We Tried Buzzy Australian Sunscreen Brand Ultra Violette

In the United States, we’re pretty lucky with the sheer amount of beauty products available to us. Sure, there are some things we want to grab when we have the opportunity to browse a French pharmacy or K-beauty store, but it’s rare we have to beg a brand to share their wares with us. Everyone who’s ever commented “when will worldwide shipping be available” on a Rhode Instagram post, I feel for you.

Still, there are still some products that have been off-limits to us poor, poor Americans. Until now, anyway. As of this week (!), beloved Aussie SPF brand Ultra Violette is officially available in the US market. And everyone is so excited.

The Brand

Referred to as “Vi” for short, Ultra Violette is an Australian-made sunscreen brand that took two years to develop. The vision: products that consider your other favorite skincare and makeup favorites and feel comfortable enough to wear daily.

“We wanted to design a wardrobe of facial sunscreen that looked good, felt nice to wear, and didn’t bore us to tears,” brand co-founder Ava Matthews explains in a statemnt.

“Of all the anti-aging products available on the market, sunscreen is the single most important one,” adds co-founder Bec Jefferd. “It’s about future-proofing your face from the daily toll of UV rays, and having a suite of products that can be adapted for every occasion to do this.”

The brand has a cult-like following of beauty editors, estheticians, makeup artists, and more thanks to the sophisticated formulas, fun packaging, and SPF 50 protection.

The Products

The Sephora-hosted US launch includes four already beloved SPF 50 products—the globally adored Supreme Screen moisturizer and primer, Velvet Screen mattifying facial sunscreen, Future Screen facial sunscreen serum, and two shades of Sheen Screen lip balm—plus one *brand new* addition: the water-resistant Vibrant Screen.

Perfect for the face and body, Vibrant Screen is “a hydrating lightweight lotion with tip to toe UVA and UVB protection leaving the skin with a glowy not sweaty skin finish,” the brand shared. All of the products are formulated by the brand’s in-house team in Australia, which has some of the world’s strictest standards and regulations when it comes to SPF.

Our Reviews

Adelaide Giesey, editor

“For months, all my most skincare-savvy friends could talk about was how to get their hands on Ultra Violette sunscreen. ‘Who is going abroad next?’ they would ask the group in hopes someone would gracefully offer to bring a bottle back for them. My request was always the Supreme Screen SPF 50. I have dry, eczema-prone skin, so it is imperative that whatever I put on my face keeps it moisturized and supple. This formula checks all the boxes. The texture feels pillowy soft, it plays well with any products I apply before it, and it leaves behind a subtle glow. I use it as my last skincare step or as a makeup primer. It also acts as the perfect all-in-one SPF moisturizer when I’m traveling. Needless to say, this will be a staple in my routine during the warmer months ahead!”

Eden Stuart, editor

“After I first applied the Velvet Screen SPF 50, I immediately turned the tube around to read the ingredients—it looked mineral in my hand and says mineral on the tube, sure, but I had never seen one disappear so seamlessly into my medium-tan skin. It left my skin feeling soft and looking slightly diffused, and, as advertised, it’s definitely fragrance-free. The formula is a little thick, but if you can get past that (or just don’t care), it’s a great option.”

Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor

“I am not nearly as dilligent with the sunscreen as I should be (I know, I know), but that’s simply because so many formulas disagree with my dry-yet-acne-prone skin. They either break me out, pill under makeup, or just feel disgusting on my skin. The Future Screen sounded like the most lightweight of the bunch, so I gave it a shot and I’m impressed. It has a serum-like texture that disappears right into my skin both in terms of texture and white cast (it does have a slight beige tint for a ‘perfecting’ effect). Mineral formulas are best for acne-prone skin, but they’re usually thick and greasy—this was not that. It has a pretty, satin-y finish, and layers well over my moisturizer and under makeup. It does have a slight sunscreen-y smell, but nothing over the top. Most importantly, I forgot I was wearing it over the course of the day. I think I found the SPF that will finally break my bad habit.”

Derek Deng, associate content editor

“I’m a sunscreen snob. There’s nothing worse than feeling a layer of grease sitting on your face when after applying SPF—the Vibrant Screen is far from that. It leaves a natural glow on the skin and while it doesn’t feel 100% undetectable on the skin, it comes pretty close. I love putting it underneath my skin tint for a dewy (and sun-safe) finish!”