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The History of Sunscreen
Casestudy
A loooong time ago...
Ancient Egyptians smear things like jasmine and rice bran on their skin in an effort to prevent tanning.
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To ward off the sun, some European women wear visards. The dark, multi-layered face masks render them unable to speak.
16th century
A link between sun exposure and some types of skin cancer is established. It wasn’t enough to discourage sunbathing though, which had been made popular by Coco Chanel, who turned a post-vacation tan into a status symbol.
1927
The founder of L’Oreal, Eugène Schueller, invents the first sunscreen.
1935
A product with additional protection called Glacier Cream — as created by a chemistry student — reaches the market.
1946
The FDA reclassifies sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug instead of a cosmetic product; labeling requirements become stricter.
1972
New formulations like spray-on and gel-based sunscreens enter the scene.
1990s
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Coppertone hits the scene with its iconic ads and catchy jingles.
1940s
The FDA announces that it will be reevaluating the safety of all non-mineral sunscreen ingredients. Potential updates to formulation regulations are still forthcoming.
2019
With a single Instagram comment, Rihanna sets the record straight: You need to wear sunscreen every single day, regardless of the time of year.
2020
Coppertone hits the scene with its iconic ads and catchy jingles.
1940s
The FDA announces that it will be reevaluating the safety of all non-mineral sunscreen ingredients. Potential updates to formulation regulations are still forthcoming.
2019
With a single Instagram comment, Rihanna sets the record straight: You need to wear sunscreen every single day, regardless of the time of year.
2020