The New SPF Filter Is Here! Plus: Decoding Mineral Sunscreen Labels & The Truth About Ultra Violette’s “Sunscreen Gate” with Co-Founder Ava Matthews

16 Sep 2026 · 59 min · 16 chapters

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In short

Ultraviolet co-founder Ava Matthews discusses Ultraviolet’s new SPF filter arrival in the U.S., how to decode mineral sunscreen labels (including “chemical boosters”), and the background behind Ultraviolet’s “Sunscreen Gate” recall. She also explains why sunscreen is regulated differently across markets and what’s new in Ultraviolet’s acne-focused launch.

Guest backgrounds

Ava Matthews is an Ultraviolet co-founder (launched in 2019 in Australia with Beck Jefford; U.S. launch in 2025). She previously spent about 20 years in fashion and beauty, shaping influential products. She describes herself as a “reformed sunscreen delinquent” with 100+ moles.

Key claims

The new U.S.-approved filter is bemetrisanol (Tinosorb S; DSM-Firmenich “Parsil Shield”), a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB chemical UV filter that can be used at ~3–5% to replace higher-use older filters. Ultraviolet’s first Sephora U.S. product with it is an acne-skin, tinted, matte, zinc + bemetrisanol “oil-in-water” formula in an airless pump. Australia’s “Slip Slop Slap” and “no hat, no play” drive higher daily SPF use. “Sunscreen Gate” involved Lean Screen (Australia) / Velvet Screen (U.S.) failing SPF claims after Choice testing; Ultraviolet recalled, refunded, and now uses multi-lab, multi-data-point SPF testing with external auditing.

Notable examples

“Slip Slop Slap” and “no hat, no play” education; Choice reports showing >60 SPF discrepancy; recall timeline (early August results); upcoming September launch “Velvet” as 100% mineral (zinc-only) for sensitive skin.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Meet Ava Matthews: A Passion for Sun Safety

0:45 to 2:47

Ava Matthews shares her background and passion for sunscreen and sun safety.

“Now, Ava calls herself a reformed sunscreen delinquent with, and we quote, over 100 moles to prove it.”

Sunscreen Delinquents: A Family Perspective

2:47 to 7:09

Ava discusses her mother’s fashion advice and their relationship dynamics.

“So I love following you on Instagram because not only do you share SPF tips, but your mom is a very iconic stylist, fashion stylist in Australia.”

The Evolution of Ultraviolet Sunscreen

7:16 to 10:51

Ava explains the challenges of creating a successful sunscreen brand.

“We'll link to this offer in our show notes and on our website.”

Sunscreen Culture: Australia vs. the U.S.

10:51 to 14:00

Ava compares sunscreen habits and cultural attitudes towards sun safety in Australia and the U.S.

“What are the sunscreen habits like in Australia?”

Understanding Skin Cancer Risks

14:00 to 20:15

Learn about the cumulative risks of sun exposure and the importance of sunscreen.

“Like I look at you and I can tell you've never won sunscreen.”

Sponsor: OneSkin

20:19 to 23:10

Discover OneSkin's innovative skincare solutions targeting visible aging.

“brands out there touting biotechnology to help address signs of aging at the cellular level.”

The Arrival of BEMT in Sunscreens

23:41 to 28:00

Discover the significance of the new UV filter BEMT and its benefits.

“So you've been formulating with BEMT, that's what I'm going to call it.”

Innovations in Acne-Safe Sunscreen

28:00 to 33:57

Explore the new lightweight UV filter and formulations for acne-prone skin.

“And the Bemetris Nol is a lightweight, super efficient UV filter that kind of helps give that kind of light, you know, texture.”

Innovations in Acne-Safe Sunscreen

34:01 to 35:27

Explore the new lightweight UV filter and formulations for acne-prone skin.

“Listen up to the end of this little blurb, I'm going to tell you.”

Innovations in Acne-Safe Sunscreen

35:31 to 37:24

Explore the new lightweight UV filter and formulations for acne-prone skin.

“After you purchase, they're going to ask you where you heard about them.”
Show all 16 chapters

Decoding Mineral Sunscreens

39:20 to 42:00

Ava Matthews discusses the nuances of mineral sunscreens and hybrid formulations.

“would contain either one or both of the chemical sunscreen boosters because it's twofold.”

Understanding Sunscreen Gate: Ava Matthews Explains

42:00 to 45:32

Learn about the controversy surrounding Ultraviolet's sunscreen recalls and their approach to safety.

“like skincare not you know a serum it's not going to suit everyone a moisturizer is not going to because sunscreen is not going to suit everyone.”

Redefining Sunscreen Testing Standards

45:32 to 48:30

Explore how Ultraviolet is changing its sunscreen testing protocols to ensure consumer trust.

“we have a motto, we have a couple of values at Ultraviolet that we really, we live by.”

Ava's Personal Skincare Routine

48:30 to 52:01

Discover Ava Matthews' personal sunscreen application and skincare routine for summer.

“So now all of the products within Ultraviolet are 100%.”

The Evolution of Ultraviolet Products

52:01 to 56:06

Learn about the new Ultraviolet products and how they cater to consumer needs.

“we just want the consumer to know that they can trust their sunscreens and they should wear on screen.”

Exploring the New SPF Line and Its Features

56:06 to 57:00

Learn about the innovative features of the new SPF product line.

“I think that's the beauty of this line is like being able to adjust.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00Ava Matthews:The following podcast is a Dear Media production.

0:08Welcome to Breaking Beauty, the podcast all about the breakthrough people, products and moments in beauty. We're your hosts, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins.

0:21Welcome back to Breaking Beauty podcast, everyone. I'm your co-host, Carlene Higgins. And I'm Jill Dunn, and we are two longtime beauty editors turned beauty podcasters. We're in your feed every single Wednesday talking about the breakthrough of people, products, and moments in beauty. This week, we are in New York City with a founder who came all the way from Melbourne, Australia. We are welcoming the co-founder of Ultraviolet, Ava Matthews. Hi, Ava. Hi. Now, Ava calls herself a reformed sunscreen delinquent with, and we quote, over 100 moles to prove it. So she's passionate about sun safety.

1:00Ava co-founded Ultraviolet, the Aussie sunscreen brand in 2019 with her business partner, Beck Jefford, and it officially landed stateside in 2025. And before adding founder to her resume, Ava spent two decades working in fashion and beauty and shaping some of beauty's most influential products. And what I appreciate about Ultraviolet is that they thought about sunscreen in the context of your daily routine. So what you layer it under, how it plays with makeup, all of that. I mean, the packaging just, it just stands out so much. It's the best. It's color blocking, bold hues, like electric royal blue, instantly recognizable in beach totes.

1:43It's sort of built this cult following in a very short amount of time. Yeah, we definitely heard about it before it landed stateside. And their best-selling Supreme SPF 50 formula sells every 30 seconds around the globe. So this week, we're breaking down how ultraviolet broke through in a category previously ruled by French Pharmacy and K-Beauty formulas. And we're getting Ava's best tips for layering SPF with makeup, the real talk on that recall that made headlines last year, and what to expect from their newest launch. which hallelujah is made for us acne prone girlies. And it's formulated with, let me try to say this, everybody.

2:28Say it again, guys. Say it with me. Bemetrizanol. It's formulated with Bemetrizanol, which is the first at Sephora in the U.S. to be formulated with this new filter that we keep hearing about. So we've been waiting for this. We can't wait to learn more. So officially welcome to Breaking Beauty, Ava. Thank you so much. Thank you. So I love following you on Instagram because not only do you share SPF tips, but your mom is a very iconic stylist, fashion stylist in Australia. Yeah. First of all, she looks like your sister. Yes, and she loves to remind me of it. And she kind of like rates your outfits on Instagram and it's like no filter.

3:11Yeah. Yeah. It's as moms do. Yes. They have no filter. what's the most like brutal note she's given you and did you take it or oh look there's so many and my mom is not that kind of like you know you're gonna be the prettiest girl in the room you're just gonna kill it every day like she's just she's not right she's a real talker and like she obviously loves me very much and we have a great relationship and I appreciate the honesty. Yeah. Oh God. She said so many, we have polar opposite styles, but she does tell me that I wear the wrong shoes with every outfit. I'm like, I have cheap shoes and that's, she's like, you'll wear a really nice outfit and then you'll wear these terrible shoes and they let you down.

3:56Is your mom maybe a minimalist? Because for people who aren't watching this on YouTube, Ava's wearing the prettiest like coral outfit with palm trees on it and like carrots. There's a lot of print and then she's doing the purposeful mismatch with the Fendi logo shoes like the F with the F on it so it's like a deliberate kind of mismatch right I feel like you're a maximalist yeah let's go with that and is your mom a minimalist she's a full minimalist see that's what I'm saying and I don't know what she'd say about these shoes with this outfit but she'd probably say it's wrong I think she'd say it's wrong shoe theory that sounds a thing I think she'd say they're wrong I think she would say I need a more simple sample like a neutral but I You have a bedazzled ultraviolet lip balm here that is like pink and shiny all over.

4:48Yes, it's completely bedazzled. Love it. Love it. Yeah, I'm a full maximalist. A girl after my own heart.

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7:33Okay, as beauty editors, we know that it's a tall order to create a great sunscreen. Honestly, I don't envy you for being a founder of a sunscreen brand in the year 2026. It can even be tricky for trained cosmetic chemists, dermatologists to do it. So looking back at the beginnings of Ultraviolet, what made you want to take on this category? Yeah, that's a great question because Bec and I ask each other this quite a lot. Why did we do this? And, you know, you don't know what you don't know. When we started the brand and we were kind of ideating the brand in 2016, so 10 years ago, we really noticed a gap.

8:16The brand was founded in Australia and sunscreen, despite the rates of skin cancer in Australia, sunscreen was still talked about seasonally. It was promoted over summer. You could only get big pump packs at the chemist or the drugstore or the supermarket. There was nothing that was beautiful. And we worked for a premium beauty retailer. And so we could see the customer there investing significantly in skincare, you know, whether it was La Mer or Drunk Elephant or any of these kind of brands. But there were no options for SPF. You'd be lucky if a brand had one and maybe it was just not that good.

8:53And that was the only option if you didn't like it. Like, and so people, but people weren't even really talking about wearing SPF every day. It still was a very seasonal conversation. And I think the only brand at the time, luxury wise, that talked about it a lot was Shiseido. Yes. Like a Japanese brand. Right. But you're right. Like the La Mer's, the Estee Lauder's of the world. It's like, it's not front and center. No. At all. Yeah. And during, you know, in the intro, you described me as a former sunscreen delinquent, which is true because I would do everything I could to avoid wearing it. and I'm paying for it now, of course, until I kind of reached my 30s.

9:28And I started, you know, and we were developing sunscreens for this retailer, a sunscreen for this retailer. And I looked more into the kind of anti-aging benefits or the kind of skin health benefits because as a 28, 30-year-old, skin cancer is not something that's on your radar unless you know someone or someone very close to you has had skin cancer and you've seen that kind of very up close. So it was less for me about the skin cancer of it. I mean, I'm obviously now conscious of that now as I age, but it was about the vanity and no one was kind of incorporating it into a skincare conversation.

10:02No one was formulating beautifully. No one was making it look and feel like a skincare product. It was where you'd throw it in your beach bag. And so the whole premise of the brand was to insert SPF into skincare, which at the time wasn't happening anywhere. And especially in Australia. And I think the consumer in Australia was desperate for this and we saw it straight away. We saw the reception and people were loving it and people were talking about it. And it was a really great time to launch a brand and you didn't have to, we didn't have to spend a lot to get people talking about it. So I guess that, that reaction made, reinforced the belief that this was something that people actually desperately needed.

10:40So very much intentional and with how we designed the packaging and the formulations and skincare ingredients and we call our products skin screens, which is just that combination of skincare and sunscreen. Yeah, I love that. Beauty editor move right there. What are the sunscreen habits like in Australia? Because I feel like it is different than North America. It is. It's very different. I mean, look, sunscreen and well, sun safety is almost a part of our education in Australia. And we grew up, for any Australians listening now will know, Slip Slop Slap, which was the government campaign around sunscreens and wearing, as I said, we have incredibly high rates of skin cancer.

11:16I think it's two out of three. Every Australian will develop a skin cancer at some point. And that might be a melanoma or it might be a basal cell carcinoma, which doesn't require a huge amount. Or it could be something you've got to have carved out of your face and need to have almost reconstructive surgery to help. So even at school, we had a thing. It was no hat, no play. So even in winter, if you didn't wear your hat in the lunch break or recess break, you had to sit inside with the teacher and it was always the teacher you didn't want to sit with. So like you had to remember the hats. We had to wear them every day.

11:52So it was really instilled in us from a very early age that sun safety and sun care is important. My son is four at their daycare. They've got sunscreen everywhere. They reapply. There's an option to tick like can we use like whatever brand, council or a supermarket brand sunscreen on your chart. I'm like, no, it's BYO sunscreen. But I now I'll give it to the entire class. It's not like arty sunscreen. So, yes, it's something that is very, very ingrained in us. And we've got much higher uptake in daily wear, whereas the U.S. is not there yet, but hopefully. Definitely not. It's actually reversing, I feel like.

12:38Tan max is in, whatever. ever. But anyway, with Gen Z. Yes, it's true. It's scary. And so when you entered the market here, what happened? Like what surprised you? Because I imagine that we always hear about how challenging it can be with sunscreen entering a new market because the rules are different everywhere. Yes, they are. So we had to reformulate for the U.S. specifically and we reformulate for markets. often, you know, we've got a quite, we're in a complex category. We've got a complex product development, you know, regulatory system. So we had to reformulate for the US, which we did. And we thought, you know, we've been around for six years before we launched, we're not going to launch anything that doesn't feel on par with the rest of the range globally.

13:25But, you know, what surprised me the most, I think was the, you know, the misinformation on social media that doesn't really get to Australia or maybe we know better. So nobody's making their own sunscreen at home in Australia. I mean, look, I'm sure that they are, but it doesn't that those kind of ideas. Yeah. Don't I don't feel like they get as far in Australia. Like you always see them. You know, I don't wear sunscreen and people that like, you know, I've never worn sunscreen and you look at them, you're like, yeah, we can tell. Like, I'm fine. You know, I've been outside. But I'm like, yeah, you might.

14:00Sure. But have you had a skin cancer check? Yeah. Like I look at you and I can tell you've never won sunscreen. Like, you know, you paid for it. Yeah. And the thing is, we're all fine until we're not. Exactly. You could have like 50, 60 years of not having anything. And then all of a sudden. Yeah. I just heard of somebody the other week that was like, they just retired. And then they had melanoma removed. And it's like, yeah, this is cumulative. Right. And I think that's what's so hard to convey to people is that, yeah, it's compounding and it's like serious. Yeah. You know, it is cumulative. That's another thing that people don't realize about sun.

14:36Yeah. And the U.S. seemed to be lagging sort of behind. That was always the headline, right? With the rest of the world in terms of modern UV filters. So from the inside, what's actually behind that gap? Is it like regulation? Is it economics? Is it lack of innovation? It's probably maybe a combination of all of these things. I mean, it's hard to say I'm not in the kind of weeds of the FDA. But, you know, if you think about what the FDA is regulating, every drug, food, sunscreen is regulated like a drug in America. It's like, what are they going to be focused on? Tylenol or sunscreen, you know, or GLP-1s, whatever it is.

15:13Lettuce that gives you diarrhea. There's a lot. There's a priority, maybe other priorities. And I think in Australia, obviously, because of the high skin cancer rates, it's probably it's more of in other regions, it might be more of a priority. So I guess the pathway to get a UV filter approved by the FDA is a lot more rigorous because it is treated like a drug. They require a significant amount of data to get something approved. And I guess the hold up has been animal testing, which on the ingredient, not on the finished product, to be very clear. And there is a huge expense. So someone has to put the money out for this and a company.

15:52So what's kind of, and we can talk about this later, but there has been a filter that's been approved. But there was someone, there was a business, a raw ingredient manufacturer financially backing that. I see. And getting it through. So it was like resources, time, money all thrown at this to get it, you know. This current filter? The one that's been approved. Yes. Yes. Yes. A business kind of financially. Okay. Yeah. it's not but now there's kind of some changes that have happened to the FDA that are hopefully going to relax the animal testing rules that will allow you know there's so much in use safety data for all of these filters because they've been around for so many years even Benetrisanol which has been approved has been in market for 20 years yeah in Europe Australia correct in Asia yeah and Canada yeah so there's a lot of safety data that exists without having to do animal testing it might speed up how newer filters coming to market.

16:45Yeah. It's interesting. We were talking about this off mic last night, but you were telling me like in some markets, sunscreen is considered a cosmetic and then in others like in Canada and the US, it's considered a drug. So maybe you can share with us what markets are which and how that shapes. Because I think you have three different versions of everything, right? Yeah. Of a lot of products we do have, we will, well, when we launch them in America, we'll have three different versions. So in Australia and Canada and the US, it's a drug. In Asia and Europe, it's a cosmetic. And I think you can see that when you look at the formulations.

17:24You know, people talk about Asian and European formulations. There are a lot. And that's not to say that they're kind of cowboys out there. They're not at all. There's still a regulatory process for these formulations to be, but they don't have as many handcuffs. Australia, we have a much broader palette of filters, of UV filters, which is the ingredients that protect you from the sun, but not as many as Asia. There's a kind of a couple that are in Asia and Europe that are not yet approved in Australia. But, you know, the drug as a product that's regulated as a drug, it also affects what excipients, which is like the other thing, the other ingredients that you can put in a formulation.

18:01So there are kind of not limitations, but there are restrictions, I guess. They want to make sure things are playing nice together. Is that the idea? Well, and also that there's like, you know, the safety data for all the ingredients. So it's not just the UV filters. This is particularly in Australia. But, you know, hyaluronic acid, it's like they all have a lot of these excipients have to be TGA approved. Right. So that impacts. And Australia has great sunscreens and beautiful formulations, you know. And so it does, it kind of impacts, you know, what becomes available when. And you can see, you know, Asia and Europe have the newest filters because they've got a different regulatory system for cosmetic products.

18:47So can you clarify again? So say future screen, you have three different versions of that. So future screen. So the one type of, you know, formula that you can put everywhere is a mineral sunscreen because zinc is compliant in every region. there are limits on how much you can use in formulations, but that's why you'll often see kind of global brands launching a zinc because it can go into every market. But for Supreme Screen, we have three different versions, what we call Australia and rest of world, which is Australia, Asia, Europe, UK. The second is for Canada because Canada is somewhere in the middle of America and let's say rest of world.

19:32They have some UV, more filters that you can use in Canada than you can in the US, but less than you can in Australia, et cetera. So, and then we've got another version for the US. So we're going to try and consolidate where we can, but we always, we formulate to the highest common denominator for each region, which, you know, can be a pain in the ass. But, you know, we conserve the consumer. Yeah, we're abiding the rules and we, you know, And we don't want to just put, you know, 10 zincs into a market just because it's easy. Yes. Yes. Okay. Thanks for clarifying. So costly. My goodness. I can only imagine.

20:15Ava Matthews:Today's episode is brought to you in part by OneSkin. So we all know we're in the midst of the longevity era and there are a lot of skincare brands out there touting biotechnology to help address signs of aging at the cellular level. Which one do you trust? I really look to OneSkin because it was founded by four PhD longevity scientists, all women, by the way, and two of whom have been on our show in the past. And they spent years researching and testing over 900 peptides before they developed OS1. That's their proprietary peptide that's been proven to address leading signs of visible aging. And so it's the foundation of every product that they make from their face products to their body products.

21:03Ava Matthews:I really like the body moisturizer. I use that one on a regular basis. It's a lotion. I find that it's not sticky. It's not too heavy. But it's been proven to improve crepiness over 12 weeks. That's really hard to do. The before and afters on their website are truly impressive. And OneSkin's results are backed by four peer-reviewed clinical studies and over 10 ,000 five-star reviews. So born from over 10 years of longevity research, OneSkin is helping you unlock your healthiest skin now and as you age. For a limited time, try OneSkin with 15 % off using code BREAKINGBEAUTY at oneskin.co slash BREAKINGBEAUTY.

21:46Ava Matthews:that's 15 % off oneskin.co with code breaking beauty. We're going to link to this offer on our website and in our show notes. After you purchase, they'll ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them that breaking beauty podcast sent you. Hers is one of our show partners this week. I know a lot of us are thinking about a fall reset, maybe wanting to get some of our habits back on track. And the reality is that amongst my girlfriends, a lot of people are talking about GLP-1s and I'm all about embracing whatever feels best for you. No pressure, but if you are interested in exploring GLP-1s and you want to maybe get your weight management on track, HERS now offers access to an affordable range of FDA approved GLP-1 medications, including the Wagovi pill and the Wagovi pen.

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23:47So you've been formulating with BEMT, that's what I'm going to call it. You can call it the real name because I can't pronounce it everybody. For a decade, first in your role with the retailer that you worked with and now at Ultraviolet. So by the way, everybody, it's commonly referred to in Canada anyways as Tinnisorb B? Tinnisorb S. Tinnisorb S. Yes. Thank you. So in plain terms, what is it and why is the arrival such a big deal to everybody here? So yes, Bermatrisenol is a favorite UV filter at ultraviolet. Actually, our boardroom is called the Bermatrisenol boardroom. So yeah, we love it. So Bermatrisenol, so otherwise known, you might have heard it as Tinosorb S, which is one of the raw ingredient manufacturers like marketing name for it.

24:27And then the company DSM Fermanich, who's sponsored the approval process of it here in in America with the FDA, they call it Parsil Shield. So you might see it being referred to as Parsil Shield, as Tinosorb S or as Bemetrisanol or as BEMT. So it's a broad spectrum UV filter, so it protects from UVA and UVB. And now this is important because in the US, if you are making a chemical sunscreen or using chemical filters, there are not, there's only one chemical UV filter that protects from UVA that you can currently work with. So the fact that this is broad spectrum, it has great coverage on the UVA spectrum.

25:08It obviously also protects from UVB. It's efficient, so you don't need as much. I think we're kind of using it at about between 3 % and 5%. Okay. But if you look at some of the chemical sunscreens on the market, you might be looking, some ingredients you're using at 10%. So you kind of, I don't want to say you need half of it for the same amount of protection because it doesn't work like that, but you need less of it to get better protection. Okay. So that means there's more room for other skincare actives, other kind of film formers, all of the things that make a sunscreen feel and look beautiful on your skin.

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25:39Yeah. And it, you know, it can be better tolerated for some skin types who are traditionally sensitive or even allergic, although a chemical UV filter allergy is quite rare, but sensitive to those older chemical filters. And it also, it's newer, So it can create some beautiful textures as well. There's just a better variety of formats for that. Right. A formula that includes Bema Trisanol. So there's a whole world of possibilities here. There's a whole world. And you were the first, Ultraviolet is the first to bring a product with BEMT to market under the new... I don't know that we'll... Yeah, I've heard that there's another company that, so we might kind of be...

26:24Neck and neck. Neck and neck. Yes. But there's this, I mean, I'm sure there's lots of brands working. I don't know their timelines. But you're one of the first. We'll be definitely the first in Sephora. Oh, OK. OK. Yeah. Exciting. Yeah. Now, people hear chemical SPF. They get nervous if they're a hemophobe or whatever that word is. They hear mineral and they might picture there's a white cast. So what does combining BEMT with zinc offer people? so i mean look high percentages of zinc or titanium dioxide is gone it's going to leave a white cast so it's a they start as white powders there's kind of no there's some great innovation and i think that i'm hopeful that that will get better in zinc but that's just the current reality so we we wanted to formulate a product so our first product with beometrisanol block is for acne prone skin so we wanted to kind of get the best of both worlds you know Often acne-prone skin, people with acne-prone or congested skin are recommended mineral sunscreen for whatever reason, rightly or wrongly.

27:30But, you know, there are some great benefits in working with zinc. It's an astringent. We've kind of made unblock our most matte formula in terms of matte finish. This is a lab sample, so it's not the final packaging, but you can see. I don't know. I love it. Everybody that's listening and not watching, it's in one of those airless pumps that you can like portion out the sunscreen almost on the top. In a jar. In a jar. So you like pump and distribute and it's like a tinted. Yeah, it's a tint. It leaves a really beautiful matte finish. You know, zinc, as I said, is an astringent, so it helps kind of with that dry down.

28:03And the Bemetris Nol is a lightweight, super efficient UV filter that kind of helps give that kind of light, you know, texture. And this is an oil in water formulation. so you know we've worked really hard to make sure the waxes we're using for the film forming the you know the other ingredients are not going to clog your skin contribute to break out and yeah this does leave a very a very matte finish which we know that can be important for people with oily or acne I tried the texture last night I loved it I think this is going to be one of my new faves because it is also tinted yes so that's very helpful if you just like want to put it on and you're, you know, just running out the door or what have you.

28:42Yeah. I've done that before with ultraviolet, some of your tinted formulas. That's what I love about them in the summer is sometimes I'm fair. So I feel like I can get away with just wearing that. And I do find a lot of your textures make for great makeup primers. That's one of the reasons that I'm a big fan of ultraviolet. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. We work really hard at that because a sunscreen is not a product that you use in isolation and that's how they've been historically formulated. We have always worked with, you know, tried to work with as many female chemists as we can because they get the amount of product that women are wearing on their face.

29:19They're going to do a wear test. Exactly right. And we obviously do significant wear tests, but you know, the formulators need to understand what's happening in a routine. And that was kind of the problem. Sunscreens were being formulated in isolation, not in the context of a routine. Okay, the new, new innovation with BEMT, everyone, it is in a green pump package like we talked about. And it's specifically for acne skin. So has this been something that you've been thinking about for a while or have a lot of your customers come to you and say like, because people with acne, they're probably the most reluctant to use SPF because they feel like their pores will get clogged or they just, they have their skincare, they know and trust and they don't want to mess with it.

30:03They don't want to put anything else on. So tell me about creating like an acne safe sunscreen and what the sort of hurdles might've been or challenges. Yeah. So you're exactly right, Jill. Acne prone skin or breakout prone skin are the least likely consumer to wear SPF every day for the reasons you said. It's going to break them out. It's another thing on their skin. they've got their routine that doesn't break them out so it's very they're very hesitant to introduce new products especially a product that has been known to cause breakouts or whatever when it's not the right one for your skin so we we knew that and we wanted to develop a product specifically for that consumer and it was kind of like do we go lightweight gel do we go something more matte it was kind of that those that was the the first place we started and we decided you know obviously with Bermatrizonol coming that we would probably be able to do something that was zinc and Bermatrizonol and suit, you know, tailored towards the customer who A, doesn't want to feel like there's anything on their skin and B, is maybe a bit more oil prone and wants a more matte finish.

31:07Yeah, it's very weightless. Yes. I will say. I think that's part of it as well when you're acne prone, you don't want to feel stuff on your skin for some of it. So it did take a while. This is a global launch. So we are launching this globally. And when you're looking, so sunscreen has to form a film on the skin for it to work. And a lot of, you need some waxes. Sometimes you need waxes and those can traditionally be quite heavy on the skin as well. So we really pulled apart every part, every ingredient or part of a formulation to think, okay, what is going to give the consumer the end benefit that they expect and need?

31:44And, you know, are we, you know, this, as I said before, it's an oil in water. So it's kind of this lighter weight, it's not a water and oil. So it's a lighter weight formulation. The skincare benefits we've got in there is Canadian Willow Herb and Bix Active, which can help with redness, can help with, you know, minimizing the appearance of pores, helping to control oil flow and overall just kind of help with congestion in the skin. So we kind of have tailored the skincare actives in the formula for this customer as well. And we've done non-comedogenic testing, non-acnogenic testing, as well as tested on, we've done a big panel test of people with acne.

32:23So yeah, it is, as I said, we're kind of trying to solve pain points. And this was definitely one that we hadn't really felt like we'd done effectively in the range at this point. And I'm so curious why it is in this airless pump. Like it's very different than all your other packages. Well, so this is kind of, I guess, it's kind of, I always say it's like hiding the vegetables in the bolognese for your kids. Like we're trying to make these products look and feel more like skincare. something that you wear every day. So components are chosen specifically for these reasons. You know, they look like your skincare, but also originally we kind of, the formula was quite moussey and the fact that it's an airless pump helps contribute to that moussiness.

33:04And now it's more of a light, like we call it an airy cream and the actual airlessness and pump helps make it feel like lighter and airy. Okay. So it's not about like protecting the ingredients necessarily. It's more about the texture and the delivery system. But it is airless. So there's that too. Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Yeah. Yeah. Did you test it as a makeup primer? Always. Yes. Always. That's always a part of the process. I mean, there's no clinical. I mean, there are just, but like as a part of our panel testing, that is part of it. Yeah. I appreciate that about your brand because it doesn't just stop with the sunscreen, right?

33:41You have to like go about the rest of your routine. Exactly right. And if it's peeling, you know, the protection's impacted and, you know, it's the film's kind of coming apart.

33:57Ava Matthews:Today's episode is brought to you in part by Jones Road Beauty. Do y 'all want a free, full-size Jones Road Beauty mascara? Listen up to the end of this little blurb, I'm going to tell you. All right. If you're not familiar with Jones Road Beauty, it's perfect for people like me and my friends who are kind of minimalist with their makeup. As you reach a certain age, makeup can just start to look cakey. I noticed a lot of my friends don't even wear makeup anymore. There's a perfect in between and that lives within Jones Road Beauty. Like if you try their just enough tinted moisturizer, it just helps even things out without settling into fine lines.

34:36Ava Matthews:Their miracle balm that everyone talks about. I'm always going to recommend the bronze shade. So you just kind of melt it in your fingers, put that in the hollow of my cheeks, put it on my lips. It gives you this little glisten, this little tone. It's so easy. Then you just need a minimalist mascara. And guess what? They just launched. It's literally called the minimalist defining mascara. This is the last step in your two minute routine. It just gives your lashes natural looking length, fullness and definition without any clumps, no smudging, no flaking. This is what all my girly pops in my friend group are really looking for.

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35:53Honestly, it's kind of a joke amongst my friends when they come in my car in the summer and it's like open the glove compartment. There's like two pairs of gooders in there, the console, there's another couple of pairs. I have every style. I have the cat eye ones. I have the aviator ones. I have the classic ones. And this summer I actually tried a new style that I think is my new favorite. It's called the Astro G. It's like a giant shield style. They wrap around and where I wore those a lot was actually when I was golfing. And let's be clear, I am not a good golfer. I'm in it for the cute outfits and fun times with my friends.

36:27But I did find them really useful on the golf course because they're all performance. There's no slip, no bounce. They're all polarized and they're all fun. In fact, the name of the style that I wore was called Ask Me About My Escape Plan. So all of that, they're just really easy breezy. They look stylish without trying too hard and they're just fun to wear. If you're ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable, you have to check out Goodr. Head to goodr.com slash beauty to claim$10 off your first order. That's goodr.com slash beauty to claim$10 off your first order.

37:06That's G-O-O-D-R.com slash beauty. Goodr.com slash beauty to claim$10 off your first order. We'll link to this offer in our show notes and on our website. Now back to the show.

37:24I want to ask you because a lot of times, like you said earlier, certain people get recommended mineral sunscreen. So I'm one of those people, like if you have sensitive skin, if you have rosacea, there can be various different reasons for that. Last year you launched an SPF. I mentioned it one of our summer episodes. It was the Ultraviolet Future Screen SPF 50 mineral fragrance-free facial sunscreen serum. I appreciate that it's fragrance-free as well for sensitive skin. So it's a mineral sunscreen with 20 % zinc oxide. It also contains ethyl hexyl methoxychrylene and that's considered a chemical sunscreen booster, right?

38:07Like it helps to boost the formula of the mineral filter, right? Yeah. So I'm just wondering like how So is it still considered a mineral sunscreen then? Because if you're being recommended mineral specifically, but then there is a chemical booster in it, it's more like a hybrid, right? Yeah, I guess. And look, it's all in the marketing of it. You know, we would never say, you know, for a product that contained a booster, 100 % mineral sunscreen. Like it is a, there's a lot of zinc in it. As you said, there's 20%. So it is largely a mineral sunscreen. And, yeah, I guess I think, you know, a lot of consumers have taken issue with how brands are marketing their sunscreens as only mineral.

38:58But, yeah, there are these what you've called chemical boosters. And they're not considered UV filters. They're not regulated like UV filters. So they have other benefits other than just to add, to help kind of boost protection, I suppose. But you don't have to, I guess. Disclose. They're on an ingredient list, but you don't have to. and we're very transparent about them containing these boosters, most of the mineral sunscreens that you see in the market would contain either one or both of the chemical sunscreen boosters because it's twofold. There's the protection element and then there's the white cast element.

39:32So you could release a mineral sunscreen that contained 5 % to 10 % zinc and that is not going to give you much protection. And then you kind of top it up with these boosters and therefore you're using less zinc. It's not going to give you as much of a white cast. So I think brands are trying to solve problems by including these boosters, you know, genuine problems. Consumers with deeper skin tones do want to wear mineral sunscreens as well for the reasons that you mentioned, Carlene. You know, inflammatory skin conditions. They like the finish. They like the feel. But historically, they've been unable to because zinc, when used at high percentages, is going to leave a white cast.

40:12So I think it's solving problems, it sounds like, but it's also can be confusing some consumers. Yeah. Right. Like I feel so I feel like the takeaway maybe is that if you want 100 percent mineral sunscreen, you have to look for one that says 100 percent mineral sunscreen on the label. Yes. Or know the names of the boosters. There's two that are used and look for them in an ingredients list, which the consumer who does want 100 percent mineral sunscreen knows to look for. And sometimes it's like, oh, I've got an allergy to chemical UV filters and I need to wear a zinc. And sometimes it's how the chemical sunscreens that they've been wearing before have been formulated.

40:53It's not necessarily the filters. Right. As I said before, very rarely do people actually have an allergy to UV. Yeah. But I think the takeaway here for our listeners is the newer generations of mineral sunscreens tend to inherently be hybrids now so that they can suit all skin tones. So if you want 100 % mineral sunscreen, you have to look for one that specifically says that on the label. Correct. Otherwise, you can assume that it probably is going to be a hybrid. Most likely. And we've got a product coming out in September that is 100 % mineral. Utilizes only zinc oxide as the filter. In America?

41:32Yes. Okay, what's that one called? It's called Velvet. Velvet. Okay, great. And that's coming out when? September. Perfect. And it's suited. we've created for people with sensitive skin and exactly there's multiple reasons why you might want to wear a mineral sunscreen preference the finish on the skin yeah many reasons yeah exactly so and that you know our objective as a brand is to create i guess a number of options for the consumer to be able to choose something for everyone exactly right because we know it's like skincare not you know a serum it's not going to suit everyone a moisturizer is not going to because sunscreen is not going to suit everyone.

42:08So we try and provide as many options. Find the one that you love. That's the best one. That's what they say. Exactly. So Ava, since you're here, I'm so glad we get to chat with you about this because last year you voluntarily recalled Lean Screen and Velvet Screen Mineral Sunscreen after Choice, which is the Australian Consumer Testing Group, everybody. It found that it didn't necessarily meet the SPF claims that were on the label. And there were other brands that were also tested. And this made major headlines like around the world. So walk us through what happened there. So Lean and Velvet is one product.

42:45It just had a different name. Understood. It had a different name in America. And that's what this product is replacing. So yes, we had Choice was an Australian consumer group. They tested a bunch of sunscreens, the majority of which failed in their testing. we had two SPF reports, actually three, sorry, we did have three reports that with a result of over 60. And so - One six or 60? Six zero. Okay. Six zero. So we were obviously quite shocked when we saw the choice results because it was completely different to what we held in our hands. And to that point, we had fulfilled all of our regulatory duty by holding those test reports and had done the testing, obviously.

43:29So when we saw the results from Choice, we immediately went to test again and look at every single batch on the market to see if there were stability issues because that could contribute to a number that was much lower than what was listed on the label. And we saw no issues at that time. So at that point, we began, you know, there's known variability in SPF testing because it's a human assessment of erythema, which is redness on skin. So basically they burn people to get a sense of how strong the protection is on a product as a part of it. That's just the global standard for SBF testing. So we immediately went to test at other facilities.

44:11And, you know, by the beginning or, you know, early August, we were getting the results back and they were kind of coming in all over the place. And at that point, we knew that regardless of what the actual protection of this product was, we couldn't, we were not going to keep it on the market. Too much variability. Absolutely. As I said, there's a known variability, but the variability we were seeing was not normal. And at the same time, we were testing everything, every single product in our range at multiple labs because we thought, oh, God, you know, if this has happened with one product, it's going to happen, you know, there are other products.

44:45And, you know, no other products were impacted. We were getting a lot, you know, we were getting consistency with the rest of the range that was reassuring to us. And we thought, okay, this is an anomaly. We need to pull this product straight away. So we then conducted a voluntary global recall of this product, which is lean screen in most markets and called velvet in the US. We complied again with the FDA, with the TGA, with Health Canada, with all of those and worked very closely with them and issued refunds to every single consumer that had purchased the product, whether it was through us or through our retailers.

45:22So it was, you know, a big, it was called Sunscreen Gate. It was a huge scandal. We kind of ended up, you know, being the face of Sunscreen Gate. And I think, you know, we have a motto, we have a couple of values at Ultraviolet that we really, we live by. One is when we know better, we do better. And that is in science, things get, things change all the time. So that was something that we've kind of lived as a value of the brand and we now know better. And, you know, our approach now to sunscreen testing is sunscreen, what's on the label should not just be, and this is our approach, not just be the result of one test report on 10 people.

46:01we are now looking at multiple data points whether we're doing a series of in vitro which is in lab tests as a pre-screen and then doing multiple in vivo which is on people tests from different labs we are then getting someone externally whose job it is to audit SPF testing reports uh to do that on our test reports and then at the end you know complete a what we call a dossier on each product So for Velvet Screen, which is launching in September. So this is like new and improved version? Yes, new and improved, our own formulation. We, you know, now own the IP for this product, which we didn't for the other one.

46:42I see. Everything else in the range we own the IP for. There were eight data points that we were looking at to inform the SBF 40 labeling. We actually got a lot of results over 50, but out of an abundance of caution, we labeled it on the lower side. just because we know that there is variability. It was a very complex issue. There was a lot of complexity to it. There was a lot going on. And, you know, we just had to move forward and take, we wanted to take a real leadership position in the category because we know it has impacted, you know, the consumer's faith and trust in sunscreen. and it was really important for us to be able to kind of show up in a leadership position and share as much knowledge as we could both with the consumer and be as transparent as we can with the consumer and with the industry because there are a lot of lessons to be learned and we hope, you know, by us kind of sharing this that other brands can learn as well.

47:48Yeah, and I think what you were alluding there too is like now you own the IP. So previously when you first started, it was, that was like a white label formula, right? Correct. And then now it's just - Meaning that a third party lab created it? Yeah. Yes. And you approved it. You're a fledgling brand coming up. Not everybody has a chemistry lab in their kitchen, you know, so you have to. Yeah, and that's kind of the messy middle, right? And then you're kind of relying on their testing and all of that. Yeah. And then as you grow, you can own your own IP and start from scratch and know exactly every single process along the way.

48:30So I love that. So now all of the products within Ultraviolet are 100%. You own the IP and they're fully backed by all of these different data points. For all of our facial points. And for the record, I used the original, the entire thing. I emptied it and I never got burnt. So I don't know what the test showed, but I didn't. Just from a real life point of view, I didn't. Yeah. And, you know, there's also an element of pharmacovigilance with SBF, you know, owning it. It's a requirement legally. And, you know, we have to log every time someone says we get sunburned. Yes. There's a reaction. We log it.

49:11Yeah. And you've sometimes submitted to the regulatory body. So that is also a part of, and we didn't. The accountability. Yeah, we hadn't seen, you know, any instances of sunburn with that product. Oh, interesting. And, you know, at the end of the day, as you said, yes, this was one of, at the time, we were already reformulating the product to own the IP of it and have our own version of it. We started the brand and we did white label some of the products. And then, as you said, we grew and became more profitable. We can put all of that money into formulating our own products. It was very expensive in the testing and the development.

49:48And this was one that we had started formulating but hadn't obviously completed by the time Choice came out with their test. But the formula was actually on the market under 20 other brands as well. So they all subsequently, we were the first to recall and they all subsequently either voluntarily recalled themselves or were forced to by the TGA. So the takeaway here is now Ultraviolet owns all of their sunscreens. We don't make them in-house because we still have to make them with a manufacturer. Again, it's very strict to make it effectively a drug. So we formulate, we make the formulation with a chemist.

50:25We've got internal chemists. We work with external and we own. Own it is a better way to say. And we're involved in everything from choosing the raw materials to choosing the zinc to choosing the ingredient manufacturer that we work with for specific filters or film formers, emulsifiers, all of those products. We are in control of the entire process. And then from a manufacturing point of view, you know, there are very few TGA licensed facilities that can make sunscreens in Australia. And we, you know, we work with the best of the best. And then the other takeaway is that, you know, we own the IP, but also every single product in our range has been tested multiple times in multiple different facilities and has had someone look over all those SPF reports and point out, you know, are there any anomalies or that they're absolutely, that they're fine and that the protection on the bottle is correct in terms of what they've been able to review.

51:18So that is the other takeaway that, you know, you can trust us. I think going through something like this as a brand and as a business, you're not taking any, not that we were taking any risks ever, but you are like tripling, triple checking. Yes, yes. The T's are crossed, the I's are dotted and then some. Yes. And they already were, as I said, but, you know, and then some yeah absolutely well I honestly appreciate you addressing it because I think you're right getting in front of it being like we did this now we're moving forward we're doing this this is how we're going to be transparent with everything I think that is the only way it is you know and trust in this category specifically is so important yeah and ultimately we just want the consumer to know that they can trust their sunscreens and they should wear on screen.

52:11Yeah. That's the end game here. Right. Absolutely. And just switching gears a bit, we want to know about your personal routine, because that is one of the great things about ultraviolet is like how you really consider the whole routine. So how do you layer? First of all, what's your favorite one? How do you layer it? What makeup do you primarily put on? If any, let's hear it. Okay. Well, you know, you've just asked a founder what their favorite child is. I do wear most of them for different reasons. I wore velvet screen, one of the lab samples after I'd had crazy CO2 laser. Oh. Because it was the only thing my skin could tolerate.

52:49And you have to be obviously super safe. Yeah. That's fully ablative. Yes. I had a very light version. Okay. And I didn't want to go too crazy. So I wore that. And then for the day-to-day, I'm probably wearing something with a bit more glow because I love glow. Today, I'm wearing Vave. This is another lab sample. This is a Bevan Fisnol. This is launching early next year. Scoop, everybody. I don't know if you can see. We're getting scoop here. Yeah. Like a milky sunscreen, everyone. Yeah, like a milky toner. Ooh. SPF, like goes straight into the skin. Anyway. Sunmilk, I'm into it. Yeah. What is this one called that's coming up?

53:25Fave. Like your fave, your favorite sunscreen. Yeah, I'm wearing that. It provides a great grip for makeup and just helps kind of everything adhere almost to your face. Plus, it's so lightweight. It feels like nothing. You know, I'm in New York. It's the middle of summer. It's warm outside. I do like to wear quite a bit of skincare. Yeah. But I don't like to feel like there's a lot of stuff on my skin. And I obviously can't have it peeled. So that's what I've been wearing a lot recently as well. Because it doesn't give you that kind of glowy, luminizing glow. It kind of gives you that glassy glow.

54:00Right. And this is coming out in January? Jan, yeah. Okay. Around the world. It's already out in Australia, UK, Canada. Okay. Okay. And then it's coming to America. Coming to America in January. Now, do you put this under your moisturizer? So, sorry, yes. So my routine, I will do a serum. I'll do a moisturizer. Then this is the last step. Last step. Before makeup. Got it. I don't need a primer because this does the job for me with all of our products. It's kind of like, do we need primers anymore anyway? Maybe at night. I don't wear a primer. And then I'm doing something. We're working on some skin tints.

54:37So I'm kind of testing those. Are you wearing that today? Yes. Your skin looks insane. Oh, thank you. Yeah. I was curious what that was. Yeah, I am. We're working on that maybe for 2028. And then I'm just doing like a bit. I'm a huge blush gal. A bit of bronzer. Yeah. Blush and then whatever. But yes, the skincare part is the most time consuming part of my morning. So something like this for everybody, if you're not watching, it's almost like fluid drops. Do you mix that in your moisturizer? It's like road blazing milk. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Would you ever mix your SPF drops, as it were, into your moisturizer?

55:13What's your take on that? No, you shouldn't mix sunscreens because it will destabilize. And yeah, it disrupts the foam. But it's so tempting, Eva. It is tempting. But you know what? If you want to do that, if you want to mix something into your moisturizer, just make sure you're wearing sunscreen over the top. Or wear a layer of sunscreen and then do some mixing. Like you could do, you know, some mixing into your foundation. I see. After you've got that. The first layer going. The first layer. Yes. And I will mix after I've got the first layer. We've got in Australia, we've got these in the UK, we've got these bronzing drops.

55:43And I often will mix them into a tint just to deepen it. Not necessarily for the SPF, although it's nice to have some extra iron oxide, especially if you're pigmentation or melasma prone. But yeah, just for the warmth and the color. Yeah. I feel like that's the perfect way to transition into fall because truly sunscreen is a year round thing. It is. I think that's the beauty of this line is like being able to adjust. And have a wardrobe of sorts. Yeah. And I like that you're kind of dipping into these skincare trends, as it were, like the toning milks and all of that, because we want to, that's what we're actually using.

56:24And you're kind of like echoing that with SPF. And therefore it feels like familiar and therefore people will be more apt to use it. And of course the packaging is always on the next level. So yes, we need a crystal embellished version of everything. Yeah, we need the bedazzles. I don't have it with you, but I've got a fully bedazzled preen screen, which is a mist. Oh, yes. Over makeup mist. We've also got the over makeup mist, which because a lot of people, you know, you need to reapply sunscreen. And yeah, it helps you do that quite easy. Yeah. Well, thank you for joining us and sharing all this news with us.

57:03I feel like we got so many good scoops as well. And next time it has to be in Australia. Oh, for sure. Absolutely. We will come there. We will slip, slap, slop, wear our hat to play, all of the things. Don't you worry. We'll take care of you. Yes. Well, thank you so much for having me. Thank you. It was so great to be here. Thanks for listening. You can find details on every product mentioned in today's episode, along with our exclusive promo codes on our blog at breakingbeautypodcast.com. While you're there, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Every episode will be delivered directly to your inbox so you won't miss a single thing.

57:37And get social with us. Let us know what you think of the episode. You can follow us on Instagram at Breaking Beauty Podcast. And did you know we also have a private Facebook group? Just search Breaking Beauty Podcast chat room. You can even leave us a voicemail at any time with questions or feedback at 1-844-227-0302. And don't forget to subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast fix. Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts, where you can show us some love by writing a review. See you next Wednesday.

58:24Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

From the publisher

The first FDA-approved UV filter in 20+ years is finally here! This week we're breaking down everything you need to know about bemotrizinol (a.k.a. BEMT), the buzzy sunscreen filter that’s hitting vanities this month, with Ava Matthews, co-founder of Ultra Violette. 


The cult Aussie brand’s Supreme Screen SPF 50 sells somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, but last year, they had to pull two products from the market after Choice testing showed that the SPF protection did not measure up to the amount on the label. Listen in as Ava takes us behind the scenes behind this shocking and costly event, and the steps they've taken to regain customer trust.

In this episode you'll discover:

  • What BEMT actually is — and what makes it different than other UV filters on the market
  • Why BEMT is a god-send for acne-prone girlies, like the brand’s first-to-Sephora BEMT drop, Unblock Screen
  • The truth about “100% mineral” sunscreens vs. sneaky hybrid formulas — and the boosters to be on the lookout for on the label
  • The real talk on "Sunscreen Gate" — the recall that made headlines around the world, what actually happened behind the scenes, and how Ultra Violette overhauled its testing
  • Ava's own sunscreen routine: the formula she trusts after “crazy” CO2 laser, the one she relies on for mid-day touch-ups and the glassy new formula she’s testing for a 2027 launch!


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Hosts: Carlene Higgins and Jill Dunn 

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