A Q&A With SolarCareB3 CEO & Pharmacist, Doug Kelly
If you live in Australia or New Zealand, you learn quickly that our sun doesn’t behave like everyone else’s. We deal with the immediate sting of sunburn and the long-term effects of sun exposure — often at the same time. Defence SPF 50 was designed for this reality.
We sat down with our CEO and pharmacist, Doug Kelly, to talk about why Defence is different, how it was built, and why it’s one of the most unique sunscreens available today.
Q: Doug, why did SolarCareB3 create a sunscreen that targets both sunburn and sun damage?
Doug: Sunburn and sun damage are really the same event on two different timelines. Sunburn is the acute reaction to UV exposure — the redness and discomfort after a single hit of too much UV. Sun damage is the chronic version that slowly builds up after years of exposure.
So, of course, we see these two things in the exact same places. The skin that burns is the skin that later shows long-term changes — face, neck, ears, arms, hands. That overlap is what sparked the idea.
So we thought: why treat them separately?
If one product can handle the immediate effects of UV and support the skin that’s repeatedly exposed, that’s a far more practical solution. Defence was built around that problem — two birds, one stone, grounded in the research on SPF and 5% niacinamide working together.
Q: What makes Defence different to other sunscreens?
Doug: A lot of sunscreens on the market come from the same few base formulas. That doesn’t make them bad — it’s just how the industry works. But it also means many of them feel very similar.
Defence isn’t one of those.
We built this formula from scratch, and it took several years of research, trial, error and reformulation to get right. Adding 5% niacinamide to a high-protection SPF 50 isn’t simple. It affects the emulsion, texture, absorption, stability and performance.
Once we were confident in our formula, we sent it to one of the best labs in Europe for SPF and stability testing. We wanted absolute certainty in the results — and full transparency in how the product performs.
There’s nothing quite like it on the shelves. It’s genuinely one of the most unique sunscreens available because it’s not just “SPF with a hint of B3”. It’s SPF 50 and 5% B3 working together at meaningful levels.
Learn more about Vitamin B3 skincare here.
Q: Why isn’t 5% niacinamide standard in most sunscreens?
Doug: The simple answer is formulation difficulty.
Small amounts of niacinamide are easy to stabilise. But 5% is different — you have to rebuild the whole formula around it. The emulsion, the filters, the texture, everything.
Some manufacturers aren’t set up for that level of development, or it becomes too costly. But for us, 5% was non-negotiable. That’s the amount the research focuses on for supporting sun-damaged skin, so that’s the amount we used.
If you’re making a sunscreen designed for people with sun exposure and sun damage, it makes sense to include niacinamide at a meaningful level.
Q: How do SPF and 5% B3 work together?
Doug: SPF 50 is essential. It reduces the amount of UV reaching the skin. But UV also suppresses the skin’s immune response, which contributes to long-term changes.
Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) helps that UV-induced immune suppression, supports the skin’s natural repair processes, and helps maintain barrier integrity and hydration. It’s a very complementary pair.
So Defence isn’t a separate “sunburn product” and “sun damage product”. It’s one formula designed for how Australians actually live — in and out of the sun, daily.
Q: How is Defence tested?
Doug: Every batch goes through quality checks, but before reaching production, the formula underwent SPF testing and stability testing through Eurofins in Australia. That’s crucial for confidence and consistency.
We wanted a product that wasn’t just effective — it had to be reliable, safe, and stable under real-world conditions.
Q: What guides SolarCareB3’s product philosophy?
Doug: We’re a family-owned business. We don’t make anything we wouldn’t use ourselves. If we’re not completely confident in a product — the science, the performance, the experience — it doesn’t make it into production.
Our goal has always been simple: skincare that works, backed by evidence, without the fluff.
People are busy. They don’t need ten different products. They need practical, science-led solutions that fit into everyday life.
Explore our full range of Vitamin B3 products here.
Q: Who is Defence for?
Doug: Anyone who wants sun protection and skin support in one step. It’s especially helpful for Australians and New Zealanders who spend time outdoors or already have visible signs of sun exposure.
And it’s ideal for people who want simplicity. One step that does more.
The Bottom Line
Sunburn and sun damage are two sides of the same coin. Defence SPF 50 was created to address both — combining high UV protection with 5% Vitamin B3 in one lightweight, everyday formula.
It’s sunscreen designed for the real world, and the reality of our sun.