Citing independent testing findings with a "significant" range, one popular brand explains what it's doing now to make things right.
Rain or shine, and in all seasons—not just summer—it’s a good idea to start each day by slathering on some sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends daily sunscreen usage for “men, women and children over 6 months of age,” further saying you should always opt for a minimum SPF of 30 or higher (or 50 or higher if you’re heading outdoors). When it comes to picking the right sunscreen, the American Academy of Dermatology Association offer a simple suggestion: “The best type of sunscreen is the one you will use again and again.”
However, if you have a preferred brand you always keep on hand, there’s a new nationwide recall to be aware of. Publicly announced on September 12 by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the stated reason behind the event demonstrates that what you see on a sunscreen’s label might not necessarily what’s delivered. Nearly 94,000 tubes of Ultra Violette sunscreen, a company based in Melbourne, Australia, have been recalled after independent testing revealed inconsistencies in the products’ SPF levels. A brief web search suggests the brand is sold in the U.S. both online and at retailers such as Sephora and Harrods.
As it turns out, tubes of Ultra Violette Velvet Sunscreen SPF 50 Blurring Mineral Sunscreen, as well as Velvet Screen SPF 50 Blurring Mineral SkinScreen and Supreme Sunscreen SPF 50 in Ultra Violette Mini SPF Mates kits, contained both subpotent and superpotent SPF levels. “Testing of the SPF 50 sunscreen revealed inconsistency in SPF results ranging from SPF 4, 10, 21, 26, 33, 60, 61, and 64,” the FDA’s warning states.
The provided product details include:
Ultra Violette Velvet Sunscreen SPF 50 Blurring Mineral Sunscreen, Zinc Oxide 22.75%
- 15 mL, 0.5 fl. oz. per tube
- Lot #s: A2455, exp 12/31/2026
- NDC (National Drug Code): 84803-106-01
- UPC: 9355909006068
- 50 mL, 1.7 fl. oz. per tube
- Lot #s: A2453A, A2453B, exp 11/30/2026; A2454A, exp 12/31/2026; A2550, exp 02/28/2027
- NDC: 84803-106-02
- UPC: 9355909005924
- Distributed by: Grace & Fire USA Inc., 251 Little Falls Drive, New Castle Wilmington, Delaware 19808
- 49,275 total tubes
Ultra Violette Mini SPF Mates kit
- Includes:
- Velvet Screen SPF 50 Blurring Mineral SkinScreen, Zinc Oxide 22.75%, 15 mL, 0.5 fl. oz. per tube
- Supreme Sunscreen SPF 50, 15 mL 0.5 fl. oz. per tube
- Lot #s: A2453, exp 11/30/2026; A2454, exp 12/31/2026
- Distributed by: Grace & Fire USA Inc., 251 Little Falls Drive, New Castle Wilmington, Delaware 19808
- 44,497 total tubes
Ava Chandler-Matthews and Bec Jefferd, Ultra Violette’s co-founders, expressed their regrets in an open letter to customers on their company site: “As a sunscreen brand, our responsibility has always been to prioritise your safety, protection and skin health above all else,” they wrote. “It remains the basis for every decision we make, which is why when you heard from us last, we made a commitment to you that we would continue to investigate a concerning discrepancy in SPF testing results of our Lean Screen,” which they also refer to as Velvet Screen.
The letter goes on to outline measures the company will now take to prevent future inconsistencies, including no longer working with the third-party manufacturer who made the product, expanding their network of testing facilities, testing products at at least two independent labs prior to product launches, and increasing the frequency of inspections. While additional testing has “reinforced … confidence” in the company’s other available products, “Trust is built and rebuilt over time, and we know we have work to do,” the co-founders concluded.
Per the FDA, the recall was first put into action on August 22. Now, the agency has updated its notice to include a Class II risk level—meaning it’s a situation where the products “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” However, the Skin Cancer Foundation states sunscreen that’s SPF 50 or higher is “necessary for extended outdoor activities, including distance running, hiking, swimming and outdoor sports.”
The Ultra Violette website includes a refund form for U.S. customers, which also answers frequently asked questions concerning the recall.
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