A sun-smart companion: My review of Sola, the app that tracks UV and Vitamin D

To my lovely readers, This is a sponsored post. I was paid to try out the Sola app and share my honest review of the app with you. As always, I only collaborate with businesses that I genuinely find useful or interesting.

Growing up in Australia, being sun-smart wasn’t optional – it was practically a subject at school. My mum took incredible care of her skin, and that mindset rubbed off on me early on.

As an adult, I’m even more conscious about my sun exposure: regular full-body skin checks, wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen in every bag, and a habit of checking the UV index each morning before stepping outside.

Even my kids have adopted the routine. Before school, they ask Siri, “What’s the UV today?” and they know exactly when it’s time to put on sunscreen.

For our family, the rule is simple: if the UV index is 3 or above, sunscreen goes on.

But at the same time, we’re mindful not to miss out on the benefits of sunlight, especially vitamin D. And like most things in life, getting the right amount is a balance.

Why an app like Sola matters

We all know too much UV increases the risk of skin cancer. But not enough sunlight can affect mood, sleep, immunity, and even bone health. What I like about Sola is that it acknowledges both sides – risk and benefit.

It doesn’t just show you the UV index. It helps you understand how much sunlight your body is getting, and how much vitamin D you may be producing.

As someone who likes to make decisions based on real data, I found this useful.

Introducing Sola: The iPhone/iPad paid app that tracks UV exposure and vitamin D

Sola was created by Yuri, a dad with a background in software engineering, data analysis, AI, and computational linguistics. What started as a weekend passion project in 2019 has grown into something deeper: a tool designed to help people spend time in the sun more mindfully – not another vanity or tanning app.

At first glance, the interface looked a little technical, but once I understood why, it made sense. Sola considers more factors than a standard weather or UV app, including:

your existing tan (which provides some natural protection)
the SPF you’re using
your body position in relation to the sun
your personal skin characteristics

It offers a level of personalisation that most UV apps don’t come close to.

Sola gets even smarter with an Apple Watch

If you have an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, Sola can automatically track your UV exposure using Apple’s Time in Daylight data. The Watch’s ambient light sensor detects how bright your environment is and, combined with the time you spend outside, Sola estimates your UV exposure and vitamin D production.

This is far more accurate than checking a weather app – because it recognises actual time outdoors.

For me, this feature has been a game changer. I no longer need to manually check the UV each morning. I’ve set my preferred threshold (UV 3+) and Sola sends me:

a morning summary
an alert when UV is about to peak
a reminder when UV climbs past my chosen level
another alert when it drops again

It turns sun safety into something effortless and automatic.

Final thoughts

Sola has become part of my daily wellbeing routine.

It helps me make smarter decisions about my sun exposure, understand when I need protection, and stay aware of my vitamin D levels – all without extra effort.

For anyone who wants a more mindful, balanced relationship with the sun, Sola is a genuinely useful companion.

Learn more about the Sola iPhone/iPad app, including its free features and optional paid upgrades, and download it here.