Primer SPF50

For external use only. Keep out of reach of young children. Avoid contact with eyes.Prolonged exposure to the sun may be harmful. Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin ageing. Many sun creams contain a filter (ingredient) that helps to protect the skin from the sun's rays. In some cases, this can interact with certain fabrics and may stain clothes or other fabrics. It is for this reason care should be taken when applying sunscreen around clothing.

Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Hexylene Glycol, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Decylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Hydroxide. * Xanthan Gum is used in Altruist formulations and is completely vegan. 

Do all skin types need sunscreen?
Yes, sunscreen protects against the harmful UVA and UVB rays. The fairer your skin, the more essential sunscreen becomes.

Which sunscreen should I use?
The BAD (British Association of Dermatologists) recommends that you should use a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection (against UVA and B).

• SPF (Sun Protection Factor) refers to UVB protection. The BAD advises using SPF 30 or above.
• UVA protection is indicated by either an EU standard mark (UVA in a circle) or the Boots star system—4 or 5 stars indicates very good protection.

Water resistance is a useful addition if you are likely to be sweating, as it will not run, and is important if you are swimming. However, it is essential to reapply after swimming or towelling, as it will have washed/rubbed off. There are many types of sunscreen in different formulations. Ultimately, you should use one that you feel comfortable applying generously—both from a cosmetic and financial perspective.

Is it still possible to burn when using sunscreen?
Yes, though if SPF 30 and above is used correctly (applied in sufficient quantity and frequency), it is extremely unlikely. No sunscreen actually blocks out all UV light, so it is theoretically possible if one had no natural protection from melanin and were outdoors from dawn to dusk in the hottest conditions by water (added reflected UV). What is more likely is that insufficient has been applied, not enough time has been given for it to soak in before going into the water, and an extended time has then been spent in the water without reapplication straight after towelling.

What does SPF mean? What is the difference between SPF30 and SPF50?
SPF stands for 'Sun Protection Factor' and indicates the UVB protection. The number is the multiplier to which the sunscreen is protective against sunburn to your skin. The amount of UVB radiation that is filtered out varies with different SPFs: SPF15 blocks 93% of UVB; SPF30 blocks 96.7% of UVB; SPF 50 blocks 98.3% of UVB.

Moreover, the SPF50 has a higher UVA protection compared to SPF30. The star rating system is based on a ratio of UVA/UVB. Both are the maximum 5 stars, but as the UVB protection of the 50 is higher, the UVA is too.

What is the difference between UVA and UVB?
Sunlight consists of ultraviolet lighting, which creates warmth but also has an impact on your skin. An easy way to remember UVA and UVB differences is that UVA stands for Aging and UVB for Burning.

What does PPD on your sunscreen products stand for?
PPD stands for "Persistent Pigment Darkening", which is a measure of the level of UVA protection provided by a sunscreen. It indicates how well the sunscreen prevents skin darkening caused by prolonged UVA exposure. The higher the PPD value, the better the protection against UVA rays.

When should I use sunscreen?
Whenever you will be outdoors in daylight for more than about 15 minutes. But also be aware that UVA (which is the main cause of ageing) can penetrate through glass, so you will still be exposed sitting in a car. Ideally year-round, as the UVA levels are fairly consistent year-round and even when there is cloud cover. UVB causes burning, and these levels increase with the intensity of the sun. Sunscreen should ideally be reapplied every 2 hours if you are outdoors to maintain the protection. This is especially important on hot sunny days, as the risk of burning is higher due to increased UVB.

How much sunscreen should I use?
Probably more than you are at the moment! Most people do not use enough to achieve the quoted SPF. Some people suggest a shot glass worth, or a teaspoon per body part such as arms, legs, face and each side of the body, but I find these difficult concepts in practice, so I usually advise people to put enough on so that the skin looks completely white before the cream goes in. It should be applied about 20 minutes before going out and then every two hours, or after swimming or towelling.

How often should I apply sunscreen?
It’s always difficult to give an accurate guide to how often to reapply, as the strength of the sun and skin type vary so much, but every couple of hours should be plenty unless you’ve been swimming. After going into the water and towelling off, it’s important to reapply.

What does it mean if the sunscreen says it's water resistant?
It means that after 20 minutes in the water, the sunscreen retains 50% of its effectiveness (labelled SPF). Some sunscreens are labelled very water resistant, which means that they retain 50% of their effectiveness after 40 minutes. Given this, you can see it’s essential to reapply afterwards.

Can sunscreen be used in combination with makeup?
Yes, this is possible. Apply the sunscreen first and wait until it has been absorbed before applying makeup. However, don’t forget to reapply the sunscreen during the day to ensure full protection of the skin.

What is the best sunscreen for use around the eyes?
Tolerability around the eyes is important for many people. Of course, sunscreen is not designed to be put into the eyes, but some people don’t seem to be able to tolerate anything around the eyes, and in this instance, wearing sunglasses is the only option. However, these people are actually very few.

What are the latest developments in the field of sunscreen?
Still, the most important thing is to ensure that there is protection across the UVA and UVB radiation spectrum. Thus, a high level of UVA protection, in proportion to the SPF (UVB protection), is important. Nanotechnology is a great innovation in sunscreen. Although it sounds small, in UV filter terms this actually means big! This means that they can sit on the surface of the skin, and less sunscreen is actually absorbed into the skin.

What is the shelf life of ALTRUIST products?
Once opened, the shelf life is 12 months; unopened, it’s about 3 years after production.

Does ALTRUIST test its products on animals?
Altruist surely do not test their products on animals.

Are ALTRUIST products reef safe?
Altruist is looking into this further, but at present, there appears to be no clear opinion on if there are really reef-safe sunscreens. However, they did focus on this issue when creating Altruist, so they do not use oxybenzone and octinoxate.

All Altruist sunscreen products are 5-star rated. What does this mean?
The 5-star rating on sunscreen refers to the level of UVA protection provided by the product. In the European Union, sunscreen products are tested and rated based on their ability to protect the skin from UVA rays, which are primarily responsible for skin aging and DNA damage, as opposed to UVB rays that cause sunburn. The 5-star rating system is used to indicate how effective a sunscreen is at blocking UVA radiation, and the more stars it has, the better the protection it offers. A product with 5 stars indicates very high UVA protection, which means it offers excellent defence against the long-term damaging effects of UVA rays.

Typically, the stars are assigned as follows:

• 0 stars: Poor UVA protection
• 1-2 stars: Moderate UVA protection
• 3 stars: Good UVA protection
• 4 stars: Very good UVA protection
• 5 stars: Excellent UVA protection

Can Altruist Face sunscreen be used by someone with oily skin?
Many sunscreens, especially those that are extra water-resistant, tend to be very oily; this is what gives the shine and increases the risk of spots. Altruist advise people to use a sunscreen that is labelled “non-comedogenic” or “oil-free.” This means that it tends not to cause spots. Again, this was an important element in the development of Altruist—that it should be able to be used by those on treatments for acne, in particular isotretinoin.

Does ALTRUIST use chemical or physical filters?
Altruist uses both physical and chemical filters to achieve optimum protection. The chemicals in Altruist Sunscreen ensure it works well and feels great on the skin and have been very thoroughly assessed by SCCS (the European cosmetics safety organisation).

How should ALTRUIST Invisible Spray be used?
If you spray and wait for it to dry, then you’ll need to apply a couple of times to ensure complete coverage. Generally, Altruist’d recommend rubbing it in. Don’t forget to apply plenty!

Is Octocrylene safe to use?
According to SCCS (the European cosmetics safety organisation), Octocrylene is safe and highly studied (toxicologically) and should not be denigrated by rumours. Octocrylene is therefore allowed up to 14.6% (10% of the acids equivalent). The concentration in ALTRUIST sunscreen formulations is always below 5% for sensory reasons.

For external use only. Keep out of reach of young children. Avoid contact with eyes. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.  Keep in a cool place out of direct sunlight.  Consult your healthcare professional before using essential oils during pregnancy. Store in cool dry place. If pregnant, or breastfeeding, or if you are taking medication, or on medical care, consult your physician prior to use.  While we work to ensure that product information on our website is correct, on occasion manufacturers may alter their ingredient lists.  Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and/or different information than that shown on our website.  All information about the products on our website is provided for information purposes only. We recommend that you do not solely rely on the information presented on our website.  Please always read the labels, warnings, and directions provided with the product before using or consuming a product.  In the event of any safety concerns or for any other information about a product please carefully read any instructions provided on the label or packaging and contact the manufacturer.  Content on this site is not intended to substitute for advice given by medical practitioner, pharmacist, or other licensed health-care professional. Contact your health-care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem.  Information and statements about products are not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.  Victoria Health accepts no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products by manufacturers or other third parties. This does not affect your statutory rights.