06/14/2026
Another year, same message!
One question I get asked fairly often is, “Why don’t you make an SPF?”
The answer is simple: because sun protection is one area where I believe science matters more than marketing.
In the United States, sunscreen isn’t considered a cosmetic product, it’s regulated as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug by the FDA. If a company wants to claim SPF protection, those claims should be backed by testing.
You’ll often hear things like, “Coconut oil has a natural SPF of around 4-5,” or that other botanical oils offer some UV protection. While certain ingredients may provide limited protection in laboratory settings, you can’t simply combine several “natural SPF” ingredients and add those numbers together. That’s not how sunscreen works.
This is where science comes into play.
Natural ingredients vary. Think about strawberries. Some are sweet, some are sour, some are bright red, and some are a little mushy. That’s perfectly fine when you’re eating them. For sun protection, consistency matters. Natural ingredients can vary from harvest to harvest, which makes reliable UV protection much more complicated.
To legally and responsibly sell an SPF product, brands invest thousands of dollars into testing. If you want claims like water resistant, sweat resistant, broad spectrum, or specific SPF ratings, costs can climb significantly, sometimes reaching $30,000 or more.
And if testing shows your formula only performs as SPF 10 when you were aiming for SPF 30? You reformulate, resubmit, and pay for testing again.
Most small businesses, present company included, simply don’t have that kind of financial investment available.
So while I absolutely love supporting small businesses and there are indie brands that have made that investment, I always encourage people to ask questions, look for testing, and talk with an esthetician about SPF recommendations.
When it comes to candles, body oils, scrubs, soaps, and self-care products, I’m happy to formulate all day long.
When it comes to protecting your skin from UV damage and the risks that come with it, I’m absolutely betting on science.
