Ultra Violette has been everywhere lately. If you’re curious too, here’s my Ultra Violette Clean Screen SPF30 review, including all the info you’re looking for: wear tests, ingredient and filter round-up, comparisons and our handy checklist!
The Brand
I’ve seen a headline called ‘sunscreen goes mainstream’ recently, and that’s certainly true. Look at successful (skincare, beauty) launches lately: (and no, I’m not talking about The Ordinary) – look at the absolute deluge of preppy, glossy looking bottles, surrounded by hype.
And then look at Ultra Violette: launched in 2019 by two female founders, packaged alluringly, already sold at Sephora and SpaceNK, a revenue of 2.5 Mio in 2020 (during a pandemic). (Both have worked together at Australian beauty retailer Mecca.) Yup, sunscreen has become mainstream, or, as the two Ultra Violette founders call it, “selfcare”. Right now the brand offers six different sunscreens, including a lip balm with SPF.
Here’s what the brand wants to do:
SPF which politely considers your other skincare and makeup products, feels comfortable enough to wear daily, and contains skin-sweetening ingredients. (…)
Ultra Violette
Australian made, slayed and TGA approved, they won’t pill, ball or shine. And they come with a bonus dose of powerful native antioxidants that fight free radical damage.
In a stroke of ‘what the hell’ attitude, Astrid and I combined bought the whole range and WILL give you our own honest opinion on it, one at the time – bolstered by the fact that we go through A LOT of sunscreen reviews every year and are able to judge them.
Description Clean Screen
(…) With a super lightweight gel texture and a natural finish, Clean has a fragrance-free, SPF30 formula that’s perfect for acne-prone or normal to combination skin. (…)
Ultra Violette
Apply as the final step in your skincare routine, right after your moisturiser and before your makeup. We recommend at least five pumps to cover your face and ears (don’t forget about those!).
Ingredients
Ahem. So. My tube actually says “Clean Screen – Fragrance free – weightless – mineral skinscreen” (see above). This has been apparently overhauled: the new packaging scraps the “mineral” and says “sensitive” instead. Because – it’s not. (Mineral, I mean). Also, what does the “Clean” even MEAN here, or is it just flirting with the clean beauty crowd here?
Sunscreen Filters
| Sunscreen Filter | Type | Spectrum | Remarks |
| Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol / Tinosorb M | chemical / physical “hybrid” | broad-spectrum (UVA & UVB, 280-400 nm, peak at 305-360 nm nm) | very photostable, available elsewhere but the US, white cast possible |
| Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate / Uvinul A Plus | chemical | high UVA protection (320-400 nm) with peak protection at 354nm | high photostability, can be used up to 10%, available elsewhere but the US & Canada |
| Titanium Dioxide | physical | UVB & UVA II – less good at UVA I | possible white cast |
Regarding the UVA protection (as their CS somewhat snippily told me when I asked): “We’re an Australian based company so we don’t use separate UVA ratings here. SPFs are labeled broad spectrum when the UVA protection is at least 1/3 of the overall SPF rating.”
Which for me means we likely have a whopping PPA of 10 here. Round of applause!
Extra Features
Where are my “powerful native antioxidants” (see above)?!???! The Titanium Dioxide and Tinosorb M will both give you a white cast, that’s why Clean Screen has a tint.
Sustainability
Not really any extra sustainable features. They don’t use palm oil, and (thankfully) don’t claim their products are reef safe (there’s a lot of misinformation floating about that).
Application
Let’s get to the juicy bits! No matter how nice a SPF reads, nothing trumps an actual wear test.
Here’s what I layer underneath: a toner, and my beloved PC CBD Milk that (OF COURSE!!! shakes fist) has been discontinued. It’s a very lightweight milk that works under any SPF I’ve met.
If you’ve got dry skin, you might need a proper moisturizer underneath Clean Screen. I suspect I’ll also need more oomph in winter, when my skin is drier.
Ultra Violette says you’re supposed to use at least five pumps. I did weigh it, and yes, five pumps equals about 1,5g. The thing is: my pump is super unreliable. Sometimes it gives me a full pump, sometimes it’s a sad little squirt. (Mind out of the gutter, plz.)
I apply it in a 2 – 2 – 1 pattern: I apply two pumps twice, and then one pump. And I’ve to give it to UV: no matter what I do, Clean Screen doesn’t pill or ball. What it does, though, is to apply streaky. No matter what I do (and I have considered using a brush or sponge), I’ll end up with whitish streaks on my face.
On the plus side: it doesn’t sting my eyes.
Also consider this: I’ve read rave reviews on their site stating “it’s awesome, but I can’t use 5 pumps, that’s too much”. But: if you can’t use the recommended amount, is it still a great sunscreen?!
Shade range
Consider that I’m as white as the proverbial wall: Clean Screen’s slight tint is actually a bit too light for me, and Clean Screen only comes in one shade. This is … not good, Bob!
Make-up application
Let’s have a look at UV’s claim that their SPFs work well under make-up. This is true in the case of mineral (loose) foundation or powder foundation. I used it with various powder foundations, and it’s fine. It takes off the whitish cast, and Clean Screen proves a good base. With liquid foundation, though, it’s a different case altogether: it feels thick and uncomfortable, and draws attention to both fine lines and pores.
Finish
The white cast diminishes after half an hour, but then you’ll still see the streakiness. Clean Screen also pools in pores and fine lines. When it has dried down (and it does, to a great non-sticky finish), the pigment looks as if it’s breaking up in little pools. (In a magnifying mirror, obviously. I have worn this one solo outside and people didn’t recoil in horror.) But honestly, I’ve expected better. MUCH better.
Comparison
Although Niod Survival 30 is too dark on me, the finish is much nicer. The skin feel is nicer (nearly weightless) as well. Paula’s Choice Resist Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF30 is borderline too dark on me, but in general works better: the finish feels a bit stickier, but then I don’t have any problems with it settling into lines and pores. While I often use PC’s as a nice option for around my eyes, UV’s Clean Screen is useless for that: it’s a horrible base for concealer and eyeshadows. It makes both look really textured.
Checklist
Does Clean Screen work as claimed? Partly. “Lightweight, natural, fuss-free finish” though?! Well. It gives me a semi-matte finish that’s not as traceless as I’d hoped. Sure, it doesn’t pill and you can re-apply relatively easy, but nevertheless, makeup application isn’t what I’d call “fuss-free”. Also, I wouldn’t call a white cast “natural”.
And here you have it: the final verdict. I’d also like to mention that if I choose a SPF30, I’d go for Evy’s that has a bigger PPD. Sorry, 10 doesn’t cut it for me.
Rating
Sure, Clean Screen isn’t bad. It holds up with both other tinted mineral sunscreens I own: Niod and Paula’s Choice. Of those three, the PC product is the cheapest, followed by UV and with Niod the priciest. Niod still wins formula-wise for me. I’m really nitpicky here, but looking at the promised claim that Clean Screen works under makeup – which it only does partly – decided the “ok” rating for me.
Also, whyyyyyyyyyy offer that only in ONE shade?! C’mon guys, it’s 2021. Clean Screen is, IMO, a good solution for very light-skinned people with combo/oily skin who don’t wear regular liquid foundation.
Availability & Price
Available at Sephora, SpaceNK and Cult Beauty. 50ml is €36.80.
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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