WTF Is Going On With Ultra Violette?! SPF Testing & Inclusivity Issues. Behind The Beauty

Instagram - james_s_welsh Unboxing Channel - @JaymesPlays1 Ultra Violette has been one of the most talked about sunscreen brands of the last few years. Known for their bold, colourful packaging and their reinvention of SPF as “skinscreen,” the Australian brand quickly grew from cult-favourite to global success. But in 2025, Ultra Violette is facing its biggest challenge yet. So how did Ultra Violette become a pandemic-era skincare darling, and why it’s now under scrutiny for controversies surrounding inclusivity, shade ranges, social media censorship, and even the accuracy of their SPF claims. Recently, Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group, CHOICE, published shocking results from independent sunscreen testing, claiming Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF 50+ performed at only SPF 4–5. For a premium brand built on sun protection, this revelation has rocked consumer trust and raised serious questions about the reliability of sunscreen testing and regulation. But this isn’t the first time Ultra Violette has been at the centre of controversy. Their tinted Dream Screen launch was met with backlash over a limited and unbalanced shade range, followed by accusations of deleting critical comments and blocking influencers of colour. Although they eventually expanded the range, many consumers felt the damage had already been done. Despite these challenges, Ultra Violette has continued to expand globally, with launches in Sephora Australia, Sephora ANZ, Space NK in the UK, and m