New Sunscreens Make a Splash in 2017

There haven’t been any new sunscreen ingredients approved in the US since the 1990s (Ecamsule was approved under an NDA, see Spotlight on page 54), but many an innovative company put a new spin or spins on their products for 2017. Some are tinted, some are techy, others are whipped, and still others also block pollution. Some are physician dispensed, while others are available at mass market retailers.

The latest crop of sunscreens includes new offerings from market leaders as well as entries from companies new to the sunscreen business who are looking to make a splash this year.

Here’s a snapshot of the sun care market, followed by a sampling of what’s new for 2017.

The Sun Care Market: A Snapshot

What drives the global sun care market? Rising concern about sun damage—including both skin cancer and skin aging, according to a ReportLinker analysis. Multi-functional products, including self-tanning products, are popular in Europe. More drug store distribution and the availability of specialized products are driving demand in the Middle East and triggering market growth in that region. Still, North America has the largest market share for sun care products.

Sun care products include sun protection, after-sun products, and self-tanners, but sun protection remains the most commonly used of these. Despite the availability of creams, gels, lotions, powders, liquids, wipes, sprays, and colored creams, cream forms of sun protection products account for a substantial share of the overall market, the analysis shows.

Fan Favorites

New from Neutrogena for 2017 is Sheer Zinc Face Dry-Touch Sunscreen and Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Sunscreen in SPF 30 and 50. Both products are formulated with Purescreen naturally sourced 100 percent zinc oxide technology. Neutrogena’s new line also includes Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50, which earned the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance™ as a suitable sunscreen for babies with eczema or sensitive skin conditions.

Coppertone is rolling out new Whipped formula sunscreens. The new formulas are available in the CLEARLYSheer and WaterBABIES Pure & Simple lines. Coppertone CLEARLYSheer Whipped Sunscreens are available in SPF 30 and 50. Coppertone WaterBABIES Pure & Simple Whipped Sunscreen is available in SPF 50.

Alongside the new whipped launches, the company is also introducing:

• Coppertone WaterBABIES Pure & Simple Free Sunscreen
• Coppertone Sport Stick SPF 50
• Coppertone WaterBABIES Pure & Simple Stick SPF 50
• Coppertone Sport Lip Balm SPF 50

Banana Boat’s Dry Balance Sunscreen Lotion and Clear UltraMist absorbs excess moisture and dries with a soft matte finish, and their new Kids Sport Sunscreen Lotion and Lotion Spray with PowerStay Technology, available in tear-free sting-free lotion and lotion spray, promises to stay on strong during activities.

Coming in June 2017, SkinCeutical’s Ultimate UV Defense Lotion SPF 50 promises protection using zinc oxide plus delivery of hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid, all with a translucent finish.

The Market Disruptors

Hint water is getting into the sunscreen game. The beverage maker rolled out Hint sunscreen sprays made with Hint fruit essences—grapefruit, pear, or pineapple. The SPF 30 mist provides water-resistant coverage for 80 minutes, minus oxybenzone and parabens.

Barcelona-based ISDIN entered the US market last summer. Their Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion SPF 50+ with 11% Zinc Oxide protects against UVA and UVB-induced sunburn and is intended to repair and reverse sun damage.

Kiehl’s New Ultra Facial Cream Sunscreen SPF 30 imparts 24-hour hydration while helping to protect the skin with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen filters.

Et Tu Pollution?

Glytone’s Triple Defense Brightening Complex with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 goes after pollution along with the sun’s UV rays—and also reduces the appearance of unwanted dark spots.

PREVAGE City Smart + DNA Enzyme Complex + Anti-Pollution + Antioxidants Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Hydrating Shield takes on pollution with Anti-Pollution Shield Technology and a patent-pending highly potent Anti-Pollution Complex featuring Idebenone. It blocks the sun’s UV radiation with a 100% Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF50 Sunscreen, and includes a DNA Enzyme Complex that strengthens skin.

Sunscreens with a Tint

The latest from Avene includes their Complexion Correcting Shield SPF 50+, a 100 percent mineral broad-spectrum sunscreen in three shades. (Their New Hydrating Sunscreen Balm SPF 50+ also provides maximum broad-spectrum sun protection without irritation for delicate, sun-sensitive areas, including nose, lips, eye area, and ears.)

Alastin’s HydraTint ProMineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36 boasts a lightweight matte formula and a complexion-enhancing tint. Plus, an air pollution shield defends skin against environmental aggressors and free radicals.

Innovation is Welcome

Despite a lack of new sunscreening agents, manufacturers are certainly identifying strategies to innovate in product formulations. The past few years have also seen the expansion of new delivery forms, including wipes and sticks. And don’t forget antioxidant supplements to support the skin’s defense against UV. The popular Heliocare product from Ferndale Healthcare was just updated to be green—literally and figuratively. The formulation is now vegan and gluten free, and the product, featuring Fernblock® PLE Technology is naturally derived from the extract of Polypodium leucotomos, has expanded distribution in Walgreens and Walmart stores.

And yet, no matter how appealing or convenient formulations become, sunscreen adoption remains lower than it should be in the US. National surveys by the CDC indicate that young people and adults in the United States are being exposed to unsafe levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and can do more to protect themselves. Less than one-third of American adults say they use sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher.

Only 60 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 used one or more sun protective methods, while about three-quarters of those 25 years of age and older reported using one or more methods. Among adult men, roughly two-thirds reported usually using one or more methods of sun protection, in contrast to almost three-quarters of adult women.

The stats are worse for teens. Thirteen percent of teen girls and seven percent of teen boys reported they routinely used a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher when they were outside for more than an hour on a sunny day.

The need to educate patients about sunscreen options is great. While the barriers to sunscreen use are complex, informing patients of their options is one way to encourage ongoing UV safety habits.