Latest news with #UltraViolette
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Sali Hughes on beauty: tinted SPFs are a game-changer – but proceed with caution
Sunscreens have caught some colour, acquiring a little makeup coverage in the form of tinted SPFs. Until now, these have been relatively few and far between. Australian sunscreen specialists Ultra Violette changed the game with the launch of the excellent Daydream Screen SPF50 (£38) a few summers ago. Now, a new batch is launching. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Supergoop! is the first cab off the rank with Protec(tint) Daily Tint SPF50 (£40). The best thing about this very sheer tint is the shade lineup, which is well considered and natural-looking across the board (24N is a perfect match for me). However, skin type matters. It will best suit someone with balanced or slightly dry skin, since the finish will look too moist for oilier types, and cling to any flakiness on very dry skin. Sensitive skins and eyes generally fare best with mineral sunscreens, and Merit Beauty has them covered. The Uniform SPF50 (pictured, £33) comes in a generous 50ml helping and although coverage is still very sheer, it does blend beautifully and realistically. Again, shades are thoughtfully chosen (I'm 26) and all leave a very pretty eggshell sheen that sits at the halfway point between matte and glowy. If your skin is relatively clear and even, it's ideal. But if you'd like a mineral sunscreen with more redness coverage, try Ilia's terrific Super Serum Skin Tint SPF30 (£42), which behaves more like a foundation and has a huge shade lineup for all. Beauty of Joseon's Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen SPF30 (£17) went viral upon launch and if you're balanced to combination in type and would like a well-priced sunscreen that imparts a sheer, slightly shiny glow, then it's well worth a go. But dry skins shouldn't attempt this without plenty of moisturising skincare beneath, which brings me to the rub of the matter. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion A one-application, multipurpose product that makes one's morning routine a breeze seems almost too good to be true – and it is. While tinted sunscreens are of the same standard as regular SPF products, their effectiveness is identically dependent on applying enough: two longest finger lengths of sunscreen is adequate for face and neck. And so in order to be properly protected, one would have to apply so much tinted sunscreen as to appear caked in makeup (imagine applying that much foundation and you'll get the idea – you'd look like a TikTok influencer). It's for this reason that I would always suggest applying a tinted product over a regular untinted sunscreen, in a belt and braces approach.
Techday NZ
23-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Ultra Violette proves tech transformation is a team sport
The cult Australian SPF-meets-skincare brand has been on a rapid growth trajectory since launching in 2019. From eCommerce-only roots to international expansion and major retail partnerships, Ultra Violette now operates across Australia, the UK, Southeast Asia, Canada and the US. Sustaining that level of growth meant rethinking the systems underneath it. In a recent NORA webinar, Ultra Violette's Head of Operations Jane Furphy and Annexa Director Matthew Owens shared the decisions that made it possible. Before the tech, the team By 2023, it was clear Ultra Violette had outgrown its original stack. With multiple instances of Xero and DEAR/Cin7 spread across regions, inventory visibility was limited, reporting was fractured and order management was increasingly manual. That would be a problem for any retailer but with a North American expansion looming, Ultra Violette couldn't afford any blind spots. Still, the transformation didn't start with selecting an ERP. It started with building the right internal capability to lead the change. "We had a fantastic finance manager - 2IC to the CFO - and we thought she would be great to lead the project... but we actually moved her from the finance team into my team so that we could make sure that she was a fully rounded finance and operational person who could help guide the team and understand both sides of that coin to be able to translate really easily between finance and operations." That move helped unify decision-making across teams and kept the implementation grounded in how the business actually worked. Cross-functional by necessity Digital transformation efforts often fall apart when teams solve for their own needs in isolation - finance chasing reporting fixes, ops focused on fulfilment and eCommerce doing its own thing. At Ultra Violette, the process forced those silos to come down. "Our e-commerce team were a big part of bringing in NetSuite and changing all of these systems," said Jane. "The rest of the business hadn't realised how big a part they would play." That shared involvement helped build momentum across the business - and the move to embed finance capability within ops further bridged the gap. The result was faster decision-making and smoother implementation across teams that were far more connected than before. The right system still matters – but it's not enough With the internal structure in place, Ultra Violette partnered with Annexa to implement, NetSuite as their ERP and Celigo as their integration platform. The project spanned four markets, four warehouses, and a new EDI setup – all delivered in under six months, just ahead of Black Friday. That speed was only possible because of the alignment behind the scenes. Jane credits the team's discipline around decision-making - particularly when it came to customisations. As she explained, the team encouraged users to spend time with the system before requesting changes. "If it really added value, we'd make the change but only where it was worthwhile." Matthew echoed the approach, noting that while restraint is important, so is confidence in tailoring systems when it makes sense. "Try not to customise wherever possible - but don't be afraid to if it creates real value. UV struck that balance well." A partner with the right fit Annexa played a central role in reducing risk throughout the project. From aligning regional operations to managing complex integrations, their team worked closely with Ultra Violette to keep the rollout on track. "We're detail people," said Jane. "We needed a partner who could work at that level of detail with us – someone we could reach quickly, who had local experience and who'd worked with businesses like ours before." That partnership proved particularly valuable during the warehouse integration phase. With four 3PLs going live across multiple regions in the lead-up to peak season, fallback plans and real-time coordination were essential. The go-live landed cleanly. A model for others scaling fast Ultra Violette's transformation offers a useful counterpoint to the platform-first approach many retailers take. Technology matters but leadership, structure, internal alignment and external partners are what determine whether it actually delivers. Want the full story? Catch the on-demand webinar to hear Jane and Matt unpack: · Building flexibility across D2C and wholesale · Structuring your teams to reduce friction
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Ditch your foundation for a new tinted SPF
Sun's out, bring on the suncream. Although for those applying make-up, there's nothing worse than slopping on SPF that leaves a dull, white cast or causes foundation to become patchy. This year that problem has been solved, thanks to a slew of new products promising both proper protection from the sun and the sort of coverage you'd normally get from foundation – and in more than just one standard shade of 'bronze' that looks orange on almost everyone. Yes, 'SPF make-up' has been around for a while – but many foundations only contain around SPF 15, and you need to apply a decent amount to get even that level of coverage (around half a teaspoon for your face and neck). But this new generation of products are proper sun-creams, with added pigment in a broad range of shades so you can get perfectly matched, full coverage foundation as well as sun protection. It's all part of what Dr Julian Sass ( a cosmetic scientist, calls the 'skincarification of suncare'. 'The idea is that your serum, primer, moisturiser and make-up all contain SPF 50 so, if you layer them, you're getting at least that half teaspoon.' Ava Chandler-Matthews, co-founder of Australian sun-care brand Ultra Violette, says the difference is that these new products have sun safety at their core. 'With a tinted SPF like ours, you start with the SPF and then add pigment. That gives a much better sun protection product than a foundation with SPF,' she says. Apply a tinted SPF as the last step of your skincare, if you find you're not able to apply enough, use around a quarter teaspoon of an untinted SPF, let it sink in, and then apply a quarter teaspoon of tinted SPF over the top. To find your shade, use (put in the foundation shade you already use in any brand, and it will tell you the closest). There are an impressive number of options available with a wide shade range – we tried out a few… BARELY THERE BASE Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, £34 for 50ml, 15 shades Merit is basically Glossier for grown-ups – foolproof formulas you can slap on with your fingers – and their light but buildable SPF launches today. It feels a bit tacky as you apply it but it spreads easily and dries down to a nice even finish that really does, as they claim, look like skin with nothing on it. Mineral sun protection uses filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, while other formulas have names such as avobenzone and are often called 'chemical'. They both absorb UV rays but historically mineral protection has been better for sensitive skin. However, it can appear white or chalky, hence why tinted mineral SPFs are a bit of a breakthrough. PATCHY PROTECTION Supergoop! Protec(tint) Daily Skin Tint SPF 50, £40 for 35ml, 14 shades Launched in 2007 by a Texan who wanted to improve suncare provisions in local schools to prevent skin cancers, Supergoop! pioneered products such as SPF setting mists and powders for on-the-go top-ups. New to the UK this year, the Daily Skin Tint takes a bit of work to stop it going patchy but gives a nice dewy finish that mattifies over time. AUSSIE RULES Naked Sundays BeautyScreen SPF 50 Peptide Foundation Tint, £38 for 30ml, 13 shades Launched in 2021 by an Australian news anchor, their latest product is this tint. It has a more liquid consistency than the others, so you might want to use their brush to work it into your skin a little. It boasts skincare ingredients like niacinamide but it's pricey for the size and gave me a bit of a powdery finish. FAB FOUNDATION Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF 50 Tinted Veil, £38 for 50ml, 15 shades Tinted sun protection can leave a white cast if it contains zinc oxide, as many do. Ultra Violette's doesn't so might be a good option if you've been left looking ashy in the past. After applying, you have to work quickly as you don't have a lot of time before it sets. The coverage was good – it concealed brilliantly and left a gorgeous made-up but glowy finish. KOREAN BARGAIN Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30, on sale at £15.30 from £17 for 50ml, 12 shades This Korean brand has a lower SPF than others, and even if you apply double, you'll still only be getting SPF 30. The formulation is very sheer and its coverage lighter than many. So if you're looking for something to cover pigmentation, it's not great but works as a nice lightweight weekend base. SHEER GLOW Fenty Hydra Vizor Huez Tinted SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen, £32 for 50ml + £5 refillable case, 10 shades Again, you'll get less protection from this than from the SPF 50s out there, but if you know your Fenty foundation shade, it's easy to match your shade. The finish was much more sheer and glossy than I found with any of the others so if dewy isn't for you, you'll need powder.
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Save 25% on SPF drops that ‘work well under makeup' and ‘don't cause breakouts'
The Rodial drops are a great alternative to sticky or thick face SPFs so you can still apply your makeup without pilling, and they're currently on sale with 25% off Every skincare lover knows that SPF is the one thing you should be applying to your face every day. The essential last step in your skincare routine, SPF prevents the sun's harmful rays from damaging your skin over time, which can lead to premature signs of ageing not to mention more serious things like skin cancer. However, many of us know that not all face SPFs are created equally, and plenty of them have a sticky or thick consistency that doesn't always make it easy to apply makeup over the top. Pilling and creasing are common issues, as well as causing powders to not settle quite right, which is why these Rodial SPF50 Drops have been getting such a good rep. With a high factor 50 protection, the SPF Drops not only protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays, but they also offer additional protection from blue light and pollutants, giving your skin complete coverage. Unlike other SPFs which have a thick cream formula, the drops have a lightweight serum-style consistency, combining additional skincare benefits with high sun protection. The drops contain butterfly bush which is rich in antioxidants to soothe skin, as well as hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, which restore moisture and protect your skin's natural barrier. Rodial's SPF50 Drops also help to support normal collagen production and boost your skin's elasticity, keeping it supple, smooth and youthful-looking. If you prefer a more typical liquid formula, Ultra Violette's Future Fluid SPF 50+ Lightweight Zinc SKINSCREEN is £38, and has a similar combination of skin-loving ingredients and high sun protection. Meanwhile the Beauty Of Joseon Ginseng Moist Sun Serum is even more affordable, on sale for £19.80 down from £22, and has a lightweight serum texture that boosts your skin's moisture as you wear it. Currently the Rodial drops are also on sale at LookFantastic, down from £75 to £56.25 for a full-size 31ml bottle. But if that's a little pricey for you you can also pick up the smaller 10ml bottle for £27 directly from the Rodial website. The price seems to be the only thing that shoppers have a gripe with, with the Rodial Drops earning a glowing 4.75 star review and only ratings of either four or five stars. One four star reviewer wrote: 'Great base for drier skin to sit well under make up. Little pricey but never pills and powder sits beautifully on top for a smooth base.' Another agreed: 'Love the consistency of this spf and how it sits under my base. Pricey but worth it for my skin type.. other SPFs make my base cakey or my skin dries out and the concealer doesn't sit right. Was recommended this spf by a make up artist and now I'm hooked.. second bottle.' Whilst a third said: 'Best SPF for face. Doesn't cause break outs, it is not greasy and works well under make up. It is the only one I use and I will keep buying it.'
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
'I swapped my moisturiser for a £12 Korean sunscreen and my skin is much better'
This SPF50+ from Korean skincare brand Beauty of Joseon, which is currently going viral, has become a new staple in my summer morning routine, says our writer Having heard all about the wonders of Korean skincare products, renowned for their use of ingredients that give a radiant glow, I recently made a switch in my routine. I swapped in the viral Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+, which is currently on sale at LookFantastic, reduced to £12.40 from £15.50 – and it's completely taken over as my daily moisturiser. Its lightweight, non-greasy formula has an SPF 50+, offering super-high protection against sun damage and premature ageing. The first thing you'll notice is that it doesn't feel like sunscreen at all, instead leaving your skin feeling hydrated with a subtle healthy glow. I found that my skin felt so quenched that I didn't need to use a separate moisturiser, and it also sits really well underneath make-up, which can be a challenge to find with sunscreens. The only drawback I find is that the bottle isn't massive, so it may run out quickly, but it's a handy size to carry around. Supreme Screen SPF 50+ Hydrating SKINSCREEN by Australian brand Ultra Violette is another popular facial sunscreen choice. This one is currently discounted at Boots, down to £27.20 from £34. Lookfantastic has also slashed 20% off La Roche-Posay Anthelios Suncream SPF50+, which is fragrance-free and designed for sensitive skin types. Usually retailing at £20, it's now down to £16, reports the Liverpool Echo. Yet it's the affordability and simplicity of the Beauty of Joseon SPF that clinches it as my top pick. Rice water, which this product contains, is known for its skin-brightening properties and its ability to address pigmentation and uneven skin tone. After using it for a couple of weeks, I've not seen a dramatic change in my skin's overall tone, but it certainly feels nourished and hydrated post-application. This viral Korean SPF has also collected an impressive average of 4.77 out of five stars on Lookfantastic's website. A happy customer commented: " This is truly the best SPF I have used. It stayed great under make-up, didn't make me super oily. Left me looking healthy and glowy with no residue feeling." Another remarked: "I love this sun cream! It's so lightweight and skin is left looking dewy - not greasy. No white cast either so a big plus!" A third person wrote: "On my 100th tube and will never stop repurchasing. LF offer was beyond fantastic!" – clearly, it's become a firm favourite in many skincare routines However, as someone with normal to oily skin, I recognise that those with dry skin might not find it sufficiently moisturising. One reviewer noted: "It's very light and watery. I need another moisturiser under it because it's not thick enough for my dry skin." For those seeking extra hydration, perhaps Ultra Violette's hydrating option would be more appropriate.
