Discover the care behind suncare formulations: Trends that shape market growth

Consumers’ rising health awareness drives their preference for higher SPF ratings on suncare products. Specifically, they want SPF 50+ to help protect their skin.

This trend is highest in Asia-Pacific countries. Turkey’s Sundressa Sunscreen with SPF 50+ is one example that meets this growing demand.

India is slower to adapt, with only 21% of Indian sunscreen users prioritising SPF levels in their purchasing decisions. To gain traction in the Indian market, brands should provide other stand-out traits like multifunctionality, aesthetics, and science-backed evidence.

Consumers are more active on digital devices and want protection from blue light. The blue light protection ingredient market is predicted to grow to $2 billion in 2034.

Multifunctionality plays a role, with consumers wanting products to incorporate filtering out blue light and reducing signs of aging skin. Beyond sunscreen, primers, serums, and facial gels are formulated with blue light protection.

For formulators, this trend requires developing products with digital protection in mind while ensuring ingredient compatibility.

Rising anxiety about sun exposure drives consumers to purchase products that protect their skin from UV rays. They care about skin health and longevity, as well as preventing and repairing UV-damaged skin.

This fuels the global UV filter market growth, predicted to reach more than $620 million by 2033.

Differing UV filter regulations impact innovation, with the US being stricter than Europe. Currently, the US only has two FDA-approved ingredients with strong UV protection, while Europe has eight.

Brands must balance meeting regional regulatory requirements and consumer needs to achieve desired UV protection.

Multifunctional products are becoming table stakes in the personal care industry. With consumer routines simplifying, brands that consolidate skincare functions into one product can win more shelf space and customer loyalty. For manufacturers, this means a greater demand for flexible formulas and ingredient versatility.

These are some ways brands meet this demand:

• Use ingredients found in face creams for suncare, such as vitamin C and niacinamide.
• Incorporate hydration and antioxidant benefits into suncare formulations.
• Add post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) benefits to help fade dark spots and even skin tone.

Further explore how multifunctional products benefit consumers and manufacturers: [Guide] Global trend: Multifunctional personal care products

Heavy, thick, or chalky sunscreen falls short as skincare and beauty expectations converge.

Instead of traditional sunscreen lotions that cause these effects, consumers opt for more convenient and aesthetically pleasing texture options:

• Lightweight formulas that absorb quickly
• Suncare formulations that won’t clog pores
• Products that spread easily and leave no white residue

To meet product texture demand, more brands are developing suncare products with silky textures. The end goal is for sunscreen to feel like moisturiser and make skincare more enjoyable. Brands that fail to meet consumers’ expectations risk becoming obsolete.

Discover more about how to elevate suncare through product texture: [Guide] Formulation texture and aesthetics: Achieve consumer-preferred sensory experiences

The global tinted sunscreen market is projected to grow to almost $501 million by 2032. Specifically, South America’s tinted sunscreen market has a growth rate of 4.4% from 2024 to 2031 due to:

• Increased awareness of UV protection
• Rising disposable income
• Increased tourism

Brands are adopting by expanding shade ranges to better meet users’ needs, such as SuperGoop!’s tinted SPF sunscreen with 14 shade options.

Success depends on delivering inclusive shade ranges with lightweight texture, without sacrificing SPF efficacy.

Forty-five percent of consumers think sunscreen ingredients negatively impact the environment. For this reason, the natural sunscreen ingredient market, like aloe vera and green tea, is growing, with a predicted worth of about $71.23 billion by 2032.

Additionally, there’s a desire for sunscreen that is safe for coral reefs, like Suntribe, with the market predicted to reach $4.8 billion by 2033. Coral reef-safe sunscreen doesn’t include ingredients like oxybenzone or octinoxate that can harm marine ecosystems.

One startup, INNOV&SEA, even offers reef-friendly suncare testing. The ecotoxicity test uses cell cultures of Anemonia viridis, a marine invertebrate related to corals. With this test, manufacturers can adjust their formulas to reduce impact on the aquatic ecosystem.