Dr. Loretta's Universal Glow Daily Defense Mineral Sunscreen

Our very own director of VIOLET LAB, Sarah Brown, first met Dr. Loretta Ciraldo years ago while reporting a story for Vogue. The practicing dermatologist (and VG Committee member) has something of a superhero origin story: she was on the team at Harvard Medical School in the 1970’s who first discovered the harmful effect UVA/UVB rays have on the skin. In addition to literally changing the world, this groundbreaking realization sparked in the doctor an obsession with how and why skin ages.

Her conclusion is based on the skin exposome theory of aging, which states that a whopping 80-85% of skin aging is caused by external factors: light, climate, pollution, and irritants. It was on this basis (after forty years of working with patients) that Dr. Loretta founded her namesake skin care line to treat and combat skin damage through topical formulas packed with powerful proprietary antioxidants to fight environmental aggressors.

To her old friend at VIOLET GREY, Dr. Loretta kindly offered an exclusive SPF, an all-mineral formula chock -full of her famous antioxidant technology, with a silky, fast-absorbing texture and flattering pink hue. Of course, Ms. Brown and the curators at the LAB were more than happy to put it to the test.

We’ve been around the (sun) block. We’ve seen a mineral SPF or two in our day, but we were not prepared for this beautiful formula. Zero white cast. No chalkiness. A lighter-than-light texture that absorbed immediately but still felt moisturizing. The pink color melted into skin and gave it an incandescent glow. Plus, it protects against all four sources of environmental aging, UVA, UVB, and HEV (blue light admitted not just by your devices but the sun as well). When we called Dr. Loretta to find out what kind of magic she had imbued in this formula, she simply said, “I wanted to make a sunscreen people would look forward to applying.” To the Committee of Industry Experts it went.

“Love this barely pink tinted physical sunscreen. It doesn’t sit on top of your skin like an ordinary SPF. This absorbed quickly and left a healthy, natural finish. Looks great on its own or under makeup.”
—MAI QUYNH, Makeup Artist

“I love this beautiful, daily SPF. It's a lightweight, pink-hued, fluid-style sunblock that is filled with antioxidants.”
—VANESSA HERNANDEZ, Aesthetician

“This feels lightweight on the skin with a glowy finish. It’s good for acne prone/sensitive skin and beautiful under makeup. I found that the color works really well with deeper skin tones.”
—ALANA PALAU, Makeup Artist

Testers with all skin tones and types raved about this skin care/SPF hybrid, making it a staple of their vanities, kits, and travel bags. With that, Dr. Loretta’s Universal Glow Daily Defense Mineral Sunscreen is officially VIOLET CODE APPROVED and has earned a place on THE SHELVES.