A global leader in dermatology, Heliocare uses its patented Fernblock® technology to create innovative suncare for all skin types.
Over the past decade, awareness of sun damage has grown dramatically. Terms like “UVA,” “UVB,” and “photoaging” became a part of everyday skincare conversations. Sunscreen is no longer just for holidays; instead, it’s now a daily essential.
However, with so many options on the shelves, I found myself wondering: Which sunscreens provide more than surface-level protection? That’s how I discovered Heliocare. It’s not just another SPF brand. It’s a science-backed system designed to protect the skin on multiple levels, even from the inside out. This post covers why Heliocare stands out.
Heliocare is a Spanish sun protection brand developed by Cantabria Labs, a pharmaceutical company founded in 1989. Originally a small family-run lab in Cantabria, it has grown into a global leader in dermatology, present in over 85 countries. From the start, its mission has been to improve the quality of life and health.
Heliocare combines rigorous dermatological research with innovative formulations to create a product line that spans both topical and oral sun protection. Supported by over 50 scientific publications and trusted by dermatologists across 60 countries, Heliocare has earned a reputation for robust clinical validation.
Fernblock® is the main active in all Heliocare products. Developed in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and legendary dermatologist Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, Fernblock® revolutionised sun protection when it was first patented in the 1990s. It’s a standardised extract of Polypodium leucotomos, a tropical fern native to Central America. Originally an aquatic plant, it developed UV-protective mechanisms as it adapted to terrestrial life. A Honduran community, the Chorotega tribe, was the first to recognise its skin-healing properties.
Cantabria Labs harnessed these unique protective traits through an exclusive extraction process that preserves the fern’s most potent active compounds, including powerful phenolic antioxidants. This method ensures maximum safety, consistency, and efficacy across all Heliocare formulas.
With over 50 clinical studies and peer-reviewed publications, Fernblock® is a proven dermatological technology that delivers visible and long-term benefits:
Texture & feel: Ultra-light, non-greasy, mattifying gel that absorbs quickly; perfect for daily use.
Main ingredients: Fernblock®, BioShield System (melanin + oxothiazolidine for light and infrared defence), ferulic acid, caffeic acid, vitamin C (brightening, anti-aging), vitamin E (antioxidant), green tea extract (soothes and protects against pollution) and glycerin (hydration).
Function: Protects without clogging pores and helps reduce acne flare-ups from UV stress.
Texture & feel: Gentle, fragrance-free fluid with 100% mineral filters that dries completely clear
Main ingredients: Fernblock®, BioShield System, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, green tea extract, vitamin C and E.
Function: Delivers high-level sun protection without irritation.
Texture & feel: Lightweight, water-based gel with a cooling sensation that absorbs quickly and leaves an invisible, oil-free finish, ideal for layering under makeup.
Main ingredients: Fernblock®, BioShield System, vitamin C and E, green tea extract, plus hydrating agents like sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, urea, and trehalose.
Function: Delivers high-level sun protection while hydrating and repairing skin.
Texture & feel: Non-oily, non-sticky, silky fluid formula for daily use on fragile, sun-damaged, or pre-cancerous skin.
Main ingredients: Fernblock®, DNA repair enzymes (photolysase, endonuclease and glycosylase), lepidium sativum sprout extract (brightens and reduces pigmentation), vitamins C and E, and physalis angulata extract (soothes and protects).
Function: Offers high-level photoprotection and supports DNA repair, supporting the treatment and prevention of actinic keratosis and non-melanoma skin cancer.
Heliocare takes sun protection a step further with oral sunscreen capsules. These are not a replacement for topical sunscreen but a powerful complement, offering systemic protection from within, especially in situations where reapplying SPF isn’t practical.
They’re ideal for:
Powered by high-dose Fernblock®, these capsules are rich in antioxidants like vitamins C, E, lycopene, and lutein, which:
Heliocare Ultra Capsules are a go-to during high sun exposure. It is perfect for managing flare-ups, increasing sun tolerance, and protecting skin health.
Heliocare Ultra D Capsules add vitamin D to the formula, making them ideal for daily use, anti-aging, and maintaining an even tone.
For full protection, take one capsule daily or twice daily when exposed to intense sun.
In a market full of sunscreens, Heliocare stands out for its commitment to medical-grade innovation and holistic skin protection. With topical formulas tailored to skin types and concerns and innovative oral capsules that protect from within, it offers truly advanced photoprotection. Whether you’re dealing with sensitivity, dryness, pigmentation, or intense sun exposure, Heliocare has a solution designed to strengthen, repair, and protect your skin every day.
Whitehouse C. 6 Benefits of Fernblock® [Internet]. Cantabria Labs. 2024 [cited 2025 Jun 30]. Available from: https://cantabrialabs.co.uk/blogs/skincare-guides/6-benefits-of-fernblock?srsltid=AfmBOoqTrcllfqa5qgl3aPxGKdFbdDPwPVkMvKkR1tEmhpGd2EdIURzk
Fernblock® Technology | Cantabria Labs [Internet]. Cantabria Labs España. 2025 [cited 2025 Jun 30]. Available from: https://www.cantabrialabs.com/about-us/rd/fernblock-technology/
Aguilera J, Vicente-Manzanares M, de Gálvez MV, Herrera-Ceballos E, Rodríguez-Luna A, González S. Booster Effect of a Natural Extract of Polypodium leucotomos (Fernblock®) That Improves the UV Barrier Function and Immune Protection Capability of Sunscreen Formulations. Frontiers in Medicine. 2021 Jun 2;8.
Heliocare Ultra Capsules - Oral Daily Sunblock Tablets - UK [Internet]. dermoi! 2025 [cited 2025 Jun 30]. Available from: https://dermoi.com/product/heliocare-ultra-capsules/
