Sofie Pavitt Made the Perfect Sunscreen for Acne Prone Skin

The second Sofie Pavitt announced that she was dropping a sunscreen, my group chat blew up. Everyone was thrilled, but they also had questions—namely, if I’ve tried it and what my thoughts were. Like Zendaya, Lorde, and Benito Skinner, I am a devotee to the “acne whisperer’s” facials and simple yet effective skincare line, so of course I was also excited about the new launch.

Since launching in 2023, Sofie Pavitt Face has offered a curated collection of acne-focused products inspired by the wants and needs of the esthetician’s loyal clientele. There’s her signature mandelic acid Clearing Serum, powerful Reset Acne Mask, and her Omega Rich Moisturizer, which I’ve gone through about nine jars of since it launched last year. Between the brand’s seven existing products, you have pretty much everything you need foe a complete clear skin routine, but there was one glaring thing missing: a sunscreen.

That changes today. On February 19, Sofie Pavitt Face launches Screentime, a hydrating sunscreen made specifically for acne-prone skin. Ahead, Pavitt fills us in on the new launch, plus my honest review.

The Inspiration

As always, Pavitt’s clients were top of mind when creating Screentime. She wanted to make something that would not only ease their minds when it came to worrying about breakouts, but also make their lives easier. “My whole philosophy with the Sofie Pavitt Face skincare line is that I want to simplify routines as much as possible for people,” she tells Byrdie. “When developing ScreenTime, not only was making it acne-safe incredibly important, but I wanted it to be moisturizing enough so you could skip a moisturizer step and just use this if desired.”

The result is a hydrating formula that leaves skin with a glassy glow—Pavitt initially described it to me as a lighter version of her Omega Moisturizer.

The Formula

Screentime Sunscreen is a dewy, hydrating formula with SPF 30 protection. When formulating, Pavitt had to walk a thin line—she wanted it to feel amazing on the skin and provide lasting moisture, but the fact that it was noncomedogenic was a non-negotiable. “Product formulations with comedogenic ingredients can sit on the skin and, especially during warm weather, can be very clogging,” she explains. “A lot of comedogenic ingredients feel really great on the skin, but if you’re acne-prone, they can be really problematic.”

Instead of these ingredients, Screentime is formulated with ectoin to protect skin from environmental stressors and help with barrier repair. The formula also includes niacinamide to brighten, and vitamin E to nourish skin. Of course, homosalate, octisalate, and avobenzone protect from UVA and UVB rays. Supercreen is non-comedogenic, dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and vegan.

“I’m so excited to finally release this sunscreen because this has been three years in the making,” says Pavitt. “We tested this formula within our facial studio community through all phases (we saw at least 10 versions of this sunscreen before landing on a final formula!). Our clients are loving it, the people I’ve tested it with have seen great results using it, and I’m so excited for everyone to try it. It’s safe for all skin types, but I’m really proud to say that it’s clinically tested to be acne-safe.”

My Review

I was lucky enough to have received an early sample of Screentime, and I’ve been testing it since July. I am extremely picky with sunscreen—I often just skip it completely—but I really, really love this formula. I usually find SPFs to be greasy or thick, but this just has a lovely, glossy texture that leaves my skin feeling so hydrated and looking so dewy. I love that it actually feels like a moisturizer, so it’s fewer steps in my routine—I usually layer it over my Dr. Loretta Replenishing Serum and call it a day. It looks great under makeup, never pills, and as with all of Pavitt’s products, never clogs my pores (what you’re seeing here is some stubborn hormonal acne). I am happy to report that I have actually been consistently wearing SPF since this came into my life (even in winter!), something I have never been able to claim. So to answer the questions of my group chat: Yes, it’s good, and yes, you need it.