While everyone’s skincare routine is unique, there are a few non-negotiable elements that everyone incorporates, sunscreen being one. It’s no secret that the sun can cause devastating damage to the skin, not only bringing on skin cancer but also triggering inflammation, accelerating the skin aging process, and causing the development of hyperpigmentation.
This is why sun protection is a no-brainer. Over the years, sunscreens have evolved in response to the growing mainstream interest in sun protection. Now, thanks to a higher demand for innovative sunscreens, the boundaries are being pushed even further. Read on as Lavelier explores what the future holds for sun protection and your skin.
Why the Sudden Surge in Sunscreen Innovations?
What’s the most important product to use if you want to prevent the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and other visible signs of skin aging? Sunscreen. This has always been the case, but thanks to clever public health campaigns and the strategic use of social media, this message has now become more widespread than ever. This has been helped even further by the growing number of clinical studies that depict, in detail, the harm that the sun causes to the skin.
Worryingly, a new study shows that sun damage rates are on the rise and higher than ever. However, this is exactly what the latest sunscreen innovations aim to tackle.
Sunscreen Innovations to Keep an Eye on
A significant portion of the population still doesn’t wear sunscreen on a regular basis. There are various reasons for this, from a dislike of how sunscreens feel on the skin to the fact that applying and reapplying sunscreen is inconvenient. Either way, the latest sunscreen innovations target those barriers in an attempt to bring sun protection to the wider public.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the sunscreen innovations that are set to have a significant impact on the concept of sun protection:
Hybrid Sunscreens
In addition to the growing awareness of sun damage, people are now also realizing that applying layer upon layer of product to their skin is often not the most beneficial way forward. This is why multifunctional skincare products have been taking center stage. Why apply two or three different products to your skin when you could instead tackle all of those same issues with just one formula?
This is why hybrid sunscreens have suddenly become so popular. Like a regular sunscreen, these products offer broad-spectrum formulas that protect the skin against both UVA and UVB rays. However, they take things further by also packing plenty of skincare benefits. From sunscreens that hydrate the skin to SPF products that reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles, these multipurpose formulas do so much more than simply protecting the skin from the sun.
The Lavelier Divine Day Defense SPF 30 is the perfect example of a hybrid sunscreen. This sunscreen doubles up as a hydrating, antioxidant-rich moisturizer. Each time you reapply it, you’ll be giving your skin a boost of moisture and nutrients. Between green tea extract, aloe vera leaf extract, coral seaweed extract, and a selection of vitamins, this SPF moisturizer will leave your skin looking supple and radiant.
SPF Sticks and Bars
One of the most commonly cited reasons for not wearing sunscreen is inconvenience. Sure, it’s not a big deal to slap on some sunscreen when you’re carrying out your morning skincare routine. Reapplying it every couple of hours the rest of the day, though? An inconvenient and often messy chore.
This is where stick and bar sunscreens aim to change the game. These products tend to be very compact in nature, making it much easier to carry a sunscreen around with you all day. They’re formulated to have a very precise melting point. This keeps them solid while they’re in their tubes but allows them to seamlessly melt into the skin as soon as they’re applied. With application being much more convenient too, especially when it comes to the smaller areas that are easy to miss with a cream, such as under the eyes, these products make sun protection much more enjoyable.
The best part? Since these formulas tend to be waterless, they’re also usually more environmentally friendly. They use fewer resources, making them a good option for anyone seeking a more sustainable skincare routine.
Ingestible Sunscreen
While the idea of ingestible sunscreen may seem strange at first, the concept has really been gaining traction over the past decade. Yes, there are still plenty of doubts as to how well ingestible sunscreens actually work, but innovations in this area are soaring.
Ingestible sunscreens usually involve consuming a supplement that contains ingredients that increase the body’s UV resilience from within. Certain antioxidants, such as lycopene and beta carotene, have long since been known to do this, although only to a very small degree. Combining them together in a way that boosts their sun protection properties, however, could eventually do away with the need for topical sunscreens.
Many brands are also creating and patenting their own unique ingestible sunscreen ingredients. Natural ingredients, such as blood orange extract, fern extract, and raw cacao, are usually at the source of these. With brands all over the world competing to produce an ingestible sunscreen that provides comparable protection to topical sunscreens, the future of this concept is going to be exciting.
UV Detection Stickers
As we discussed earlier, reapplying sunscreen throughout the day is something that many people struggle to remember. This is exactly why UV detection stickers were invented.
These stickers look very similar to spot stickers, but they serve a very different purpose. They’re made from a UV-reactive material, enabling them to look clear when your skin is being protected from the sun before turning darker when sun protection starts to wane. It’s a physical reminder that you need to top up your SPF, which can go a long way in helping you to build good sun protection habits.
Studies show that UV detection stickers don’t completely eliminate the risk of sun damage. Like most new tech, they’re not completely foolproof. However, give one a try, and you’ll likely notice that you end up reapplying your sunscreen more frequently than you would have without the sticker, which is already going to be beneficial to your skin.
SPF Lip Oils
The lips are particularly susceptible to sun damage. The skin here is very thin and also lacks melanin. This means that natural protection is much lower than that of the rest of the face.
SPF lip balms, which have been around for a while, are good for giving delicate lip skin a coating of sun protection. However, SPF lip oils are now taking over, with more and more people opting for this form of lip protection.
Why? It’s partly down to how lip oils have now become a hot topic. They provide a glossy yet non-sticky finish, and are often better at hydrating and moisturizing than a lip balm. They feel more luxurious too, making sun care for the lips feel more like a ritual than a chore.
Tinted Mineral Sunscreens
There are two main types of sunscreen out there: chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens use UV filters that create a chemical reaction when UV rays enter the skin. Those rays are transformed into heat, which is then emitted from the body. Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, work by deflecting UV rays away from the skin.
Due to the fact that mineral sunscreens tend to use fewer chemicals, they’ve always been a popular choice among those with super-sensitive skin. The downside, however, is that they tend to be thick formulas that leave a white cast behind on the skin. Their active ingredients are powders that are naturally white in color, with this being particularly noticeable on darker skin tones.
Thankfully, new innovations are providing new ways forward for mineral sunscreen fans. More and more brands have been experimenting with tinting their mineral sunscreen formulas so that the white cast is no longer quite so visible. The pigments in the tints neutralize that ghostly finish that mineral sunscreens are infamous for, and now that a variety of shades are becoming available, it’s easier than ever to find a tinted formula that will match your natural skin tone.
Microbiome-Friendly Sunscreens
The skin microbiome has been a big buzzword in the skincare industry lately. It refers to the diverse ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on the skin’s surface. More and more studies have been linking the microbiome to the various skin conditions out there, from dermatitis to acne. In essence, they show that a healthy skin microbiome means less chance of dealing with skin problems.
With sunscreen being a product that should ideally be used several times a day, it’s important for these formulas to take the skin microbiome into account. Many traditional sunscreen ingredients can have a disruptive effect on this delicate ecosystem. However, this is something that’s set to soon change.
Skincare brands are now looking into ways in which microbiome-friendly sunscreens can be created. Some brands have taken to adjusting the pH level of their formulas to make it as skin-identical as possible. Others are experimenting with incorporating live probiotics into their products, while some are also introducing alternative preservatives that won’t interfere with microbiome balance in the way that many preservatives are notorious for. Either way, these advancements spell good news for both your skin and your sun protection efforts!
The Future of Sun Protection
Sunscreens are evolving in a big way, with new innovations aiming to make sun protection easier, more convenient, and more accessible. This perfectly fits in with what modern-day consumers are looking for in their skincare products, which should hopefully mean that, in the near future, sun damage rates should finally begin to decline.
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