Why are there no expiry dates on aerosols? 

The following statement is documented in both Cosmetics Europe, the Personal Care Association (which used to be COLIPA) website, and also published in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Directory and Handbook by the PCPC (Personal Care Product Council), previously known as the CTPA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association)

"For products that remain durable for more than 30 months, the date of minimum durability should consist of either the Month and Year (MM/YYYY) or the day, month and year DD/MM/YYYY in that order.

Exceptions are products in containers where there is no opportunity for contamination, ie. Aerosols, which are effectively sealed, single use products including sachets or if the manufacturer determines there is no risk of deterioration impacting on the safety of the consumer from first use".

Techniblock has passed the 30 months + durability test and is compliant in terms of the FOODSTUFFS, COSMETICS AND DISINFECTANTS ACT, 1972 (ACT NO. 54 OF 1972) Government Notice No. R.1469 regarding minimum durability.  

Techniblock is an aerosol sunscreens , packaged in a sealed and pressurised, airtight container so even once opened, the formula cannot be compromised and remains fully effective.  Furthermore, the absence of oils and emulsifiers in the formula creates a stable sunscreen that does not "go off" so you can be assured that opened cans will still provide excellent protection against sunburn.  The PAO symbol indicates that Techniblock will continue to be effective for up to 24 months after opening.  This also applies to our Peaceful Sleep aerosols.  The Peaceful Sleep sticks have an expiry date on the bottom of the stick.

What are the ingredients in Techniblock?

Techniblock is a CFC-free spray and the active ingredients to prevent you from burning are delivered in ethanol, which evaporates on the skin, leaving behind just what is needed to protect you from burning.  Techniblock is made up of four active ingredients which gives the product broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB.  Many suncare products do not have this broad protection and do not, therefore, provide full protection against the harmful effects of the sun.  Techniblock has Benzophenone, Padimate, Methoxycinnamate (10%) and Methoxydibenzoylmethane in it and all these ingredients are widely used in the development and production of suncare products.  They are approved for use under the COLIPA testing method.  Benzopheone is one of the few substances that protects effectively against UVA radiation and products with the ingredient Methoxydibenzoylmethane provide full, broad-spectrum sun protection. 

Other ingredients include Alcohol Denat, Aqua, Butane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (2%), Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba (8.19%), Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Polysorbate 20, Propane and Oxybenzone (only present in the SPF 30 and SPF 40).  All percentages are within the registration limits for Europe.

The SPF 50 Active Performance and Wet and Dry range has been developed without oxybenzone or octinoxate, as well as the latest anti-pore blocking and anti-stain technology, and the sunscreens in this category are all ocean-friendly and carry the Oxybenzone-free symbol.  This also applies to the SPF 50 lotion and face cream.

Techniblock IS NOT tested on animals.

Why doesn't Techniblock carry a 5* Rating

The 5* rating system is a Boots initiative and is applied to those sunscreens that purchase a license from Boots and are sold within Boots' stores.  As Techniblock is a South African product, and only available online,  it does not display this rating on the products.  However, it is manufactured with a rating of PA ++++

PA is short for “Protection Grade of UVA.” This is an important distinction because SPF (sun protection factor) measures only UVB protection while the PA rating only measures UVA protection.

Both types of rays are bad for our skin, but in different ways. UVB rays are responsible for causing our skin to turn red and burn, while UVA rays cause the bulk of damage to our skin’s genes. For a long time — until the 1990s — people didn’t realize just how damaging UVA rays were. Turns out, they are the primary cause of signs of aging and skin cancer. They also happen to account for the majority of the sun’s energy.

A PA++++ rating is the highest UVA protection currently available.

Techniblock is also endorsed by CANSA (the Cancer Association of South Africa) as a preventative measure against skin cancer and carries the SunSmart symbol.

About our Delivery Charges

We have discussed the possibility of offering free delivery to our UK customers. However, if we were to do so, we would have to carry the cost of this elsewhere in our business. In reality, this would mean that we would have to increase our product prices, which we do not wish to do. We made the decision that we would rather protect our reputation for providing excellent quality products at great value.  There is no such thing as "Free Delivery" as the cost of sending a parcel is often added to the product price instead.

Is Techniblock suitable for very sensitive skins?

Yes, Techniblock is specifically marketed as being very suitable for fair and sensitive skins, prone to prickly heat and skin rashes.  However, Techniblock is not a "cure" for prickly heat but, because it does not contain oils, emulsifiers or lanolin, it will not block pores in the same way that traditional sun lotions and sun creams do.  The ingredients that prevent burning are delivered in an ethanol spray that dries instantly on the skin, leaving behind an invisible barrier that is cool and breathable and, therefore, using Techniblock can greatly reduce or even eradicate the symptoms of prickly heat.

Do I put moisturiser and insect repellent on before or after I apply Techniblock?

Techniblock should be applied to the skin before any moisturiser or insect repellent to ensure that the SPF is not compromised.  You should wait at least two minutes after applying Techniblock to ensure it is absorbed properly before putting on moisturiser or repellent.  Techniblock is not always suitable for use on the face for all skin types.  Those with oily skin should consider using Techniblock's Anti-Ageing SPF 50 facial sunscreen and reserve the spray for the body only.

What is Broad-Spectrum Protection?

Broad-spectrum sunscreens block out UVA rays as well as UVB.  UVA are the rays that potentially cause skin cancer and long-term damage; UVB are the rays that will burn the skin and give you short-term damage.

Will I get a suntan if I use a sunscreen with a high SPF?

Yes.  An SPF15 sunscreen filters out 93% of UVB radiation, while an SPF40 sunscreen filters out 98%.  It is a common misconception that SPF30 offers more than double the protection of SPF15 and, as a result, will block out the sun more thoroughly.  This is untrue.  No sunscreen, no matter how high the factor, can provide 100% protection and no sunscreen, whether it's factor 15 or 50, will provide the protection it claims unless it is applied properly.  It is impossible to compensate for too thin a layer by increasing the factor you use.  Therefore, it is crucial that you apply sunscreen generously.

What does SPF actually mean?

An SPF (Sun Protection Factor) details the difference as to how long unprotected skin will take to burn compared to skin protected with the product.  The average fair-skinned person takes roughly 10 minutes to begin to show the signs of sunburn.  If that person is wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of 15, it would mean they are protected for 15 x 10 minutes, or 2.5 hours, before it would be necessary to reapply.  Therefore, a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 can provide protection for over 6 hours, although no one person's skin is the same as another.  Know your skin type and protect it accordingly.

What is the benefit of using sunscreen with a higher SPF?

The benefit of high SPFs is that a person could be exposed to the sun for a longer period.  However, this is not true of many high protection products when they come in to contact with water because other sun creams and sprays use emulsifiers and oils, which are not water resistant and will wash off with prolonged contact with water.  This is where Techniblock has a great advantage, because it does not contain any emulsifiers or oils and, therefore, will not wash off easily in water.  Using Techniblock SPF50+ can provide more than 6 hours of protection, even if you are in and out of water - it has real staying power!

How much Techniblock does the average adult need to buy for a 2 week holiday in the sun?

A large family can (300-340ml) will last an adult approximately 10-12 days.  This calculation is based on using the product once per day.  It is important to remember that to ensure even and complete coverage, the product should be sprayed on in a sheltered but airy environment, preferably before heading out into the sun.  In addition, when using Techniblock on the face and neck, we recommend spraying the product into the hand and smoothing onto the face and neck rather than spraying it directly onto the face to avoid getting it in your eyes.

Techniblock and Caring for your Clothes

UV filters are yellow in colour so there is always a risk that using any sunscreen will leave a yellow stain on light clothing.  The best way to minimise staining is to allow your sun protection to dry thoroughly before getting dressed.  The beauty of Techniblock is that it dries very quickly so there's little chance of transference onto your clothing.  If staining does occur, we recommend using Vanish Gold to remove.

Once Techniblock has been showered off, there will be no transference to towels, linen or clothing.

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