Sunforgettable Total Protection Sheer Matte Sunscreen Brush

FAQS

1. I love the Brush-on Shield SPF 50. Should I switch to this? Which is right for me?

Both of our sunscreen brushes provide Total Protection™ from UVA/UVB, pollution, blue (HEV) light, and infrared damage. Stick with the Brush-on Shield SPF 50 for the ultimate protection from premature skin aging caused by these environmental aggressors. In addition to our highest SPF protection, powdered hyaluronic acid provides moisturization to protect skin barrier function. 80-minute water- and sweat-resistance makes this an effective option for active lifestyles. For subtle natural-looking color coverage, this brush is available in four shades – Fair, Medium, Tan, and Deep.

The Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen Brush powder was formulated specifically to be a featherweight, sheer solution for oily and sensitive skin types. Use this brush all over the face or target specific areas (hello, t-zone!) to absorb oil, reduce shine, mattify and leave skin feeling clean and refreshed with appearance of pores minimized. With take-anywhere brush-on application, you can keep oiliness away and stay protected all day. With its sheer, colorless wear, this is also a great option for men, teens, and children.

2. This sounds like the solution for my oily skin, but I would like color coverage. What should I use this with?

To achieve color coverage with the Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen Brush, layer with our Loose Mineral Foundation SPF 20 or Natural Finish Pressed Foundation SPF 20 in your shade of choice.

3. 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.

4. Does this offer the same protection as the Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50?

Like the Brush-On Shield SPF 50, this Sheer Matte 30 brush also offers defense from UVA/UVB, pollution, blue light, and infrared damage. However, Brush-On Shield SPF 50 brush offers higher UVA/UVB and blue light defense and is water- and sweat-resistant up to 80 minutes.

5. Is it suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin types?

Yes, this provides all-mineral protection (free of chemical active ingredients), oil free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and is suitable for all skin types, including oily and sensitive skin.

6. Can this be used for men?

Yes, this untinted powder blends in sheer, leaving no trace of color behind.

7. Will it work with all skin tones?

Yes. The Total Protection™ Sheer Matte SPF 30 is formulated with a featherweight, silky powder that blends in sheer for oily skin of all tones. For color coverage, consider using the Sheer Matte SPF 30 brush with your shade of our Loose Foundation SPF 20 or Natural Finish Pressed Foundation SPF 20.

8. Does the Sheer Matte Brush contain talc to absorb oil?

No, the Sheer Matte 30 Sunscreen Brush does not contain talc. Its mattification properties come from a novel silicone-treated powder that has been clinically proven to absorb excess sebum.

9. How do I activate/prime my brush?

In order to ensure the product is dispensing properly, be sure to activate the brush prior to application. Remove the cap and push the plastic sleeve down. Remove and discard the rubber band and pull the sleeve back up. Put the cap back on. Tap 3-5 times on a hard surface with the cap side down. Open and pull down the sleeve again and flick the bristles to ensure powder is flowing, and apply using light pressure in small circular motions. Repeat as needed until powder flows consistently.

10. 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. The Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen Brush can be used all over or supplemented in t-zone where oiliness is most dominant.

11. How much do I need to apply to achieve SPF 30 protection?

Even application around the face for at least 60 seconds is recommended to achieve full SPF 30 coverage. Reapply at least every two hours for continued protection or more frequently as needed for oil absorption.

12. How often should I apply this brush?

As with all sunscreens, reapply every 2 hours for continued UV and environmental protection as recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Use as often as needed for oil absorption and mattification.

13. Can this be applied over makeup?

Yes. This can be applied before or after makeup to absorb excess shine, mattify, and minimize the appearance of pores.

14. Can I layer this brush-on powder with your other brushes?

Yes, all Colorescience brushes can be used together to customize your coverage and protection.

15. Do I need to remove surface oil, with something like blotting papers for example, before applying this brush?

No, this brush will absorb and blot away oil without needing to remove any from your skin beforehand.

16. 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.

17. My brush is getting clogged. / Powder flow is slow. What do I do?

Regular brush maintenance is important to ensure powder flows through the bristles. Clean your brush weekly using Colorescience Brush Cleansing Wipes or another alcohol-based cleaner that is safe and gentle for use on cosmetic brushes. Allow bristles to dry with the cap off before using.

18. What is the antimicrobial ingredient on the bristles?

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

19. Are Colorescience® Brush Cleaning Wipes compatible with the antimicrobial wash?

Yes, Colorescience® Brush Cleaning Wipes are an effective and gentle way to clean the antimicrobial treated brush and maintain its freshness.

20. Is the brush tube BPA free?

Yes, the tube is BPA free. It is composed of Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).

21. 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™ Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen Brush provides Broad Spectrum SPF030 (UVB protection) and PA+++ (UVA protection).

22. 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™ Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen Brush has a PA+++ rating

23. What is EnviroScreen® Technology?

EnviroScreen® Technology is proprietary to Colorescience®. EnviroScreen® Technology uses patented active ingredients, Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, that 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.

24. 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™ Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen Brush. We use a testing technique called electron spin resonance (ESR) that uses a combination of a magnetic field and electron magnetic waves to directly detect the unpaired electrons of free radicals.

25. 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).

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

Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ Sheer Matte SPF 30 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

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

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

30. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products hypoallergenic?

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

31. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products 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.

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

Yes, all Total Protection™ products are 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.

33. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products sulfate free?

Yes, all Total Protection™ products are 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.

34. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products phthalate free?

Yes, all Total Protection™ products are 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.

35. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products oil free?

Yes, all Total Protection™ products are 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.

36. Are Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ products vegan?

There are no animal products or derivatives in the following Total Protection™ product: Brush-On Shield SPF 50, Brush-On Shield Glow SPF 50, Brush-On Shield Bronze 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 Balm contains carmine. All Colorescience® products are 100% free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, animal testing, talc, dyes, mineral oils, drying alcohols & chemical sunscreen.

37. 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.

38. 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.