Regardless of skin type or complexion, everyone benefits from sunscreen. However, many products suggest otherwise.
Many aren’t formulated with diverse skin types or tones in mind, creating gaps in accessible and comfortable sun care.
Below, we explore the importance of diverse sunscreen formulations, the distinct needs of skin types and tones, and how Wild Child helps brands create inclusive sun care.
- We Need Tailored Solutions: Sun protection is highly personalised, so when manufacturers don’t cater to diverse skin types, it’s harder for people to care for their skin.
- Skin is Unique: Sunscreen for sensitive skin, dark skin, and so on isn’t always one and the same. Skin types and tones dictate the effectiveness and comfort of sunscreen.
- How Private Labelling Helps: Developing sunscreen is costly and lengthy. We step in with pre-developed, thoroughly tested and approved formulations that support diverse skin types without neglecting quality or pure ingredients.
Why Tailoring Sunscreen Formulations for Different Skin Types Matters
Sunscreen absorbs or reflects harmful ultraviolet rays before they penetrate your skin. By going without, you risk premature ageing, sunburn, discolouration, and an increased chance of developing skin cancer.
That said, as with many forms of skincare, different skin types often need distinct formulas for sunscreen to be comfortable and beneficial to use.
Skin types also vary significantly, potentially leading to neglectful suncare if certain ingredients or textures don’t suit you. Meanwhile, on the manufacturing end, not catering to diverse skin types limits your customers’ choices and your ability to represent multiple demographics.
In addition, a 2021 study stressed the need for personalised sunscreen recommendations as sunlight impacts skin types differently.
Fortunately, it also notes that personalised sun care is increasingly possible thanks to modern innovations.
For instance, through our private labelling expertise, we help you tailor formulations that encourage consistent use and long-term skin health for many skin types and tones. You can also address challenges like comfort, inclusivity, and allergies to better align with your brand and customer needs.
Understanding Different Skin Types and Sunscreen Needs
There’s no shortage of sunscreen products.
Chemical, natural, spray-on, stick, aerosol, clear zinc, mineral, and powder—we’re spoiled for choice, but understanding the differences among skin types is key to formulating effective protection.
Below, we go over the five main skin types, their characteristics, and the best kind of sun care for each.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is highly reactive. As a result, some sunscreens for delicate skin cause redness, dryness, or itchiness.
That said, neglecting sunscreen puts sensitive skin at greater risk of damage because of the skin’s weaker protective barrier. Sunlight can also worsen conditions like rosacea, triggering flare-ups.
To reduce reactions, sunscreen for sensitive skin should be hypoallergenic, soothing, and fragrance-free. Additionally, mineral sunscreens tend to work better because they form a physical barrier rather than absorb into the skin.
Oily skin
Excess sebum, large pores, and acne characterise oily skin. People with this skin type often avoid sunscreen because the wrong products can increase greasiness or worsen acne.
However, unprotected oily skin is potentially susceptible to sun exposure because UV rays may increase breakouts or dryness, triggering more oil production.
The best sunscreen for oily skin is lightweight, non-comedogenic and mattifying. These formulations neither clog pores nor leave your skin with a greasy finish.
Normal skin
Normal skin has a balanced texture and complexion. It rarely has sensitivities, dryness, or greasiness, and few breakouts.
Although caring for normal skin is often less challenging than other skin types, unprotected and prolonged sun exposure will still cause damage.
Fortunately, many types of sunscreen formulas work well here. For example, we advise a balanced, hydrating product that leaves a finer finish without overloading your pores.
Dry skin
Dry skin tends to be rough, flaky, and dull as it doesn’t produce enough sebum.
Sunscreen for dry skin is crucial because sun exposure decreases the already low level of hydration—increasing flakiness and risking permanent damage.
Formulations with hydrating ingredients are ideal as they help soothe the skin. Furthermore, these sunscreens create a protective barrier that locks in moisture, preventing further dehydration.
Combination skin
Combination skin usually refers to a mixture of oily skin on the T-zone and dry skin on the cheeks.
Consequently, people with combination skin have similar challenges to those with only oil or dry skin. For example, your T-zone may break out often while the cheeks flake from prolonged sun exposure.
Balancing moisture and oil control is key. Products targeting dry or oily skin may not be as effective, so specialised sunscreen for combination skin ensures the right protection and comfort.
Importance of Inclusivity in Sun Care
Skin type plays an important role in how a person responds to a product, but complexion can also influence effectiveness and usage. However, traditional sunscreen formulations often fail to accommodate this reality.
Many products primarily focus on only one skin tone, provide minimal protection, or are poor fits for certain skin conditions—excluding many types of people.
By prioritising inclusivity and choosing effective formulations, it’s easier to make sun protection accessible and reliable.
To further highlight the importance of inclusivity in sun care, here are some examples of complexions with distinct needs:
Dark skin
People with dark skin have more melanin than those with fair skin, meaning they have some natural protection against UV rays but nowhere near enough to replace sunscreen.
That said, dark skin and sunscreen are often a tricky combination as many products leave a visible and undesirable white cast.
Consequently, the ideal sunscreen for dark skin provides seamless blending. Tinted products particularly avoid white casts and offer additional protection through iron oxides, which help against hyperpigmentation and skin damage from blue light.
Fair skin
Fair skin is significantly more vulnerable to sun exposure because it has less melanin. Therefore, increased protection through SPF 50+ products is essential.
The best type of sunscreen for fair skin ultimately depends on your skin type. However, regular reapplication is important as the products wear off and fair skin is likely to burn, even if you applied sunscreen earlier.
Acne-prone skin
As acne causes scarring, redness, and irritation, people with acne often avoid sunscreen because they fear it might worsen their skin.
However, sunscreen for acne-prone skin often aligns with the needs for oily skin. Both benefit from lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas. Additionally, sunscreen can help improve acne and reduce redness by protecting skin from inflammation and dryness.
The Science Behind Sunscreen Formulation for Different Skin Types
To develop sunscreen, manufacturers blend UV-reflecting or absorbing ingredients ( zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or chemical filters) with a base, emulsifiers, water, stabilisers, and preservatives.
Very often, sunscreen products are almost identical to each other due to the limits of ingredients. However, modern innovations make it possible to cater to different skin types through hero ingredients, moisturising agents, and water or gel-based formulations.
Here are some examples:
- Normal skin: Many formulations work, namely lightweight, broad-spectrum SPF formulations
- Oily skin: Requires non-comedogenic formulations. Including hero ingredients like green tea, tea tree oil, or niacinamide is popular
- Dry skin: Nourishing ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides hydrate dry skin
- Sensitive skin: Hypoallergenic or soothing ingredients benefit delicate skin. Examples include aloe vera, chamomile, calendula, or mineral sunscreens
- Combination skin: Requires lightweight, oil-free, and non-comedogenic formulations to support both dry and oily areas
Although the ingredients above are beneficial, developing new sunscreen formulations to suit different skin types is costly and lengthy.
To better meet unique needs and expedite the process, Wild Child’s chemists provide pre-developed, thoroughly tested formulations.
We rely on only pure, scientifically-valuated materials that support long-term skin health, with tinted shades, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, or kid-friendly options available to best protect any skin—regardless of type or complexion.
Choose Wild Child to Develop Your Next Best Sunscreen
When you choose Wild Child, you not only gain high-quality private label formulations—but you tap into over 30 years of expertise to add your branding.
We understand the challenges and science of diverse skin types. As a result, we apply the right science-backed solutions to manufacture effective, inclusive, and luxurious sunscreen that satisfies compliance requirements, skin needs, and application methods with beautiful bespoke packaging.
To get started today, get in contact and learn more about our sunscreen manufacturing.