Altruist Sunscreen

20/05/2026

UVA protection advice by ☝️Do you understand UVA protection? What UVA rays do and where you can find the UVA protection symbols on your sunscreen? 🤔 It’s often one of the most overlooked parts of sun protection. ☀️

SPF tells you how well your sunscreen protects against UVB rays - the burning rays - but what about UVA rays?

📍 UVA rays pe*****te deeper into your skin - breaking down collagen, causing pigmentation, premature ageing and yes, increasing the risk of skin cancer. 🔴

So how do you know if your sunscreen has got your UVA back?

In the UK & Europe ⬇️

✔️ Look for the UVA logo - a little circle with “UVA” inside 🔵 That means it meets strict EU standards
✔️ Check the Boots Star Rating - aim for 4 or 5 stars

In Asia and elsewhere ⬇️

✔️ Look for the PA rating - PA+++ or PA++++ for high UVA protection

If you want a more precise way to measure UVA protection 👉 look for the PPD rating 👇👇👇

PPD stands for Persistent Pigment Darkening
☀️ It shows exactly how much longer your skin can tolerate UVA exposure compared to no protection.

The higher the PPD, the better your UVA defence 💪

Not all sunscreens share this info but that’s why I love 💛. They’re transparent about their PPD ratings, offer broad-spectrum protection, and keep it affordable.

Bottom line?

🧴 Don’t stop at SPF - always check for UVA protection, and if you can, check that PPD rating too ☕.

16/05/2026

Which areas are often missed when applying sunscreen?☝️Do any of these surprise you?

Those removing skin cancers see first-hand the bits we commonly miss - and fail to protect 🩺

An important reminder by dermatology nurse to protect all exposed skin to reduce your risk of burning or skin cancer 🔴

Feet, ears, neck, hands... what areas do you often forget to protect? 🙋‍♂️

14/05/2026

Altruist GIVEAWAY alert ☀️ Do NOT enter here 🔴 Please enter on the original giveaway post on their page - and you could WIN these 5️⃣ ultra high UVA & UVB sunscreens 👉 1x Kids Roller SPF50, 1x Family Sunspray SPF50, 1x SPF 50 Cream 100ml, 1x SPF 30 Cream 200ml + 1x Face Fluid SPF50 💥🎉

Reposted for awareness + entry T&Cs 🤞⬇️

👉 This we’re celebrating the people who taught us how important sun protection really is!

We’re giving away essential sunscreen from our partners in this “Pass It On Protection Kit” giveaway, to help keep you and your loved ones protected.

To enter:

✨ Comment who taught you sun safety OR who you are passing it on to
✨ Tag them below
✨ Follow Melanoma Focus

Examples:

“My mum taught me, now I’m teaching my children”

“I didn’t learn about sun safety growing up, so I’m making sure my child does”

“My partner reminds me to wear SPF every day!”

Or “My school taught me about sun safety, now I’m teaching my friends.”

Because sun safety is something we pass on ☀️

💙 The winner will be chosen at random. The prize includes: 1x Kids Roller SPF 50, 1x Family Sunspray SPF50, 1x SPF 50 Cream 100ml, 1x SPF 30 Cream 200ml, and 1x Face Fluid SPF50
(all thanks to our partners at Altruist Sunscreen)

Competition closes 23:59 on Sunday 17th May 2026. The winner will be selected at random. Terms and conditions available on our website.

☀️

13/05/2026

Please head to Melanoma Focus to enter their Protection Kit Giveaway with Altruist Sunscreen to win🤞🙏

Sun safety habits often start from someone else’s knowledge and experience.

A parent reminding you to put sunscreen on before school. A friend sharing their favourite SPF. A partner telling you not to forget your hat or sunscreen!

Those small reminders matter.

This Sun Awareness Week, we’re encouraging everyone to pass sun safety knowledge on in our “Pass It On Protection Kit” Giveaway courtesy of our partners at Altruist Sunscreen, which is packed with SPF essentials to help keep you and your loved ones protected.

To enter:
✨ Comment who taught you sun safety OR who you are passing it on to
✨ Tag them below
✨ Follow Melanoma Focus

Examples:
“My mum taught me, now I’m teaching my children”
“I didn’t learn about sun safety growing up, so I’m making sure my child does”
“My partner reminds me to wear SPF every day!”
Or “My school taught me about sun safety, now I’m teaching my friends.”
Because sun safety is something we pass on ☀️

💙The winner will be chosen at random and will receive: 1x Kids Roller SPF 50, 1x Family Sunspray SPF50, 1x SPF 50 Cream 100ml, 1x SPF 30 Cream 200ml, and 1x Face Fluid SPF50 all thanks to our partners at Altruist Sunscreen!

Competition closes 23:59 on Sunday 17th May 2026. The winner will be selected at random. Terms and conditions available on our website.

13/05/2026

Ask a skin cancer surgeon 🩺 Can skin cancer develop even after many years of careful sunscreen use? 🙋Please listen ☝️ & share for

Altruist Founder Dr Andrew Birnie is a leading Consultant Dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon. For , he is sharing just one example from his clinic of latent sun damage.

This case shows how skin cancers can present and occur many years after sun exposure - even if good sunscreen habits have been adopted for years after earlier burning or tanning exposure.

Skin remembers

It has a long memory when it comes to sun damage 🔴

As part of our mission to reduce the incidence of skin cancer through the increased use of quality sunscreen - better education and awareness is also vital to help protect and encourage healthier, safe sun habits.

We can also help protect by making sunscreen more accessible to everyone 💛

One barrier to people protecting their skin is cost 👉 By keeping sunscreen as affordable as possible so people can afford to wear more of it, and afford to reapply it more often. Because sunscreen, alongside other sun protection and damage prevention measures, is proved to prevent skin cancer - if worn correctly.

Safe-sun tips to protect against burning ⬇️

Cover up with clothing as your first line of defence against the sun 😎
✅ Wide brimmed hats (no holes)
✅ Long sleeve tops and trousers/ long skirts - darker/brighter colours and tight weave fabrics
✅ High UV sunglasses

☀️ Apply broad spectrum SPF30+ sunscreen and wear lots. Until the skin is totally white - or roughly 1/2 teaspoon. Always wear more than you think you need!
☀️ Cover all exposed skin - including hands, ears, back of the neck, feet and lips (areas often missed)
☀️ Where possible, seek shade
☀️ Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and/ or immediately after getting wet, using a towel or sweating
🌥️ Cover up & wear sunscreen even if cloudy - approx. 90% of UV rays still reach us through clouds

Got a skin cancer or sunscreen question for Dr Birnie? Please drop it in comments.

12/05/2026

Do you know the difference between UVB, UVA and UVC rays? 👈 Sound up 🔊 for ➡️ It’s so let’s have a quick chat about the sun - something we all enjoy, but seriously need to respect. Repost ⬇️

Sunlight isn’t just sunshine and warmth - it’s made up of infrared (heat), visible light (what we see 👀), and ultraviolet (UV) light - the one that really impacts our skin.

There are 3 types of UV rays:
☠️ UVC – blocked by the ozone (thankfully)
🔥 UVB – causes burns
🫠 UVA – causes ageing (hello wrinkles and pigmentation 👋)

Both UVA and UVB contribute to skin cancer, but UVA goes deeper - into the dermis - where it breaks down collagen and elastin over time.

It’s also the main culprit behind tanning beds (and yes, that glow comes at a cost).

And don’t forget - UVA pe*****tes glass. So whether you’re driving or working by a window, your skin’s still exposed 🚗🪟.

Here’s the catch:

SPF only tells you how much UVB protection you’re getting. But what about UVA?

✨ When shopping for sunscreen, make sure you look for:
✔️ The UVA logo (a circle with “UVA” inside – in the EU)
✔️ The Boots star rating (UK – go for 4⭐ or 5⭐)
✔️ PPD rating (higher = better UVA protection)

Bottom line?
🧴 Wear your sunscreen. And don’t forget about UVA.

I’ve been using sunscreens from - affordable, effective, and transparent with their UVA ratings.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for broad-spectrum protection 💛

11/05/2026

GIVEAWAY ALERT ☀️

This Sun Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the people who taught us how important sun protection really is!

We’re giving away essential sunscreen from our partners Altruist Sunscreen in this “Pass It On Protection Kit” giveaway, to help keep you and your loved ones protected.

To enter:
✨ Comment who taught you sun safety OR who you are passing it on to
✨ Tag them below
✨ Follow Melanoma Focus

Examples:
“My mum taught me, now I’m teaching my children”
“I didn’t learn about sun safety growing up, so I’m making sure my child does”
“My partner reminds me to wear SPF every day!”
Or “My school taught me about sun safety, now I’m teaching my friends.”

Because sun safety is something we pass on ☀️

💙 The winner will be chosen at random. The prize includes: 1x Kids Roller SPF 50, 1x Family Sunspray SPF50, 1x SPF 50 Cream 100ml, 1x SPF 30 Cream 200ml, and 1x Face Fluid SPF50
(all thanks to our partners at Altruist Sunscreen)

Competition closes 23:59 on Sunday 17th May 2026. The winner will be selected at random. Terms and conditions available on our website.

09/05/2026

New Altruist Kids Sunscreen Roller SPF50☝️☀️ SPF done easy ✅ 👉 Have you tried it yet?

Small enough for most bags (school bags, kit bags, your bag!) 🎒 and easy enough for kids to apply alone 🎉 No mess, no fuss, less stress!

Another Altruist way to protect kids this 🙌

😎 No squeezing
😎 No messy spills
😎 No drama - even with wriggly kids!!
🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♂️💨 Just roll-on and go…

SPF50 + ultra-high PPD48 UVA, broad spectrum protection - in a mess-free roller ball that little hands can actually hold 🤲

✅ Hypoallergenic, fragrance free & suitable from 6 months+
✅ Water resistant + non-greasy + very easily absorbed
✅ Vitamin E & glycerine for soft, smooth skin
✅ Only £7.95 / €8.50 for 100ml

🛍️ Exclusively on the Altruist UK + NL web shop 🛒 Rolling out to other retailers including soon

🤍 For every SPF50 Kids Roller - and Altruist product sold - we donate 10p from every sale to charities who help protect children with albinism in Africa from the sun 🌍

08/05/2026

Have you spotted our NEW Altruist Kids Sunscreen Roller SPF50 yet? ☀️ This is SPF done easy ✅ and a new safe-sun-fun way for Altruist to protect kids this

It's SPF50 + ultra-high PPD48 UVA, broad spectrum protection - in a mess-free roller ball that little hands can actually hold 👐

😎 No messy sunscreen spills
😎 No need to squeeze
😎 No more stress for grown-ups of wriggly kids!

Just roll-on and go 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♂️💨

✅ Hypoallergenic, fragrance free & suitable from 6 months+
✅ Water resistant + non-greasy + very easily absorbed
✅ Vitamin E & glycerine for soft, smooth skin
✅ Only £7.95 / €8.50 for 100ml

Exclusively on the Altruist UK + NL web shop 🛒 Rolling out to other retailers including .uk soon 💛

🤍 For every SPF50 Kids Roller - and Altruist product sold - we donate 10p from every sale to charities who help protect children with albinism in Africa from the sun 🌍 That's how we've always rolled...

Drop your BEST roller puns in comments... safe-sun IS fun! 😁

Dermatologist‑formulated SPF50 sunscreen roller for kids (6+months). Broad spectrum and water-reistant. Easy, mess-free application for families. Shop now!

07/05/2026

Debunking social media myths: Mineral Vs Chemical. The Toxic myth☝️ Please listen to Dr Andrew Birnie, the Consultant Dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon from Kent who created Altruist Sunscreen 🩺 Please share for awareness 🙏

A deeper explanation ⬇️

UV filters are not harmful to humans in the way that they are used in sunscreen.

Where confusion, scaremongering and fear can come into play is when studies that show that in high concentrations certain chemicals can be harmful - this is used to conclude that the ingredient should then be avoided at all costs.

👉 This disregards all medical understanding of pharmacology and toxicology.

Any chemical or compound will have a dose, or concentration, for which it has no effect at all, then a therapeutic dose (when it may be used for its intended purpose) and then a toxic dose.

Also the method of delivery into the body will have a major effect, too.

For instance, a chemical injected directly into the blood stream will have a much higher concentration and effect on the body compared to if it is swallowed or rubbed on the skin.

Pharmaceutical companies, doctors and regulators use this information to make informed decisions as to what to manufacture, prescribe and regulate.

Good examples of how this translates into the real world are Botox or paracetamol; both have beneficial effects that are utilised, but at higher concentrations can be fatal.

It is easy to misinterpret data or spin results to create headlines and social media posts suggesting that sunscreen ingredients are harmful.

People should be reassured that UV filters are extensively studied before being allowed to be licenced and the SCCS (the European Scientific Committe on Cosmetics Safety), who regulate and recommend what can and cannot go into cosmetic products, deem that they are safe at the concentrations used.

☀️ The bottom line is 👉 There is extensive evidence that exposure to the sun over a lifetime will increase your risk of skin cancer, whereas there is no good evidence to suggest that the use of sunscreen is harmful - thus it makes sense to employ sun safe measures!

06/05/2026

This May, protection can start by educating with facts, science and credible research. 🙏 ▶️ SEE pics to read 5 common sunscreen myths - help us debunk these myths with facts.☝️

☀️ Drop MYTHS in the comments and we’ll DM you a link to the full blog with more detail & sources 🔗

⚠ Listening to the wrong sources is putting lives at risk - please arm yourself with scientific truths and proven research. 🙏

If you ever have any questions about sunscreen - please ask us or seek advice from qualified dermatology or skin cancer experts ✅

📍 Sunscreens sold in Europe are not only some of the most tested and highly regulated in the world, but they are also some of the most respected.

Testing of all ingredients and formulas occurs independently so that people can be reassured that what you are using is tested to the highest gold standard for safety. These standards are constantly evolving as science and research learns more about the safest ways to protect all skins 💛