Quick summary: A viral beauty video featuring singer Olivia Dean has sparked a significant consumer shift towards streamlined skincare routines, with a growing number of individuals completely replacing their traditional day moisturiser with high performance hybrid sunscreens. Industry experts confirm that modern facial formulas are packed with skin smoothing antioxidants and vitamins, ensuring that using a single broad spectrum fluid provides sufficient hydration alongside vital ultraviolet protection. This trend carries positive implications for individual well being and healthcare practice, demonstrating how simplifying daily maintenance regimes can encourage more consistent sun protection habits that actively reduce skin cancer risks and protect long term dermatological health.
Singer Olivia Dean has become known for her effortlessly glowing complexion, and this week she let fans in on one of her morning routine secrets. In a recent beauty video for Allure, she revealed she has been skipping her day moisturiser altogether and relying on a single SPF to keep her skin hydrated, protected, and radiant.
“Controversial, I’ve been skipping moisturiser and just using SPF,” she explained while applying Ultra Violette’s Queen Screen SPF50+ Luminising Skinscreen Serum. “This one is Ultra Violette SPF50. I think it needs to be SPF50, the sun is really hot… and now we’re protected!”
The clip quickly went viral. Viewers commented, saying “this is my Super Bowl,” and “I’m here for everything Olivia Dean included.”
Can SPF really replace moisturiser?
A growing number of people are simplifying their morning routines, and Cult Beauty in-house beauty expert Rina Teslica says the right formula makes all the difference.
“We are seeing a real shift towards streamlined routines, and the SPF-as-moisturiser trend makes total sense when you are using the right formula. The best modern facial SPFs are essentially hybrid skincare products. They are packed with actives like antioxidants, brightening ingredients, and skin-smoothing extracts, so you genuinely are not missing out by skipping a separate moisturiser. The key is choosing an SPF50+ with a lightweight, serum-like texture that absorbs beautifully and leaves skin looking dewy rather than greasy. Ultra Violette’s Queen Screen is a great example of this done very well.”
Traditional sunscreens were designed purely for UV protection, with little thought given to skin feel or additional benefits. The newer generation of facial SPFs, however, are formulated with the same ingredients found in high-performance skincare products. Ultra Violette’s Queen Screen SPF50+ Luminising Skinscreen Serum features a lightweight, milky serum texture that absorbs quickly without leaving a chalky residue. Its ingredient list includes pink algae extract to firm and smooth skin while reducing the appearance of sun-induced pigmentation, alongside vitamins C, B5, E, and F for brightening, protecting, and strengthening effects. Available in a 50ml bottle with a pipette applicator, it offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection suitable for normal, combination, dry, and dehydrated skin.
Dermatologists note that daily SPF use remains one of the most effective ways to prevent premature ageing, pigmentation, and skin cancer risk, making hybrid formulas particularly practical for consistent application.
How to make SPF your only morning skin step
For those wanting to try Olivia’s approach
- Cleanse and apply to damp skin, as SPF serums absorb more easily while skin still holds a little moisture.
- Apply enough product to cover the full face, neck, and any exposed areas, as using too little reduces both hydrating effect and protective performance.
- Reapply every two hours when spending time outdoors.
- Use a nourishing night cream or facial oil in the evening to ensure skin gets the deep conditioning it needs.
Those with very dry skin or specific concerns may still benefit from additional hydration layers, but for those seeking radiance and efficiency, a well-formulated SPF50+ offers a compelling option.
Ultra Violette’s Queen Screen SPF50+ Luminising Skinscreen Serum 50ml is available now at Cult Beauty.