Australian sunscreen brand Ultra Violette has officially arrived in the United States via a partnership with Sephora. 

Ultra Violette products are now available online at Sephora, with an in-store launch across 592 Sephora locations nationwide slated for March 28. 

The brand launches with six products including the cult-favorite Supreme Screen, Velvet Screen, Future Screen, two shades of Sheen Screen lip balm, and the exclusive Vibrant Screen, a new product debuting solely for the U.S. market.

Co-founded by beauty industry veterans Ava Matthews and Bec Jefferd, Ultra Violette was born out of a frustration with outdated, heavy sunscreen formulas. First introduced in 2019, the brand is now widely credited with creating the sunscreen-meets-skincare category. 

“The fact that this is finally happening is a hugely transformational moment for the business,” said Jefferd. “We are blown away by the support of Sephora, our long-time global retail partner, who have always understood what we were looking to achieve and put their full force behind us. Because we exist in such a highly regulated category, and with that additional layer of complexity, the Sephora team have been so hands on in helping to navigate our launch into the world’s largest beauty market.”

In 2024, Ultra Violette secured a $15 million AUD investment from consumer growth equity firm Aria Growth Partners, with funding expected to propel its expansion across North America, as well as ongoing product innovation and team development.

It launched at Sephora in Canada last Spring as part of its North American debut. The U.S. marks its 30th market worldwide.

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Ultra Violette and introduce this innovative Australian-made sun care brand to our U.S. clients,” added Cindy Deily, VP skincare merchandising at Sephora. 

“Formulated to comply with high regulatory standards of protection against the harsh Australian sun, Ultra Violette offers effective formulas that infuse powerful skincare ingredients and are designed to fit seamlessly into existing beauty routines. We look forward to welcoming this exciting brand to our skincare assortment as we continue to grow our sun care offerings.”

PlasticFree Forever has launched a digital initiative designed to help design students tackle global plastic pollution.

Its programme is offering 250 students the opportunity to become “pioneers in sustainable product development” via its solutions platform that’s “dedicated to educating and empowering designers and brand owners to fast-track innovation in plastic-free solutions”.
 
Noting that “solving the global plastic crisis requires more than awareness”, its focus is on “actionable material insights and immediate connections to solution providers”.

So design students “passionate about creating a sustainable and regenerative future” are invited to apply for PlasticFree Forever with selected participants “gaining unprecedented forever access for no cost” from 5 April.
 
With support from impact fund ‘Ancestors of Tomorrow’, the programme gives human-validated case studies, proof points and education in regenerative materials. It says: “PlasticFree empowers students with the knowledge to design plastic out of products at the source, directly connecting them with the curated library of plastic-free materials”.

Ben Parker, co-founder, Made Thought, added: “Design is not just about aesthetics; it’s about reimagining our relationship with materials. Every sketch, every prototype is an opportunity to design out plastic and design in a regenerative future. This platform doesn’t just provide tools—it provides a pathway for the most critical design challenge of our generation.”
 
Sian Sutherland, co-founder, PlasticFree & A Plastic Planet, also said: “Plastic has become a toxic default for a business model predicated on ecological degradation. With the PlasticFree Forever programme, we want to empower students to be design leaders in the post-plastic revolution, challenging the traditional ‘take, make, waste’ attitude. Creatives are on the frontline of this battle to transition to a model of business that works with nature and not against.”

PlasticFree was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2023 and operates in over 23 countries, It has established itself as a trusted authority for designers and brands seeking sustainable solutions to plastic. 
 
Its founding design and science council includes design and business leaders such as Design Council chief design officer Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino, Eden Project co-founder Sir Tim Smit, Thomas Heatherwick and Sir David Chipperfield.