The Ultra Violette Lean Screen Recall: SPF 50+ That Tested as Low as 4
A buzzy makeup-grade 'skinscreen' tested as low as SPF 4 in some labs, a cautionary tale for anyone treating hybrid SPF-makeup as their only sun protection.
Independent testing of Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen returned SPF results of 4, 10, 21, 26, 33, 60, 61, and 64 across eight tests, versus the claimed SPF 64.3. The company recalled all batches, and the UK's OPSS flagged it as failing SPF testing and placing consumers at risk of sunburn.
Regulators, including the UK's Office for Product Safety and Standards, framed the wide test variance as a failure that placed consumers at risk of sunburn, underscoring that label SPF only matters if it holds up in repeatable testing.
Questions we get a lot
Why was Ultra Violette Lean Screen recalled?
Independent testing returned SPF results ranging from as low as 4 to as high as 64 across eight tests, far short of the claimed SPF 64.3 in many cases. The UK's Office for Product Safety and Standards flagged it as failing SPF testing and placing consumers at risk of sunburn, and the company recalled all batches.
Is a hybrid SPF makeup or 'skinscreen' enough sun protection on its own?
The Lean Screen case shows the risk of relying on a single makeup-grade SPF layer, especially when test results vary this widely. Reporting on the SPF testing failures highlights why a dedicated, reliably tested sunscreen is the safer base layer.
What should I do if I own a recalled Lean Screen product?
Stop relying on it as your sun protection and follow the recall guidance from the relevant safety authority. The UK recall notice covers the affected product and the reason it was pulled.
r/AusSkincare: 'I've been using Lean Screen as my only sunscreen under makeup for months. Now it's recalled because the SPF tested at 4 in some labs. Should I be worried?'