. Our long-lasting formulas means one application a day should be sufficient to deliver long lasting, high level protection from both UVA and UVB rays. However, another application may be required after extensive sweating, swimming, towel drying or in extreme temperatures. Please also refer to specific product instructions. It is important to be sun savvy, stay hydrated take shade breaks and avoid the sun during 11am -3pm and keep hydrated.

Apply liberally to all exposed, or potentially exposed, parts of the body. The official guidelines given by Colipa (Association of European Cosmetic Industry) are 2mg/cm2 – this approximately corresponds to one teaspoon worth for the face. As a rule of thumb, use a teaspoon of sunscreen for each arm, leg, front, back and face (including neck and ears). For a 1 week holiday we recommend 100ml for a child and 150ml for an adult.

It is really important that Ultrasun is applied first to clean, dry skin before another moisturising or beauty product, to allow Ultrasun to fully bind with your skin. As the Ultrasun products are absorbed into the stratum corneum (the top layer of your skin) they don’t block the pores and won’t block your other skin care products being absorbed into the skin. However other skincare products that are not non-comedogenic, contain oils and silcones may prevent Ultrasun from being fully absorbed and therefore protection levels.

Simply put - UVA rays. UVA rays are a year round skin damager, penetrating cloud and glass and impacting cumulatively beneath the skin’s surface. Think UV “A” for ageing. According to the World Health Organisation, up to 90% of the visible changes commonly attributed to ageing may be caused by sun exposure.Sun protection should be very much part of a daily skincare routine and anyone serious about their skincare will know that UVA & UVB protection is a daily core component.  No serum or moisturisers can reverse UV damage. All Ultrasun Face products multi-task delivering a lightweight under make up formula that often rivals and replaces BB and CC creams, but also giving enhanced anti-ageing, anti-pollution, skin radiance and smoothing benefits, alongside the crucial high SPF and UVA filter as standard. 

Ultrasun Family 30 or Ultrasun Extreme 50+ are our most sensitive formulas that are recommended by Dermatologists for those that suffer from prickly heat and other sun allergies.We also recommend wearing loose clothing, don’t use any perfumes or skin care products on the skin that contain mineral oils or silicones as these may block the pores which can contribute to sun allergies.

Babies under 6 months old should not be exposed to the sun, but for total peace of mind apply Ultrasun Extreme SPF50+. Cover their skin and feet with protective clothes and to protect their head and face, choose a wide-brimmed hat or bonnet, and use a stroller with a canopy or hood. 

Although the sun’s rays help the body to produce Vitamin D which is important for healthy bones and vital bodily functions, the long term damage that can be caused by the sun’s rays can outweigh the benefits with up to 16,000 new skin cancer cases being diagnosed each year in the UK alone. There have been lots of studies that prove even using even high levels of sun protection do not cause vitamin D deficiency. Ultrasun is a filter not a sun block, so your skin still functions – i.e. tans, melanin develops, receives vitamin D, but slower. In addition, the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) state that continued sun exposure does not result in ongoing vitamin D production*, so there’s no benefit in sunbathing for long periods of time purely to increase vitamin D levels. If you have any concerns about your vitamin D level you should consult your doctor who can advise you on supplements or diet.

*https://www.bad.org.uk/sunscreen-application-does-not-prevent-vitamin-d-production-in-the-majority-of-people/

Choosing the right SPF is really important and a number of factors should be taken into account – your skin type, the sun conditions and the level of protection you’re planning to use. Skin that is not used to the sun is less able to protect itself so a higher SPF should be chosen. Under the influence of UV rays, the skin begins to thicken and starts producing melanin. This process can take 10-20 days, so use extra protection while your skin is adjusting to the sun. Ultrasun’s two year shelf life once opened means you can cocktail your products using a higher SPF for the first few days of your holiday and step down once your skin has acclimatised. Be aware that there’s a difference between SPF 50 and SPF 50+. An SPF 50 is tested to be exactly that but a 50+ must achieve at least an SPF 60 to get that all important "+" sign.

The majority of Ultrasun products have a 2 year shelf life, please check the product packaging for specific guidance. Please look for the PAO symbol which is on all packaging. 

Yes. Ultrasun products contain no animal derived ingredients other than beeswax in our Lip Protection

UVA (ageing, DNA and cell changing) penetrates below the skin’s surface and requires a high level UVA filter in the sun protection you choose.UVB (burning) causes the ‘sunburn’ we may see ourselves after overexposure. UVB is measured by SPF (Sun Protection Factor). The SPF rating system was developed back in 1962 by Franz Greiter to measure the capacity of a sunscreen to block UVB radiation. The current SPF rating system applies to UVB rays only, since those are the rays that cause sunburn.    Infrared-A : Infrared-A rays penetrate the epidermis and dermis and can lead to the formation of free radicals. Antioxidants are the key to infrared-A and DNA defence.HEVL (blue light or High Energy Visible Light), is emitted from electronic devices such as tablets, computer and fluorescent lighting.  HEVL (blue light) penetrates more deeply into the Epidermis and generates free radicals. These cause skin cells to product enzymes that break down collagen and elastin. This process is known as oxidative stress and it’s what causes skin to photo age which can lead to hyperpigmentation. 

No. Ultrasun is cruelty free, we do not test finished products or ingredients on animals, and neither do our suppliers in line with EU and International laws. 

All Ultrasun products are safe to be used during pregnancy.  Consider using a very high factor when pregnant since your skin tends to be more sensitive, melasma and other kinds of hyperpigmentation are more of a possibility and can become more pronounced when you're exposed to the sun.

A product is photostable if its chemical structure is not or almost not altered by the energy from UV rays. All Ultrasun products are photostable. Advanced lamellar technology gives photostability and maximum skin compatibility for long lasting protection.

Ultrasun strives to continually research and invest in formulas that are the most compatible for skin protection whilst also being environmentally friendly. Ultrasun is the first sun protection brand worldwide to be awarded the BASF EcoSun Pass, the ultimate test of environmental impact for sun protection products.

All Ultrasun products are free-from any filters of concern making them reef-friendly, ocean and marine life safe, and therefore suitable worldwide including in Hawaii and Palau.

The star rating system is a UK only initiative. Our products are made in Switzerland and are sold across Europe, as such show they all display the EU-recommended UVA circle logo. To be able to show this symbol the UVA protection for each sunscreen should be at least 33% of the labelled SPF. At Ultrasun, our products exceed EU guidelines on UVA protection giving higher than required UVA protection across all our formulations. You'll see on all our packaging that is clearly states the individual product UVA filter % . Ultrasun delivers a long lasting UVA filter that protects at over 85% throughout the day, setting industry leading standards.

Currently nano Titanium Dioxide is considered to be safe as well as non nano Zinc Oxide.  Ultrasun products only use Titanium Dioxide (nano) in our products and non nano Zinc Oxide.   It's about getting a good balance between the feeling on the skin and vital Nano research, and we've achieved this. Ultrasun's use of Nanos is at a size that is independently recognised as unable to pass into bloodstream (the okotest) but small enough to leave a great result in the skin. We have to consider this as sun protection first and foremost, but also ensure the experience isn't sticky or one that leaves residue, resulting in a reluctance to use and protect

A number of moisturisers and make up brands contain a sunscreen within them with a SPF of 15. However, these often tend not to be water-resistant and, by the very nature of their intended use, are applied a lot more thinly and therefore are often not providing the same level of protection as ‘pure’ sunscreens and also do not offer any UVA protection. Whether your make up contains an SPF or not, it is important that you choose a high quality sun protection product that contains photo-stable UV filters (this means that the filter is not broken down by the energy of UV rays).  Ideally, individuals should choose sun protection products for their face that contain SPF30 or above (anything less than this only offers low protection) and choose ones with broad spectrum protection to prevent damage from both UVA and UVB rays. 

We recommend you apply SPF before your make-up to ensure you are protected.  To top up your SPF throughout the day, we recommend using Ultrasun Face & Scalp Mist SPF50 which is an invisible and weightless formula that won’t disturb your make-up.