21
May
2026
21
May
2026
Skincare and beauty retailer Face the Future is backing calls for a national UV safety strategy as part of the British Beauty Council’s UV Safety Initiative, following the release of a major new parliamentary report warning of a growing public health crisis around UV exposure.
The report, titled A Preventable Crisis: The Case for a National UV Safety Strategy, was unveiled on Wednesday 13 May 2026 at London’s Portcullis House following a year-long inquiry into UV safety in the UK.
Attending the launch were Face the Future Co-Owners Paul Thompson and Julia Barcoe-Thompson, who joined industry leaders and policymakers in supporting the initiative.
The cross-party inquiry, chaired by Carolyn Harris, investigated the impact of UV exposure in the UK and outlined recommendations for both Government and industry to improve public awareness, education and protection.
One of the report’s strongest warnings states that:
“Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from both natural and artificial sources represents a severe, yet entirely preventable, public health crisis in the UK.”
The report also highlights that despite UV radiation being officially classified by the World Health Organisation as a Group 1 carcinogen, the UK still lacks a cohesive national strategy to address UV-related health risks.
Among the report’s key recommendations are:
The report argues that sunscreen should no longer be classified as a luxury cosmetic product, stating that the current VAT classification inflates prices and discourages regular SPF use.
As an official supportive partner of the British Beauty Council’s UV Safety Initiative for the second consecutive year, Face the Future has continued to campaign for year-round SPF education and accessibility.
Originally founded as an advanced skin clinic in 2005, the retailer has long focused on educating consumers around skin health and sun protection.
Earlier this year, the company launched the third edition of its annual 365 Days of SPF campaign, alongside findings from an independent OnePoll survey of 2,000 UK adults commissioned in January 2026.
The research revealed that while awareness around SPF is growing, daily usage habits remain inconsistent.
The survey found that:
Commenting on the report, Face the Future Founders and Directors Paul Thompson and Julia Barcoe-Thompson said:
“We’re delighted to support the British Beauty Council’s UV Safety Initiative and to see the launch of its report, which we hope will encourage government action to remove VAT on sunscreen in the UK, helping to improve access to daily sun protection, reduce skin cancer rates and protect skin from harmful UV radiation.
“As an education-first beauty retailer, we also fully support the report’s recommendations around UV education within both primary and secondary schools. Earlier this year, we delivered educational workshops within our local community and we’re passionate about continuing to support greater awareness and understanding of daily UV protection in the future.”
Face the Future’s 365 Days of SPF campaign is currently live, with VAT removed from selected SPF products for a limited time.
More information can be found via Face the Future and the campaign page at 365 Days of SPF Campaign
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