Mintel | Today, nearly half (48%) of German consumers think that brands should provide more information about the utilisation of their sun care products*.
Even though nearly 40% believe sun care products are the best way to avoid signs of ageing, 53% think it’s difficult to remember when to reapply sunscreen. In particular, younger consumers aged between 16 and 24 have difficulties picking the right sun protection. As a result, 44% of this age group are unsure which sun protection factor (SPF) they should use in different weather conditions, and nearly 18 % forgoes additional sun care products if their make-up or skinc are products already contain an integrated SPF. There is also uncertainty about after-sun products, which are marketed as soothing and cooling. For example, of Germans thinks that these kinds of products work just as well as normal moisturisers.
Alex Fisher, Associate Director, Beauty & Personal Care at Mintel, explains: “We know it is important to regularly reapply sunscreen, especially after going in the water. While brands often try to remind consumers about when to reapply, it can be easily forgotten. Younger consumers are especially apathetic when it comes to sun protection, young skin is better at repairing itself in the short-term, and longer-term consequences of sun damage are not visible to them yet. Brands can incorporate additional short-term benefits into sunscreen, such as insect repellent, to encourage users to reapply more often.”
Sun care sustainability
In recent years, sustainability has become an important topic for the sun care industry. Chemical UV filters such as octocrylene, octinoxate and oxzybenzone for example have been declared responsible for bleaching and therefore damaging coral reefs. While some regions have already taken action and decided to ban sunscreen containing these ingredients, such as Hawaii and Florida; in Europe, 59% of sunscreens launched in 2018 contained octocrylene, followed by octinoxate (24%) and oxybenzone (8%). A possible alternative to chemical filters could be so called mechanical filters such as zinc oxide. Germany has seen a particular growth for sunscreen products containing this ingredient, rising from just 2% of all new product launches in this category in 2015 to 15% in 2018.
“Sustainability is a hot topic across the world now, and beauty is being put in the spotlight for its use of plastic. While we can see the damage plastic packaging is doing to our immediate environment, it is much more difficult to see the effects of micro plastics like those found in sunscreen. Coral and marine life have provided early warning signs, and many brands have taken this on-board, changing to mineral ingredients and making ‘reef-safe’ claims.” Alex Fisher adds.
*new survey from British market research company Mintel
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