Karmameju SUN Q&A

With Karmameju SUN we wanted to create a no-compromise sunscreen based on physical sun filters that are both sheer in appearance and a sheer pleasure to apply. Without the use of silicones or nanoparticles.

When you choose Karmameju SUN you get:
Luxurious skincare with UVA & UVB protection
Natural, organic suncare with mineral filters
The bespoke, natural aroma that captures the feeling of Mediterranean Summer

Our suncare range for the little ones, KIDS SUN, is fragrance-free.

Chemical and nanoparticle sun filters do not fit into Karmameju’s natural approach to skincare, why our most important goal has been to make the physical, mineral sun filters sheer in appearance and a sheer pleasure to apply. After several years of research and development, we’ve succeeded in creating the suncare range that we have been searching for – without the use of silicone that is normally used in sunscreen to make physical sun filters easier to apply. It takes a few more minutes to apply mineral sunscreen compared to sunscreen with chemical or nanoparticle sun filters. However, the benefits of using mineral sun filters make it worth the extra minutes it takes to apply Karmameju SUN on the whole body.

There are many advantages to physical, mineral sun filters:

Mineral sun filters are naturally derived sun protection
Mineral sun filters work as soon as applied
Mineral sun filters do not clog the pores
Mineral sun filters are allergen-free
Mineral sun filters are recommended for children

Ensure easy and sheer application with mineral sunscreen by moisturising the skin before application. We recommend prepping the skin for sunscreen and UV radiation with our moisturising and antioxidant-rich PRE- & AFTER SUN serum-lotion.

Always warm the sun lotion between your hands to melt and soften the mineral pigments before rubbing the lotion on the skin.

Mineral sunscreens and dry skin are not good friends! Dry skin makes the cream more difficult to apply transparently. Therefore, it is important to be well moisturised if you, like us, only want to use the mineral sun filters on your own and your family’s precious skin.

KIDS SUN LOTION SPF 30 is the savvy, conscious choice for summer fun and the essential sun protection during day-to-day activities.

Why KIDS SUN LOTION:

Mineral UV filters are recommended for children
Mineral UV filters are recommended for people with allergy towards chemical filters
Dermatologically tested* for sensitive skin to ensure a safe choice for everyone in the family
Perfume-free for those who wish to use sun care without fragrance
Effective immediately – does not need 20 minutes before it works
UVA and UVB protection
Organic and sustainable ingredients
Free from chemical and nano sun filters

*Karmameju KIDS SUN has been tested on human skin; proving that the formula is generally safe to be applied on all skin types. Documenting that the finished product is well tolerated and, in most cases, will not cause a skin reaction.

KIDS SUN is dermatologically tested for sensitive skin to offer a safe choice for the whole family. Our plant-based, organic ingredients and tear-free mineral UV filters in KIDS SUN LOTION SPF 30, makes it the ideal hypoallergenic protection for sensitive skin, the eye area, and skin prone to dryness or eczema.

Dermatologically tested meaning: Karmameju KIDS SUN has been tested on human skin; proving that the formula is generally safe to be applied on all skin types. Documenting that the finished product is well tolerated and, in most cases, will not cause a skin reaction.

Whether you should use skincare with fragrance on children is a personal choice. The fragrances in Karmameju SUN are naturally derived from organic lavender, mint, and citrus fruits. At Karmameju, we trust nature and wish to share the many benefits that natural fragrances offer. Sense-stimulating benefits as well as skin-improving benefits.

For those who do not wish to use sunscreen with perfume, we have developed KIDS SUN, that is dermatologically tested and fragrance-free.

In some cases, sunscreen can stain your summer clothes and it can be difficult to remove the stains by washing the clothes as usual. We have tested several methods on how to remove sun stains from the clothes and we are thrilled to let you know that we have found a method that works. Find the directions as to how you remove the sun stains here.

We recommend that you use the UV index and your healthy sun-sense when applying sunscreen to yourself and the kids. Some skin types are more sensitive to the sun and need high SPF and frequent application, while others can be in the sun for longer with a lower SPF without problems. It depends on the skin type, the UV index, and the activity you do in the sun. Ideally, it is recommended that sunscreen is applied every second hour if you are in direct sunlight, or more often if you are bathing, towel-drying or sweating a lot. However, the most important thing is to apply a properly covering layer of sunscreen.

The best time to apply sunscreen is before getting dressed. This way, you make sure that you are properly covered in every part of the body that will be exposed to the sun. Then you can reapply throughout the day if needed.

Some people choose to use sun protection all year round. Others only use it when the UV index is high. Sunlight is present all year round and it is an individual choice of how often you choose to protect the skin. The skin aging UVA rays can penetrate through clouds and windows, why it can be beneficial to protect the skin on the face and neck all year. You can read more about the different UV rays and how they affect the skin in the article here.

Yes, you can. If you have stored your sunscreen according to the directions on the product, the product will stay fresh until the expiration date stated on the product packaging. Mineral sun filters do not get old, but the precious, plant-based ingredients and natural fragrances can change in scent, colour, and effect if the sunscreen has not been properly closed or has been exposed to too much heat for longer periods. We recommend that you smell your sunscreen and if the scent is still good it can be used for another summer or the next vacation.

Even though physical sun filters are known to be waterproof, we have chosen not to brand Karmameju SUN as being waterproof or water resistant, considering the consumers’ sun-habits.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency writes:

“Whether you choose a product that is said to be water-resistant, water-repellent, or none of the parts, you should be aware that no product can cope sweating, bathing and drying with a towel. It is a good idea to reapply sunscreen regularly if you want to be protected. There is currently no international standard for when to call a sunscreen waterproof, so it is the manufacturers' own judgment behind when this claim is applied. "

The most important thing you can do when the sun is strong, or if you spend many hours at the beach or swimming pool, is to use your sun-sense. We recommend that you take your skin type and behavior in the sun into consideration daily: If you are spending a lot of time in the water, are doing sports, or sweat heavily, you need to reapply sunscreen more often. We believe in using the well-known sun advice: UV swimwear, t-shirts, sun hat and siesta in the shadow between 12 and 3 pm. The most important thing for us is to avoid sunburns.

The purpose of a body lotion is to hydrate, soften, and nourish dry skin. Karmameju’s body lotions are nourishing and contain deeply hydrating and clinically proven Hyaluronic acid. Our body lotions are beneficial to use after being in the sun to moisturise sun-exposed skin.

The purpose of aftersun is to hydrate, soothe, and strengthen the skin’s healing process after being exposed to the damaging UV rays. Karmameju’s PRE- & AFTER SUN serum-lotion has a light consistency which is easily absorbed and is specially made to deeply hydrate and protect the skin before sun exposure, and to help strengthen and repair the skin after sun exposure. In our PRE- & AFTER SUN, we use an advanced, botanical ingredient; Skin-Relief-Complex, which is clinically proven to have skin-healing and skin-regenerative properties, offers anti-inflammatory relief and inhibitory effect against histamine-induced redness caused by sun exposure.

Our PRE- & AFTER SUN leaves the skin deeply moisturised and protected by antioxidants. Furthermore, it makes the mineral sun filters in Karmameju’s sunscreens easier to apply. As such, Karmameju’s PRE- & AFTER SUN is beneficial to use before and after sun exposure, but it is not a “must” as the sunscreen itself offers both care and protection as a stand-alone product. You can read more about PRE- & AFTER SUN here.

Sunscreen with mineral sun filters settles on the surface of the skin and deflect the UV rays. As such, the most optimal solution is to apply sunscreen as the last step in your skincare routine, and before applying makeup. If you need to reapply SPF during the day, we recommend that you apply a new layer and then refresh your makeup. Alternatively, you can use our SUN BB FACE CREAM with colour pigments as a light coverage foundation.

Yes, absolutely. Karmameju SUN is suncare and skincare in one. Luxurious and plant-based care that helps protect, hydrate, stimulate, nourish, strengthen, and renew the skin. Imbued with pure, natural, and active ingredients that go beyond UV protection. A high content of sustainably harvested, organic ingredients in a sun protection merge with antioxidants and high-performance, clinically proven ingredients, which makes the range perfectly suitable for everyday use.

There are many opinions about whether sunscreen can cause acne and blemishes. Often, it depends on the individual consumer’s skin type, skin condition, and skin history. It is not true that sunscreen equals blemished skin. However, if you tend to have oily skin, the combination of sunscreen and increased sweat production can clog the pores more than usual. Some can feel that their skin “can’t breathe” when they use sunscreen. However, this feeling alone will not necessarily result in blemished skin. The mineral sun filters do not clog the pores. One reason that you might experience blemished skin when using sunscreen, is that some sunscreens clog the pores, which in combination with dead skin cells, dirt, bacteria, and sweat can result in blemishes. However, this is only if the skin is not properly cleansed daily and especially after the use of sunscreen.

Karmameju recommends cleansing and exfoliating the skin extra carefully during periods of heat and daily use of sunscreen. We recommend choosing a cleanser that suits your skin type and pair it with our gentle konjac sponge - an ideal cleansing couple that deeply cleanses and has a gentle exfoliating effect on the skin's surface.

You can read about our cleansing products and konjac sponge here.

Another cause of clogged or blemished skin after using sunscreen is believed to be a hypersensitivity reaction to chemical UV filters that can irritate the skin and cause spots and pimples.

Karmameju SUN is produced in collaboration with our award-winning, organic agriculture and laboratory in Southern Italy. A collaboration that we are very proud of because of their high eco-conscious standards and their dedication as a certified sustainable corporation.

There is something special about watching the raw materials being harvested, bathed on sunlight, on the organic fields. To then follow the delicate, gentle processing that creates the Karmameju SUN ingredients. Watching the fresh Aloe Vera be cut, pressed and within two hours be ready for formulation with the other ingredients. Walking around the olive grove under the beautiful, centuries-old olive trees. Inhaling the scents of fresh citrus, lavender, and mint, all of which are genuinely present in each and every product. This is the closest you come to creating real skin food – when the integrity of every single ingredient is this complete.

Broad-spectrum sun protection means sun protection that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Karmameju uses the mineral sun filter Titanium Dioxide, which offers broad-spectrum protection. All of Karmameju’s sunscreens are functional products with an important responsibility to protect against UV radiation.

Karmameju’s suncare range has been SPF and UVA/UVB tested at not only one, as required by law, but at two independent European laboratories - for the sake of Karmameju’s definite confirmation and safety, and the safety of our customers.

HEV light stands for high-energy visible light and is also called blue light. Like UVA and UVB rays, the HEV light primarily comes from the sun, and research shows, that it is just as damaging to the skin as UV rays. The blue light can penetrate the skin deeper than UV rays, why they play a major role in causing wrinkles, rough skin texture, and pigment spots. It can be difficult to avoid the blue light completely, as you will be exposed to the light from your phone, computer and tablet, even after sunset.

It is essential that you nourish the skin with extra antioxidants that prevent the free radicals from the blue light, from damaging the skin. Karmameju’s sunscreens contain strong antioxidants from plants and vitamins that effectively help protecting the skin against blue light. The best protection against blue light is to minimise screen time as well as use antioxidant-rich sunscreen with SPF 30. Karmameju recommends using PRE- & AFTER SUN serum-lotion under your sunscreen to supplement with extra antioxidant-protection.

SPF 15 means that the skin can be exposed to 15 times more UVB radiation without being sunburned, compared to when you are not SPF protected. SPF 30 means that your skin can tolerate 30 times more UVB radiation without being sunburned, compared to when you are not SPF protected. You should choose SPF based on how much sun your skin can tolerate without wearing sun protection. As an example, if you have darker skin that is good at tolerating the sun and wear the recommended amount of sunscreen as well as reapply frequently, an SPF 15 might be enough. However, if you have lighter skin or are buying sunscreen for your kids, then you need higher protection, and you need to reapply more often.

Sunscreen should not be used to extend the time spent in the sun, but as a protection against the UV rays when being exposed to the sun.

It can easily be misunderstood that SPF 30 protects twice as long as SPF 15. However, the difference in how much the SPF protects against the UV rays is not that big. Sunscreen with SPF 15 protects against 93 % of the UVB radiation, while SPF 30 protects against 97 % of the UVB radiation, and SPF 50 protects against 98 % of the UVB radiation. Karmameju SUN uses broad-spectrum sun filters from Titanium Dioxide, which protects against both UVA and UVB.

NOTE! To achieve the correct sun protection, it is essential to apply a generous amount of sunscreen. As such, you have to apply a properly covering layer on the skin, as a layer too thin can reduce the level of protection significantly

Our goal with Karmameju SUN has been to create the products that we have been searching for ourselves: Sunscreen with non-nano physical sun filters that are sheer in appearance and a sheer pleasure to apply – without the use of silicone. The concentration of mineral sun filters is very high in SPF 50 products, and even though we have succeeded in creating SPF 15 and SPF 30 products that are transparent and easy to apply, it was not possible with SPF 50. The sunscreen left the skin with a white sunblock look and was difficult to apply.

The difference in SPF protection against UVB radiation is only a matter of a few percent. Sunscreen with SPF 15 blocks out 93 % of the UVB radiation, while SPF 30 blocks out 97 % of the UVB radiation, and SPF 50 protects against 98 % - only 1 % more than SPF 30.

You should choose your SPF based on skin type, UV-index, and activity level.

As a guideline, The Danish Cancer Society recommends using SPF 15 as a minimum when in the Nordic countries, and an SPF 30 when in Southern countries. The UV-index can be used as a local index for when it is especially important to be protected against sun rays. This is as the UV-index indicates how strong the sun is at that exact place. However, even if the UV-index is low, the UV rays are still active and will affect your skin. You can google the UV-index in your area to find out how to protect your skin the best.

The right choice of SPF also depends on how sensitive your skin is to the sun. Children and people with pale skin are more likely to get sunburned compared to people with darker skin. This is because of the fact that pale skin naturally produces less melanin. As such, it might be relevant to use SPF 30 all year round – also in Denmark. The lighter the skin, the higher the UV-index, the higher the SPF.

We have written an article with great tips on how to take care of your sunburned skin. Read it here.

Karmameju’s PRE- & AFTER SUN contains botanical ingredients that are clinically proven to reduce histamine-induced redness.

It can be difficult to distinguish between a sunburn, sun rash, prickly heat, and allergies towards chemical sun filters. If you have suspected allergies, you should choose a sunscreen with physical sun filters (source: sundhed.dk).

Prickly heat is not unusual in warm and humid weather. It is an itchy rash that appears when sweat is trapped under the skin. Children often get prickly heat on the face, neck, shoulders, back, and on the chest. Adults often get prickly heat in skin folds and in places where the clothes are sitting tight. The rash disappears when temperatures in the skin are back to normal. In the meantime, the symptoms can be soothed with cooling covers and by preventing sweat. In some cases, it might be necessary to seek medical advice.

It can be difficult to distinguish between a sunburn, sun rash, prickly heat, and allergies towards chemical sun filters. If you have suspected allergies you should choose a sunscreen with physical sun filters. (source: sundhed.dk).

Sun rash appears when the skin is being exposed to the sun. Even short stays in the sun can result in sun rash, why it should not be compared to a sunburn. Normally, sun rash appears in the first sun or at springtime after a long period without any sun exposure, and it only appears on the skin that has been exposed to the sun. It is very unusual that sun rash appears in the face. An explanation might be that the skin in the face is exposed to the sunlight all year round.

The reason for sun rash is unknown, but both UVA and UVB rays are believed to cause reactions in the skin, which results in the production of chemical reactions that are foreign to the body.

Sun rash is characterised by redness, small buds, blisters, and itchy and swollen skin. Normally, the symptoms disappear within a few days as long as you stay out of the sun. In extreme cases, you should seek medical advice.

It can be difficult to distinguish between a sunburn, sun rash, prickly heat, and allergies towards chemical sun filters. If you have suspected allergies you should choose a sunscreen with physical sun filters (source sundhed.dk).

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