Suntegrity Skincare has issued a recall on its Impeccable Skin Sunscreen Foundation after discovering “higher than acceptable levels” of Aspergillus Sydowii, a type of mold, in some tubes. This product, described as a “medium coverage CC cream,” is now out of stock on the brand’s website, accompanied by a recall message.
No adverse reactions to the product have been reported so far, but the FDA warns that using a product contaminated with Aspergillus Sydowii can cause various health issues. “A topical product that is found to be contaminated with Aspergillus Sydowii could potentially cause an allergic skin reaction and related symptoms,” according to a statement released by the FDA. “It could also cause a primary fungal skin infection if used on open wounds or sunburned skin. If it is introduced into the eye, eye infections may occur. A primary skin infection due to Aspergillus species in an immunocompromised individual should be treated medically.”
This isn’t the first time mold has been found in popular beauty products. You may recall the Kosas Revealer Concealer incident in 2023: A Reddit thread about someone finding mold in their concealer made its way to TikTok, where content creators alleged that the product developed odors and caused skin irritations.
While there weren’t any tests that confirmed the Kosas product contained mold, the incident highlighted a broader issue: the need for more extensive testing to ensure products can pass quality checks at the time of production and up to their Point After Opening (PAO) date. (The PAO symbol, a small jar icon with a number inside, indicates how long a product is safe to use after opening.)
According to the FDA, multiple factors can cause products to break down or expire sooner than indicated by their PAO symbol. These factors include dipping fingers into the product, exposure to moisture, and temperature changes. “We 100 percent need to be mindful of the potential for our products to ‘go bad,’ Davie, FL dermatologist Lesley Clark-Loeser, MD, previously told NewBeauty. “Clean products may do this before more traditionally preserved ones. Be mindful of changes in color, change in texture or consistency, appearance of white or black dots, or a strange smell. These signs can indicate the presence of bacteria or mold.”
If youIf you purchased Suntegrity Impeccable Skin Sunscreen Foundation, you may be eligible for a refund. Follow these instructions:
If you purchased it from SuntegritySkincare.com or Amazon’s Suntegrity storefront…
Start by emailing [email protected] with your order number, product lot number, and name. Once you receive a confirmation email, you will need to provide a photo of the back of the product showing the lot number. After that, you may receive a refund, store credit, or a product exchange for another SPF product from the brand’s lineup.
If you purchased this product from a retailer…
For purchases made from a retailer, contact the retailer directly for a store credit. Alternatively, you can email Suntegrity at the above address to exchange it for another product. As with the previous method, you’ll need to provide a photo of the back of the tube showing the lot number to proceed with the credit or exchange.