ABOUT DARLING

What is DARLING?

We are a vegan premium suncare brand Made in Italy about skin-loving, high performance products with the will to change the way people wear and perceive SPF for the better. Sunscreen is the most important and effective anti-aging product available on the market. 

We believe that using SPF on a daily basis is like knowing the secret of eternal youth. We want to make SPF products cooler and more attractive in order to raise consumer awareness on the importance of skin protection. We want people everywhere to enjoy the suncare experience. That’s why we have designed a collection of sunscreens that look incredibly glamorous, feel pleasant to wear, and have nothing to do with what you have been using before.

Is DARLING Vegan?

Yes,  ALL our products are 100% vegan and do not contain animal-based ingredients or animal derivatives.

Is Darling Cruelty Free?

We follow the European regulation where it is completely forbidden to test on animals. The European Commission established timetables of deadlines up to 11 March 2009 for prohibiting the marketing of cosmetic products, the final formulation, ingredients or combinations of ingredients which have been tested on animals, and for prohibiting each test currently carried out using animals.

In the UK and across the rest of the EU, testing cosmetic products or their ingredients on animals is banned. This means that it is illegal to sell or market a cosmetic product if animal testing has taken place on the finished cosmetic or its ingredients before being sold in the EU.

Are Darling products suitable for all skin types? 

Yes they are. All of the products in our range are suitable for all skin types. You just have to find your favorite one.

Where can I find Darling products?

You can purchase them directly from our shop, or visit our Store Locator to find the official retailers nearest to you.

How can I get any advice about the right Darling product for me?

Place bTo receive advice on our products you have different options:

  • Take our SPF Quiz, discover the best product for you and get 10% off your order!
  • Contact our customer service at customer@darlingsun.com, and they’ll be happy to answer your questions.
  • Find the store nearest to you on our store locator

SKIN PROTECTION

Why should you wear SPF every day?

The time when people pack sunscreen only when going on holiday it’s over. If you want to Stay Pretty Forever and preserve your beauty and your health it’s time for your to start wearing SPF all year round, darling! Our skin is exposed to sun damage all year round, not just in summer as we mistakenly tend to think. A little science lesson: UVB rays are the ones that cause burns and sunburn and are especially strong in summer, while UVA rays, which are very present all year round, regardless of the climate, are responsible for spots and wrinkles. This means that even if you are not at risk of getting sunburned in winter (unless you are exposed to the sun for manylock content here hours, perhaps in high mountains), not using a protective cream is tantamount to certain premature aging of the skin.

How much sunscreen should I use, and how often should I apply it?

Apply enough sunscreen to cover all skin not covered by clothing. To achieve the SPF labeled on a sunscreen bottle, it is recommended to use 2 milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin, which is equivalent to one shot glass for the body or two tablespoons. For the face, it is recommended to apply a nickel-sized dollop (the equivalent of two finger lengths), which is also equivalent to half a teaspoon, to the face and neck combined.

Don’t forget to apply to the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears, and the top of your head.

Apply sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors.

When outdoors, reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours, or after swimming or sweating, according to the directions on the bottle.

What does SPF mean?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The number associated with the SPF indicates how long it takes the sun's UVB rays to cause redness (burning) on the skin compared to the time spent without wearing sunscreen. For example, if you apply an SPF 30 exactly as shown, it will take 30 times longer to burn than if you wear no sunscreen at all. However, it is hard to achieve this level of protection in real life – factors such as skin type, ultraviolet (UV) levels, swimming/drying and how much sunscreen you apply can affect the level of protection. That's why we always recommend applying liberally every two hours or after swimming, sweating or towel drying. It is also important to apply 20 minutes before being exposed to UV.

What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays?

UVA (long-wave) account for 95% of the ultraviolet radiations that reach the earth. They are constant all year long, and they are not shielded by glass and surpass the clouds. UVA penetrates deeply into the skin causing aging, sagging and premature wrinkles. 

UVB (shortwave) account for 5% of the ultraviolet radiations that reach the earth. They are mainly concentrated during summer months and in the central hours of the day. They are shielded by glass and, in the skin, they are filtered by melanin and keratin, our body’s natural UV filters. They penetrate less into the skin than UVA, reaching only the epidermal layer and are responsible for burns and rashes; They are responsible for direct damage to DNA, which means they are more responsible for skin tumors.

Easy and simple reminder: UVA causes Aging and UVB causes Burning.

What is your UVA/UVB rating?

Our UVA is measured according to the European Regulation: COLIPA (European Cosmetics Trade Association). Our sunscreen has a well-balanced UVA/UVB protection factor of at least a 1/3. On our packaging we have UVA inside a circle which is the official symbol of well-balanced UVA/UVB protection.

What is blue light?

Blue light is a type of visible light, also known as HEV (high-energy visible) light. It is emitted from digital devices such as phone, laptops and TV’s.  It is known to cause premature aging and hyperpigmentation.

Where is your sunscreen regulated?

Our products are produced in Italy and therefore are regulated under the European Union.

Are your sunscreens pregnancy safe?

Our products don't contain any harmful ingredient that can be perjudicial while pregnant, but we suggest you talk to your doctor about what sunscreen is best for you during your pregnancy.

What’s in your sunscreens?

We’ve made it our mission to make sure we have no parabens, mineral oils or oxybenzone. We’ve also added a lot of high performance innovative skincare ingredients in our formulas. Our products have indeed anti-aging, anti-oxidant, moisturizing and soothing properties. So basically you need nothing else, and you’ll see your skin appearance improving day by day.

But what is hydrolized collagen and how does it work? Is it vegan?

Hydrolized Collagen is typically animal-derived but we’ve searched high and low to source the highest-grade vegan collagen which has been specifically and scientifically formulated to have comparable amino acid composition and sensory profile of hydrolysed animal collagen.

But while animal-derived collagen isn't usually able to effectively penetrate the skin due its large molecular structure, our vegan collagen is structured to have smaller molecules to penetrate deeper into the skin. Plus, all our products have undergone extensive in-vivo clinical studies and sensory tests that show immediate and long-term results when it comes to an increase in moisture, hydration and the appearance of smoother, more rejuvenated skin. 

Chemical Vs Mineral 

They actually work pretty similarly, both need to be applied in advance of any sun exposure, in the correct amount, and both absorb UV radiation which prevents it from reaching the skin. Physical/mineral/inorganic filters (Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide) also scatter or reflect UV radiation which has led to the common misconception that chemical filters = UV radiation absorption and mineral = reflection. Chemical/organic sunscreens tend to be great for: feeling beautiful to wear, being lightweight, UVA1 protection, melasma or pigmentation sufferers. Mineral sunscreens tend to be better for: skin sensitivities, inflamed skin.

We made it easier: in our products we have both! Using a combination of both chemical and mineral filters means we are able to provide you with ultra lightweight, pleasant formulas that offer very high protection and will help prevent premature aging. The ingredients we use are reef safe and we've made sure that we don't use chemicals like oxybenzone which some studies have deemed unsafe for humans and our reefs. 

What does anti-pollution mean?

Our anti-pollution formulas protect your skin against free radicals caused by air pollution (dust particles, industrial gasses, smoke, smog) which can cause irregular skin pigmentation and premature wrinkles.

Do you have fragrance free formulas?

Yes, we know fragranced products are not loved by everyone. 

That’s why we just launched our new DARLING FLUID FACE SCREEN SPF50+, which is a daily face sunscreen that can easily replace your daily moisturizer thanks to its powerful skincare properties. It has a fragrance free formulation, suitable also for very sensitive skin types.

Are your formulas water resistant?

Yes, all our sunscreens are water-resistant. The formulas have been designed to stay on your skin after exposure to water, however water-resistant does not mean ‘waterproof’ therefore it is important to reapply the sunscreen very often and keep your skin protected.

Does your sunscreen leave a white cast? 

No they won’t. Our sunscreens are formulated to blend into a sheer finish to match and compliment any skin tone.

Are your products safe for sensitive skin?

Our products have been developed to suit all skin types, including sensitive skin. You can check the full list of ingredients for each product on our website. If you have any specific queries please do not hesitate to contact us: customer.WW@darlingsun.com,

Where can I find the ingredients list?

You can find the ingredient list on each product page, selecting “ingredients".

Are your formulas dermatologically tested?

Our products are hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, with paraben free and nickel tested formulas.

PLEASE RECYCLE!

Where are your products made?

All of our products are developed and manufactured in Italy.

Are your packaging recyclable?

Of course, darling! We only use packaging that is 100% recyclable. Tubes and bottles are mono material to guarantee simple and more effective recycling. We try to avoid secondary packaging when possible to reduce waste, otherwise we only use FSC certified paper as it is biodegradable and it comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.

How can I recycle the products?

Tubes or bottles can be disposed in plastic recycling bin for all the products. Cartons can be disposed in card/paper recycling bin.

One more question?

Contact us