ULTRA VIOLETTE FUTURE SCREEN SPF 50 MODERN MINERAL SUNSCREEN PRODUCT REVIEW - What are the benefits of tinted sunscreen over normal sunscreen? What are the disadvantages of tinted sunscreen?
I love a really good sunscreen. In the winter, I like a thicker, creamier formula that moisturizes and soothes my skin in low-humidity cold.
Among my favorites are the EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Sunscreen and Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen – probably the best 100% mineral sunscreen in my arsenal.
Everything changes on a hot summer day! Both of those faves are uncomfortable in the heat as they’re just too rich. I want something super light – a sunscreen fluid or milk – that feels like nothing on my skin.
My favorite sunscreen fluids that hold up in the heat include the Paula’s Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 Sunscreen and CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 for Face and Body – one of the most affordable and pleasurable sunscreens available.
And then there are the tinted sunscreens. There are a select few that I’m a fan of. For the most part, I steer clear. Why? Well first they’re usually not very comfortable on my skin. The best tinted sunscreens are mineral formulas with iron oxides. They’re usually really thick.
My biggest issue is that the same iron oxides that give a tinted mineral sunscreen its flesh-toned tint also tend to dye my facial hair. I just look whack. But, every now and then one comes my way that I do actually appreciate and even enjoy wearing. One of these is the new Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen.
Due to US government bureaucracy, sunscreen innovation is a real challenge in the US. More than three dozen new UV filters have been approved in markets outside the country – including the EU, Asia and Australia – over the past three decades. Yet, the last time the FDA approved a new UV filter for facial sunscreens was nearly 30 years ago, in 1996.
Because of the lack of new, advanced UV filters in the US, the only true innovation possible is through texture and skincare benefits that go beyond the photoaging defense that mineral and chemical sun filters provide.
But facial sunscreen products like the new EltaMD Color Correcting Sunscreen and Ultra Violette’s Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen do bring a degree of innovation to the dull US market. In fact, both overcome the single most common reason that consumers give for not wearing sunscreen: They hate how it feels on their skin.
My previous review of the EltaMD Color Correcting Sunscreen can be found on the blog here. And my detailed review of the Ultra Violette Future Screen is just below…
THE BEST SUNSCREENS FOR FACE
Before I get to my Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen product review, I wanted to explore the benefits of tinted sunscreens and, in particular, tinted mineral sunscreens with iron oxides.
1. What are the benefits of tinted sunscreen over normal sunscreen?
There are several benefits of tinted sunscreen that make them a great option for daily protection against photodamage – the leading cause of the visible signs of skin aging. In particular, a tinted sunscreen that combines the mineral UV filter Zinc Oxide and iron oxides can offer your best protection against the broadest range of damaging rays.
Beyond protection from sun damage, tinted mineral sunscreens with iron oxides provide protection against visible light (including blue light from computer screens and sunlight), which regular sunscreens do not block effectively. This is particularly important because visible light can worsen existing hyperpigmentation, melasma, and other pigmentary disorders.
I asked Dr. Jen Haley, a board-certified dermatologist and host of the Radiance Revealed podcast, for her advice on tinted sunscreens.
“I've always recommended mineral sunscreens because they do not penetrate or absorb into the skin, unlike chemical sunscreens. The issue is that they have traditionally left a white cast on the skin, which is especially undesirable for anyone with skin of color. Tinted mineral sunscreens add iron oxides and are now available in more shades than ever before. These tinted mineral sunscreens often offer enough coverage so that you can skip foundation or other coverup.
“Additionally, they protect against both UV radiation (with zinc oxide) and blue light (with black iron oxides) in our indoor environment that contributes to skin hyperpigmentation, making them the last step I recommend in a morning skin care routine.”
Explore my picks of the best sunscreens for face on the blog here.
Sources: Clinic Advisor - Tinted Sunscreen vs. Regular Sunscreen: Which Is Right for You?; La Roche-Posay - TINTED VS UNTINTED SUNSCREEN
2. What are the disadvantages of tinted sunscreen?
Without doubt, the advantages of a tinted mineral sunscreen far outweigh any disadvantages. Because everyone’s skin is different, and their individual needs vary, a tinted mineral sunscreen may not always be the best option. Personally, I find many tinted sunscreens to be too thick for my needs – especially on a hot summer day. And, even more important to me, the iron oxides that give them their tint can often color my facial hair orange.
Among the drawbacks of a tinted sunscreen are limited shade range, color transfer (me!), and awkward application over makeup.
I think board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jen Haley summed it up nicely:
“While I do recommend applying a tinted mineral sunscreen daily to your face, neck, and chest, you may need to test different products or even mix a few options together to find one that is suited to your skin tone and feels cosmetically elegant for your skin. Be aware that just like foundation, it may stain your clothing.”
Sources: La Roche-Posay - TINTED VS UNTINTED SUNSCREEN; Clinic Advisor - Tinted Sunscreen vs. Regular Sunscreen: Which Is Right for You?; Glam - Tinted Sunscreen Vs. Traditional SPF: Do The Skin Health Products Work The Same?
3. Why are iron oxides important in sunscreen?
All well-formulated facial sunscreens offer protection against the sun’s damaging UV rays, also known as photodamage – the leading cause signs of skin aging. In fact, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation, up to 90% of the visible signs of aging is due to the photoaging that results from unprotected sun exposure.
But, tinted mineral sunscreens contain an additional powerful active that untinted sunscreens do not: iron oxides. The addition of iron oxides allows the formula to shield the skin from visible light (including blue light/HEV light) – in addition to the protection from UV light that Zinc Oxide provides.
Visible light, especially blue light from our devices, can penetrate deeper into the skin and is known to trigger or worsen hyperpigmentation, melasma, and other pigmentary disorders, particularly in individuals with medium to dark skin tones.
In fact, research shows that tinted mineral sunscreens with iron oxides can reduce blue light exposure by up to 86%, offering significant additional protection beyond UV filters alone.
Explore my picks of the best sunscreens for face on the blog here.
Sources: The Skin Cancer Foundation - Photoaging: What You Need to Know About the Other Kind of Aging; Dermatology Times - Visible Light Protection: Needs and Strategies for Diverse Patients; OneSkin - Iron Oxides: The Secret Ingredient In Our Tinted Sunscreen
4. What are iron oxides in sunscreen?
Iron oxides in sunscreen are simply mineral pigments – compounds of iron and oxygen – that add an additional protective quality to a facial sunscreen. They are commonly found in tinted sunscreens and makeup as natural colorants, giving products a range of skin-tone adapting shades that can help to eliminate the white cast often associated with mineral sunscreens.
Importantly, iron oxides help to protect the skin from damage resulting from high-energy visible (HEV) blue light, which common UV filters like Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide do not block effectively.
When combined with mineral UV filters, iron oxides can fill the “protection gap” in the visible light spectrum, offering broader defense against various types of light damage – including hyperpigmentation. Research shows that tinted mineral sunscreens with iron oxides can reduce blue light exposure by up to 86%, offering significant additional protection beyond UV filters alone.
Sources: NIH, PubMed Central - Iron oxides in novel skin care formulations attenuate blue light for enhanced protection against skin damage; Dermatology Times - UVA Protection With Zinc Oxide and Iron Oxide: Novel Options for All Skin Tones
5. Product Review
If Ultra Violette seems to have appeared out of no where, it’s because it kind of has. The Australian suncare brand was first introduced in 2019 and is known Down Under for pioneering the sunscreen-meets-skincare, or “skinscreen” category. The brand brought FDA-approved versions of its popular facial sunscreens to Sephora in the US this past spring.
The Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen has become one of my go-to daily mineral sunscreens. I have rarely reached for a tinted mineral sunscreen with much enthusiasm before – but this one is exceptional.
First, and most importantly, it is an absolute pleasure to use!
Ultra Violette’s Future Screen has an ultra-lightweight fluid texture than is barely thicker than a face serum. The lighter texture means it both spreads easily over the skin and feels like nothing on your face, making it the perfect sunscreen for a hot summer day.
And while the most important benefit of a tinted mineral sunscreen is the inclusion of iron oxide pigments, the ingredient tends to dye my facial hair an awful orange hue. I don’t know exactly why this particular product doesn’t do that. Maybe it’s because it blends three distinct iron oxides, each at lower levels.
No matter, Ultra Violette pulled something off here for me that very few brands have achieved.
As is customary, I layer it over my morning antioxidant face serums and lightweight moisturizing lotion. It glides on easily, blends perfectly, and doesn’t pill. Instantly, it feels like nothing on my skin. That’s something that overcomes the number one concern that consumers give for not wearing sunscreen: it’s uncomfortable. Plus, it leaves me glowing!
Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen is an excellent facial sunscreen, but it’s not devoid of marketing spin.
While I’m obsessed with the texture and all-day comfort of Ultra Violette’s Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen I do have to push back on the brand’s “skinscreen” positioning. I love the concept of sunscreen-meets-skincare, but there’s just not a high concentration of anything that could be classified in this manner.
Sure there’s some moisturizing Squalane and Vitamin E as well as humectant Saccharide Isomerate; but all of these are found outside of the INCI’s top ten ingredients and are obviously a mere smattering for marketing purposes only.
Even so, I’m not generally looking for my daily sunscreen to provide the antioxidant protection and moisture replenishment my skin needs. I have superb serums and lightweight moisturizers to do that. What I want from a tinted mineral sunscreen is efficacy and comfort – without dying my facial hair a crazy shade of orange.
For that the Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen delivers.
6. Pros & Cons
What I like about it: The Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen is one of the best tinted mineral sunscreens with iron oxides that I’ve ever come across. It glides on, blends in, and feels comfortable from the start. Plus, it doesn’t dye my facial hair.
What I don’t like about it: I think it’s a shame that it doesn’t live up to the brand’s “skinscreen” positioning. I don’t see much of the sunscreen-meets-skincare hype. So, I do wish Ultra Violette would put its money where its mouth is and at least provide more potent antioxidant defense.
Who it’s for: All skin types.
SHOP THE BLOG: Want to try it for yourself? Purchase the Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen for $40 here.
FIND OUT WHICH SERUM PERFORMED BETTER – AND BY HOW MUCH!
The Ingredient List of the Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen:
sunsc 0 1, Diisopropyl Adipate emo|solv 0 0, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate (Coco-Octanoate/Decanoate) emo, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate (Alkyl (C12-15) Benzoate) emo|amic, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate emu|surf, Propanediol solv|h, Decyl Glucoside surf, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate emu, Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate vc, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Medium Chain Triglycerides) emo, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (Aluminium Magnesium Silicate) vc 0 0, Saccharide Isomerate h, Citric Acid buff, Sodium Citrate chel|buff, Hydroxyacetophenone aox, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate emu|surf, Tocopheryl Acetate (Dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate) aox 0 0, Phenoxyethanol pres, Iron Oxides (Ci 77492) (Iron Oxide Yellow) col 0 0, Polyhydroxystearic Acid emu, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate vc, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491) (Iron Oxide Red) col 0 0, Iron Oxides (Ci 77499) (Iron Oxide Black) col 0 0, Lactic Acid 
exf|h|buff, Sodium Hydroxide buff
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