All you need to know about Balmonds new SPFs

The world of SPFs can be pretty confusing! So many different claims, conflicting information, and exceedingly long ingredient names to process. It’s no wonder that we can end up feeling baffled by the choice of products when navigating the tricky line between eco-friendliness, effectiveness, usability, and how our sensitive skin will react.

 

What made Balmonds decide to dip a toe into the SPF waters?

Well, sunscreen has been by far and away the most requested product from community members from day one. That’s obviously a reflection on how tricky eczema-friendly sun protection can be to get right, but it was something we were determined to solve for our customers.

 

Our SPF requirements

We set out on our SPF formulation journey with a pretty strict list of demands! The resulting sunscreen had to be:

• Broad spectrum UVA/UVB
• Reef, river & ocean friendly
• Free from microplastics
• Vegan friendly
• Fragrance-free
• Made only with COSMOS certified ingredients
• At least 99% natural
• 100% mineral
• Non-nano particles
• Nut free
• …and, above all, safe for eczema-prone skin

With Face The Day and Top-To-Toe, we think we’ve cracked it!

They’ve passed their thorough trials to earn their SPF30 and broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection badges. They’ve also been put through their dermatological paces and shown to be suitable for reactive atopic/eczema-prone skin.

 

What’s in ‘em - and what’s not!

Both formulations are allergy friendly - i.e. they don’t contain any of the common allergens most likely to cause a reaction: no soy, dairy, nuts, harsh preservatives, alcohol, etc. They’re both also free from fragrance, either synthetic or natural, including essential oils. And like all Balmonds products, they’re manufactured in a nut-free environment.

We’ve included some of our favourite hero ingredients (colloidal oat, jojoba, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, rosehip, sea buckthorn, borage) in the formulations to give sensitive skin an extra boost against moisture-loss or sun damage, providing thirsty sun-exposed skin with plenty of moisture and nutrients such as omega oils, vitamins, and antioxidants to keep it healthy and resilient. 

 

Environmental impact

Both formulations are reef, river & ocean friendly; that means they do not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, two commonly used UV-blocking chemicals which studies have shown can cause coral bleaching & environmental damage. SPFs which are reef friendly or safe are made with minerals such as zinc or titanium instead (ours uses just non-nano zinc oxide).

Nor do they contain parabens, triclosan or nano-plastics which cause damage to the environment when released into rivers or seas.

The products are packaged in airless pumps which are very effective against microbial growth, and mean we can use milder natural preservatives rather than harsh synthetic ones. And the packaging is made of readily recyclable mono-material plastic which most municipal recycling schemes will accept.

And to double down on the eco-friendliness, every ingredient we’ve picked is COSMOS approved so you know that the sustainability and environmental impact boxes have been well and truly ticked.

 

So what’s the difference between the two?

Face The Day is our facial SPF. It comes in a 50ml airless pump tube, and is a rich cream designed for the more delicate skin of the face. The formulation is enriched with hyaluronic acid, borage, and omega-rich sea buckthorn oil to provide extra nourishment and hydration to sun-exposed skin.

We choose sea buckthorn oil as Face The Day’s hero ingredient to provide effective protection against free radicals and ageing of the skin. It’s an exceptionally nourishing, revitalising and restorative oil, which has been shown to also partially shield the skin’s surface from the sun’s UV rays, acting as a low-level natural sunblock, which makes it a perfect addition to natural mineral sunscreens.

Top-To-Toe comes in a bigger 100ml size. It’s a slightly lighter cream for easier application over wider areas, so more suitable for use on the whole family. It doesn’t contain sea buckthorn oil, but it does contain sea buckthorn extract, so you’re still getting the benefits of that lovely ingredient!

 

How do you use Balmonds SPFs?

Face The Day

Apply the sunscreen liberally before you go out into the sun as the last step in your routine, i.e. after cleansers, moisturisers, or serums.

Reapply at regular intervals throughout the day, especially after swimming or sweating. Ensure you’ve covered all areas of exposed skin on your face and neck.

It’s worth remembering that everyone’s skin is different, which will affect how the cream feels. Zinc oxide is an astringent, which works really well for some, especially those with oily skin, but can feel a bit drying for others. If that’s the case for you, a good tip is to moisturise really thoroughly with your favourite intensive balm or cream before applying sunscreen as the final step. 

Top-To-Toe

Apply liberally before sun exposure, and reapply regularly throughout the day, especially after swimming or sweating, making sure you’ve covered all areas of exposed skin, including the back of the neck, legs, arms etc.

 

What are sunscreens and how do they work?!

Both Top-To-Toe and Face The Day are sunscreens, not moisturisers with SPF or foundation with SPF. They’re designed to be used over your moisturisers, as a protective barrier for your skin. 

‘SPF' refers to a product’s ‘sun protection factor’. It denotes the amount of time your skin is protected from damaging ultraviolet UVB radiation, which is the radiation that causes sunburn. In independent trials, both Balmonds sunscreens have been classified as having SPF 30 against UVB, which means skin is protected against the sun for 30 times longer than if you weren’t wearing any sunscreen. A rating of SPF 30 protects against about 97% of UVB rays, while SPF50 protects against 98% of UVB rays.

Balmonds sunscreens were designed to provide effective protection from both UVA & UVB rays - this means they’re counted as ‘broad spectrum’ sun factor protection. UVA light is present all year round, even when it’s not sunny, and is what causes longer-term sun damage such as wrinkles and tanning. Both Balmonds sunscreens have a UVA protection rating of SUPERIOR, 4 Star.

 

How to use sunscreens

It’s very important not to count on sunscreens as the sole protection from UV radiation when you’re out in the sunshine: damage from sun exposure will vary according to the different environments you’re in and activities you’re doing.

No single method of sun defence can protect skin perfectly: sunscreen is just one vital part of a strategy that should also include seeking shade and covering up with clothing, including wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses.

You also need to make sure creams are reapplied regularly through the day; sweating or swimming or just being out and about, rubbing your face with your hands, will reduce how much product is actually on your skin and protecting you from rays. So keep your SPF topped up, listen to your body, and stay in the shade where you can.

The SPF in Balmonds sun care uses zinc, which is a 100% natural mineral sunscreen. The zinc is ‘non nano’ which means it has bigger particles which sit on top of the skin as a really effective physical barrier to reflect damaging UVA & UVB rays, as well as being absorbed into the epidermis.