Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating General USA, UK, and every part of the world Sunscreen question?

  • USA, UK, and every part of the world Sunscreen question?

    Posted by Pattsi on January 26, 2021 at 8:05 am

    I’m curious, is high SPF sunscreen not a think in usa, uk?
    since I only see mostly SPF 15 products (I haven’t seen the whole market yet).
    I know in the southern part they like tanned skin and focus more on anti-aging or wrinkle cream. But isn’t it better to protect photo-damage from the start.
    Any idea, discussion ‘s appreciated. Thank you.

    Pattsi replied 3 years, 3 months ago 7 Members · 10 Replies
  • 10 Replies
  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    January 26, 2021 at 9:01 am

    There is a huge variety of sunscreens in the UK. You just need to check in pharmacy such as boots. One caveat they all are non mineral. I have to order mineral sunscreen online because it’s impossible to find that in a store. I lived in the US for several years. Didn’t have a problem finding spf 50 either and it was much easier to find mineral sunscreen in the US because they have only two allowed UVA blockers one of them being ZnO. Again not in a store specializing on makeup and other cosmetics but in pharmacies like Duane Read or CVS.

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    January 26, 2021 at 9:06 am

    Btw, it’s impossible to persuade people that sun is bad for them. Every single time sun shows up in London you can see crowds of Fitzpatrick I and II type skin people with different level of sun burns (as red as a lobster) and parks are packed with sun bathing people (even when it’s cold).

  • Pharma

    Member
    January 26, 2021 at 7:53 pm
    Sunlight causes about 80% of skin ageing.
    In the EU, new and environmentally safer sunscreens are available. Some of these, although acting like chemical filters, also act like mineral sunscreens. The brand Ultrasun is an example and also offers combo versions with nano zinc oxide.
    Unfortunately/sadly, the US does not approve these environmentally friendlier ingredients yet.
  • Bill_Toge

    Member
    January 26, 2021 at 11:08 pm

    @ngarayeva001 and the percentage is even higher in Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow

  • Pattsi

    Member
    January 27, 2021 at 7:14 am

    Thank you @ngarayeva001 Thank you @Pharma Thank you @Bill_Toge
    very appreciated it.
    I’m aware of 
    high SPF sunscreens in pharmacies but they tend to target occasional use like pool or beach trip, all of my samples are from big or quite big brands. And the prices are ridiculously high.
    It seems to be a dead end to do US based contracted manufacturing sunscreen for regular usage.
      :'(
    @ngarayeva001 @B@Bill_Toge It’s good to know you have a sun in UK.
    I always thought there’re only three season in UK - windy, rainy, winter. :)🙂   

  • Benz3ne

    Member
    January 27, 2021 at 12:47 pm

    Pattsi said:

    @ngarayeva001 @B@Bill_Toge It’s good to know you have a sun in UK.
    I always thought there’re only three season in UK - windy, rainy, winter. :)🙂   

    Narrow it down from UK to Wales and you’re probably right. Summer is but one day a year here. ;) 

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    January 27, 2021 at 3:07 pm

    We almost have sun in the UK unfortunately. Probably that’s why people react like this when they see sun. I have been here for 5 years and still struggling with my mood in November. Having said that, I am using sunscreen even in winter. I prefer mineral because as per my understanding it’s acting as a screen and provided that I won’t rub my face (yes that’s unlikely) I don’t need to reapply it (at least i winter).

  • Cafe33

    Member
    January 27, 2021 at 6:32 pm

    Here in Mexico, you see SPF 50 everywhere. The people I have met disregard anything below that level of protection. They use “matte effect” 50 SPF cream just to leave the house. Not for going on the beach. 

    In Canada, you see every SPF level and usually SPF 30 is used. Many people go out of their way to look darker and tanned. Some will use SPF 15 in order to get some protection and a tan (as they say anyway). My friend who visited from Canada brought tanning lotion for the beach. 

  • ozgirl

    Member
    January 27, 2021 at 10:18 pm
    Here in Australia most sunscreens are SPF50. We do have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and temperatures regularly above 40oC during summer so we need good protection.
  • Pattsi

    Member
    January 28, 2021 at 4:55 am

    Thank you @Cafe33 Thank you @ozgirl
    yes I used to have SPF 30 and 50 but over the past years only SPF 50 can make the sale. 
    I’m just thinking if I were to move to the states maybe there’s a market at least in CA and Florida but I don’t think so now.

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