I wanted to take a moment to share a slightly different story today, a behind-the-scenes look at our sunscreen. This launch has quite a story, and I want to be fully open about the choices we made and why.
Why sunscreen mattered from the start
When we started nourist, sunscreen was one of the most asked-about products. Many of you with sensitive skin told us that most sunscreens were too irritating for daily use. Some experienced breakouts, others found that their eczema patches flared up, while many still felt the formulas were heavy, sticky, or left a white cast. Finding something that felt comfortable and safe for everyday wear was a real challenge.
Finding the right balance
At nourist, choosing a mineral sunscreen might have seemed like the obvious step. Mineral filters are often perceived as healthy for the skin and better for the environment, which fits perfectly with our philosophy.
Years ago, I developed a mineral-based sunscreen with Marion Maakt, my first company. While it was suitable for many people with sensitive skin, over time I realized I was not fully satisfied with the formula. Mineral filters can feel thick or slightly drying, and even when the white cast is minimal, the texture can make the sunscreen less comfortable to wear daily. For some people, these effects are barely noticeable, and mineral sunscreens can work beautifully. For us, however, these drawbacks were significant enough that we could not be 100% convinced of the product.
For me, it is essential that I fully believe in a product before it reaches the shelves. That doesn’t mean it will suit every skin type (everyone’s skin is unique) but it does mean that the overall feedback must be overwhelmingly positive and I must personally feel confident that the formula lives up to our standards. That experience made us start over and completely rethink the sunscreen.
We spent years testing different combinations of UV filters, textures and supporting ingredients until we found the balance we were looking for.
Modern UV filters
After years of testing different UV filters, textures, and supporting ingredients, we found the balance we were looking for. We chose modern, next-generation, chemical UV filters that are both effective and gentle.
They work mainly at the surface of the skin, where they absorb UV radiation and safely transform it. While their mechanism is different, this is somewhat comparable to mineral filters, which also stay on the skin’s surface rather than being significantly absorbed into the bloodstream. The key difference is that these modern filters allow for a lighter, smoother finish that feels comfortable to wear every day.
What about the planet?
Environmental impact was also something we thought a lot about. It’s easy to assume that a mineral sunscreen would be better for the planet, and in some cases mineral filters like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are considered reef-friendly because they don’t contain the chemical UV filters associated with coral bleaching and other harm in marine ecosystems.
Research also shows that mineral filters can still make their way into waterways and ecosystems. Depending on how they’re formulated and processed, their effects aren’t yet fully understood. It’s a reminder that every product we use has an impact, nothing we put on our skin stays only on our skin, and what washes off eventually reaches the world around us. I wish it were different, but the truth is that no sunscreen ingredient is completely harmless to the environment.
That doesn’t mean we should stop using sunscreen, protecting your skin is important, but it does mean we need to be thoughtful and realistic about environmental claims. Choosing modern filters allowed us to create a sunscreen that is gentle, effective, and responsibly formulated, without compromising on comfort or daily wearability, while recognizing that balance and mindfulness matter just as much for the planet as for your skin.
The fragrance decision
We also spent a lot of time thinking about fragrance. Our initial goal was a fragrance-free sunscreen, but our fragrance-free formula had a muffled smell from the raw ingredients, which made it not pleasant to use.
After testing new lab samples with a subtle natural scent on a wide range of sensitive skin types, we made a careful decision. For our first nourist sunscreen, we included a hypoallergenic natural fragrance.
This fragrance is not synthetic, it is made from carefully selected parts of essential oils, and it was chosen to minimise irritation while keeping the experience enjoyable. We know fragrance can feel risky for sensitive skin, which is why we approached this choice with extreme caution.
Ideally, we would love to offer two options, one scented and one completely fragrance-free, but production costs make that challenging at this stage. This is something we hope to offer in the future.
Why SPF matters
Nowadays you read everywhere that you should wear sunscreen every single day. Honestly, that sometimes bothers me a little. It feels like the sun is being turned into a demon, and people are made to be afraid of sunlight. But the sun is life itself... without it, we literally cannot live.
There is no doubt that UV exposure contributes to skin aging. It has been thoroughly studied, and if your priority is to minimise wrinkles, then wearing SPF whenever you are exposed to the sun is one of the most effective steps you can take. Daily sun protection shields your skin from UV damage, helps prevent premature wrinkles and pigmentation, and supports overall skin vitality. Read more about slow aging in this blog.
That said, the sun itself is not your enemy, burning is. Burns are dangerous and should always be avoided, no matter your priorities. If wrinkles are not your main concern, you do not need to wear sunscreen every single day. What matters most is protecting yourself when it counts, avoiding burns, and finding a routine that works for your lifestyle.
By keeping your priorities in mind, you can make SPF work for you, more often if aging is your main focus, or selectively if your main concern is comfort and enjoyment in the sun.
A final note
Creating this sunscreen has been a journey, and being open with you about the choices we made is part of what nourist is all about. Every ingredient, every decision, every test was guided by our philosophy of care for your skin, for the planet, and for the experience of using it every day.
Want to try our sunscreen? You can find him here.
