When making our new sunscreens, we had to tread the path between effectiveness and usability: too high a percentage of zinc in a natural sunscreen formula means the cream can be heavy and leave a white cast on skin. Too little and the protection isn’t adequate.

Balmonds formulations hit the sweet spot! It’s said that the most effective SPF is one that you like using and will reapply frequently through the day, and Factor 30 is generally considered enough protection even in the summer. SPF30 will filter out around 97% of harmful UVB rays*, providing substantial defence against sunburn, skin damage, and premature aging. Factor 50 only blocks one percentage more (98%) of harmful rays, so for us, user-friendliness wins the day. And whether it’s SPF30 or 50, it’s still important to reapply your sunscreen regularly, especially after activity or swimming.

Face The Day comes in a 50ml airless pump tube and is designed to be applied on the face.

It is a richer, thicker cream more suitable for applying to the more delicate skin of the face, and is designed for use as a daily facial SPF. The formulation is enriched with omega-rich sea buckthorn oil to provide extra nourishment and hydration to sun-exposed skin. Sea buckthorn oil provides 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 100ml airless pump tube and is designed to be applied on the body.

It doesn’t include sea buckthorn oil (though it does contain sea buckthorn extract) and is made to be a lighter cream for easier application over wider areas. It’s designed to be suitable for use on children.

Apply liberally before sun exposure as the last step in your routine, i.e. after cleansers 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.

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.

Yes, you can use Top-to-Toe sunscreen anywhere on the body or face! It’s a lighter cream than Face The Day, which makes it more suitable for applying over larger areas of skin, but it will also provide protection for the face.

Yes, you can use Face The Day sunscreen anywhere on the body or face! It’s a richer cream than Top-to-Toe and comes in a smaller tube, so is more suited to application on smaller areas but it can also be used on the body.

Yes, you can use Face The Day on children over 6 months. 

No. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are chemical sunblocks which have been shown to cause damage to coral reefs; neither of the Balmonds sunscreens contain these chemicals.

Both Balmonds sunscreens are free from the environmentally damaging sun protection chemicals (i.e. oxybenzone and octinoxate) which chemical sunscreens contain, and are also free from parabens, triclosan or nano-plastics which can cause damage to the environment when released into rivers or seas.

Yes, both Balmonds sunscreens have a UVA protection rating of 4 Star, SUPERIOR as well as a UVB SPF of 30.

The ingredient which provides the products SPF (sun protection factor) is zinc oxide.

Both formulations also include carefully chosen natural oils and extracts which are included to nourish and moisturise skin during sun exposure: colloidal oat, jojoba oil, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, rosehip, sea buckthorn, borage

Both Balmonds sunscreens are water-resistant but it’s advised to re-apply after swimming.

Both Balmonds sunscreens have a best before date of 36 months after manufacture (you can find this date on the bottom of the tube) and their effectiveness is guaranteed for six months after opening.

If your skin is feeling dry or sore after sun exposure, we recommend using a nourishing, unscented moisturiser.

Depending on how rich you need the moisturiser to be, you could use our Cooling Cream or - for an extra intensive boost to dehydrated skin - Skin Salvation balm. Please note that neither of these products have sun protection so don’t expose skin to sunshine after application: apply the moisturisers at night or under protective clothing.

The formulations are allergy friendly - i.e. they don’t contain any of the common allergens most likely to cause a reaction: soy, dairy, nuts, harsh preservatives, alcohol, fragrance etc. - and have been developed with sensitive and reactive skin in mind. However, everyone’s skin is different so please patch test for 24-48 hours before widespread use. 

Because the two sunscreens are made with carefully chosen gentle natural ingredients, most people should be able to use them even if their skin is reactive or in the middle of an eczema flare; the combination of nourishing ingredients and calming zinc may even help soothe irritated skin. But everybody’s skin is different and may react differently to even very gentle ingredients; patch test a new product first, especially if your skin is flaring.

Because the two sunscreens have no add fragrance (including essential oils) they only smell of the ingredients

It’s recommended to use a gentle, non-irritating, broad spectrum sunscreen to protect tattoos, especially new ones; both Balmonds SPFs fit the bill so you could use either. Face The Day is a little thicker so some might find it preferable to use to cover a smaller area of tattooed skin, while using Top-To-Toe elsewhere on the body.

Yes, both SPFs are vegan and cruelty free

No, both SPFs are free from nuts, and are manufactured in a nut-free environment.

No, both SPFs are free from fragrance

No, both SPFs are free from essential oils

Yes, recycle the entire plastic bottle with its lid on in your municipal plastic bottle recycling.