Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield

FAQS

1. Will it work with all skin tones?

Yes. The Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 is formulated for all skin tones and is available in 4 neutral shades – fair, medium, tan, and deep.

2. Are Sunforgettable® Brushes suitable for dry or aging skin?

Our Sunforgettable® Brushes contain sodium hyaluronate (HA), a powerful humectant naturally occurring in plants and the human body which helps to restore and reinforce moisture in the skin and defend against the signs of aging. We love how unique it is for a loose powder formula to have moisturizing benefits in addition to the SPF protection! For dry or mature skin craving even more hydration, we recommend applying over your favorite moisturizer or one of our other liquid SPF facial products and finishing with our Hydrating Mist to deliver and lock in moisture throughout the day. This will also help provide a dewy, healthy glow for these drier skin types.

3. How much do I need to apply to achieve SPF 50 protection?

Two passes around the face is recommended to achieve full SPF 50 coverage.

4. How long does it take to activate or prime the brush?

When activating for the first time, hold the brush with cap on and facing down and tap 3-5 times on a hard surface. Put some power behind those taps! Then remove the cap and run your finger through the bristles to ensure powder is flowing. Repeat tapping if needed, until you see a small puff of powder in the air when running your finger through the bristles. It may be necessary to repeat this process a few times before initial use.

5. How do I apply this brush?

Before each use tap the brush on a hard surface with the cap side down 3-5 times, then flick the bristles to see the powder flowing. Use light pressure and small circular motions to brush the sheer powder onto skin. Apply generously across your face for at least 60 seconds while making multiple passes. Reload more powder as needed during application by shaking or tapping powder downward into bristles. Reapply at least every two hours for continued protection.

6. Is Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 water- or sweat resistant?

Yes, Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 is water/sweat- resistant for up to 80 minutes.

7. Is the brush tube BPA free?

Yes, the tube is BPA free.

8. What is the difference between UVA and UVB damage?

UVB exposure causes redness or burning, while UVA exposure causes skin darkening/pigmentation. Protection from both UVA and UVB means this product provides Broad Spectrum protection. Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 provides Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (UVB protection) and PA++++ (UVA protection). Total Protection™ Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen Brush provides Broad Spectrum SPF030 (UVB protection) and PA+++ (UVA protection). Total Protection™ Sport Stick SPF 50 provides Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (UVB protection) and PA++++ (UVA protection). All Total Protection™ Face Shields SPF 50 in Classic, Matte, Flex, Glow, and Bronze provide Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (UVB protection) and PA++++ (UVA protection). Total Protection™ Body Shields SPF 50 in Classic and Bronze provide Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (UVB protection) and PA++++ (UVA protection). Total Protection™ Color Balms SPF 50 in Blush, Berry, and Bronze provide Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (UVB protection) and PA++++ (UVA protection).

9. What makes this new formulation different from the previous?

While both formulations provide SPF protection from UVA/UVB, the Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 was reformulated with proprietary EnviroScreen® Technology to go beyond SPF protection.

This new formulation also provides protection from other environmental aggressors that we are exposed to everyday, including:
Pollution
Blue light (also called High Energy Visible, or HEV, light)
Infrared radiation
In addition, this formulation includes hyaluronic acid (HA) powder for a moisturizing benefit and is water/sweat resistant up to 80 minutes. The new brush has antimicrobial bristles that protect and keep the brush fresh.

10. What does the PA rating mean?

The PA rating system measures the level of protection from UVA rays, which are known to cause pigment darkening in the skin. It measures the amount of time a product would protect your skin from darkening.

The following shows how much protection each PA score provides compared to unprotected skin. If your unprotected skin normally darkens/pigments after 5 min of UVA exposure:

PA Rating Level of Protection # of minutes protected before experiencing skin darkening/pigmentation
PA+ 2-4 times 10-20 minutes
PA++ 4-8 times 20-40 minutes
PA+++ 8-16 times 40-80 minutes
PA++++ >16 times >80 minutes
Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 has a PA++++ rating, the highest level of protection from UVA exposure.

11. Why is the % of actives lower in this brush formula compared to the previous one?

The Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 was reformulated with new, proprietary EnviroScreen® Technology. This technology uses patented zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that make them more efficient as sunscreen actives than standard zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

This formulation contains 22.5% Zinc oxide and 22.5% titanium dioxide, for a total of 45% of active ingredients. This is the highest percent of actives among leading brush-on sunscreens on the market.

Finally, Colorescience Sunforgettable™ brushes are the only powder sunscreen brushes recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 has earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Active use seal.

12. What is the antimicrobial ingredient?

Our brush is coated with a proprietary wash comprised of surfactants and a well-known non-toxic, and paraben-free preservative that has been shown to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungus to keep the brush fresh.

13. Is Colorescience® brush cleaner compatible with the antimicrobial wash?

Yes, Colorescience® brush cleaner is the most effective and gentle way to clean the antimicrobial treated brush and maintain its freshness.

14. What is EnviroScreen® Technology?

EnviroScreen® Technology is proprietary to Colorescience. EnviroScreen® Technology uses patented active ingredients, Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, which create a barrier preventing free radical formation and oxidative stress. These patented actives are combined with specialty ingredients that, together, work synergistically to protect skin from damage caused by exposure to UVA/UVB rays, pollution, blue light (also known as High Energy Visible, or HEV, light), and infrared radiation.

15. Can you explain how adherence/water- and sweat- resistance is tested?

Colorescience follows the FDA guidelines for testing water resistance or adherence to the skin after exposure to water. A panel of 10 people apply the product to their skin prior to being immersed in a whirlpool (of moving or circulating water) for 20-minute cycles. After 20 minutes in the whirlpool, panelists exit the whirlpool before immersing themselves again. For 40 minutes water resistance, panelists are immersed in the water for two 20-minute cycles. For 80 minutes water resistance, this is done a total of 4 times. After all cycles are completed, the SPF that is remaining on the skin is measured. If after 80 minutes in the whirlpool, the SPF remaining is at least 50, the result is an SPF 50 with 80 minutes of water resistance.

16. When I hold the new brush up next to the existing formula it appears lighter, why is that?

Your eyes are not playing tricks on you; the new formulation does look lighter in the brush component in comparison to the existing brush in Medium, Tan and Deep. However, when you apply on skin you will see that there is no visible difference in how the color wears on the skin.

17. What is the reasoning for why the colors appear visibly lighter in the brush component?

This is a result of our new technology in which our zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are encapsulated, and how they interact with the iron oxides and our skin. While slightly lighter looking in the brush component, when applied to skin the colors wear the same.

18. How do you measure pollution protection?

We measure our pollution protection by directly measuring free radicals created from UV + pollution events on unprotected skin and skin protected with Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ Brush-on Shield SPF 50. We use a testing technique called electron spin resonance (ESR) that uses a combination of a magnetic field and electromagnetic waves to directly detect the unpaired electrons of free radicals.

19. How do you measure blue (HEV) light protection?

Blue (HEV) light protection is tested by measuring the ability of the formula to block light in the HEV spectrum that would otherwise reach the skin. In practice, this is done by applying the formula to a transparent substrate at the same dose level (2mg/cm2) used in the FDA Monograph SPF test. The substrate is then placed at the entrance of an integrating sphere detector which captures all the light passing through the sample. This configuration is the same as that used in the FDA Monograph Critical Wavelength measurement and mimics the situation of a formula applied to the skin. The percentage of HEV light blocked is calculated by comparing the intensity of the light transmitted through the formula to the incident light at each wavelength throughout the HEV spectrum (400–490 nm).

20. Is Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 non-comedogenic?

Yes, Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 is non-comedogenic.

21. Is Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 hypoallergenic?

Yes, Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 is hypoallergenic. It is dermatologist-recommended.

22. Is Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 gluten-free?

All Total Protection® and Colorescience® products are free from ingredients containing gluten. In addition, all Colorescience® products are 100% free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance animal testing, talc, dyes, mineral oils, drying alcohols and chemical sunscreen.

23. Is Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 paraben-free?

Yes, Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 has been formulated without parabens. In addition, all Colorescience® products are also 100% free from phthalates, synthetic fragrance, animal testing, talc, dyes, mineral oils, drying alcohols & chemical sunscreen.

24. Is Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 sulfate-free?

Yes, Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 is sulfate-free. In addition, all Colorescience® products are 100% free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, animal testing, talc, dyes, mineral oils, drying alcohols & chemical sunscreen.

25. Is Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 phthalate-free?

Yes, Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 is phthalate-free. In addition, all Colorescience® products are 100% free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, animal testing, talc, dyes, mineral oils, drying alcohols & chemical sunscreen.

26. Is Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 oil-free?

Yes, Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 is oil-free. In addition, all Colorescience® products are 100% free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, animal testing, talc, dyes, mineral oils, drying alcohols & chemical sunscreen.

27. Is Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 vegan?

There are no animal products or derivatives in the following Total Protection™ product: Brush-On Shield SPF 50, Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen Brush, all shades of Face Shield SPF 50, all shades of Body Shield SPF 50, Sport Stick SPF 50, blush, bronze, and golden hour Color Balms. The berry, pink sky, and violet haze Color Balms contain carmine. All Colorescience® products are 100% free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, animal testing, talc, dyes, mineral oils, drying alcohols & chemical sunscreen.

28. Is this product compliant in the European Union?

Yes, this product is sold in the EU and meets EU requirements for sunscreens.

29. What is the difference between UVA and UVB damage?

UVB exposure causes redness or burning, while UVA exposure causes skin darkening/pigmentation. Protection from both UVA and UVB means this product provides Broad Spectrum protection.

Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 provides Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (UVB protection) and PA++++ (UVA protection).

30. Can I use Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products on babies?

Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ Face Shield SPF 50 is safe to apply to 6 months and older. As with all sunscreen products, consult your physician for use on children under 6 months of age. All Total Protection™ products use only non-chemical zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as sunscreen active ingredients. The FDA recognizes only these two sunscreen active ingredients as safe and effective.

31. Can pregnant or nursing women use Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products?

Total Protection™ products have not been tested on pregnant or nursing women. Consult your physician before using.

32. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products chemical free?

Yes, Colorescience uses only mineral (also known as physical) sunscreen active ingredients, zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide in all of our sunscreen products. These are the only 2 sunscreen actives the FDA recognizes as safe and effective. Colorescience has never and will never use any chemical sunscreen actives.

33. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products non-comedogenic?

Yes, all Total Protection™ products are non-comedogenic.

34. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products hypoallergenic?

Yes, all Total Protection™ products are hypoallergenic. They are dermatologist-tested.

35. I noticed some Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products contain mica. Are these safe and ethically-sourced?

The micas that Colorescience uses are ethically sourced. They are sourced from various parts of the world, including Japan, U.S. Mica is not a derivative of asbestos. Our mica vendors adhere to global regulations pertaining to the quality and safety of cosmetic ingredients. The mica used in Colorescience products is mined and processed to meet consistent standards of high quality, safety and aesthetics. Our mica passes or exceeds the standards for heavy metal and microbial testing.

36. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products cruelty-free?

Yes. Colorescience does not conduct any animal testing and we are committed to the highest standards when choosing raw materials for our product formulations. We require non-animal testing statements on all raw materials before final formula approval.