Taneesa Williamson Where anti-pollutant sunscreen and high-performance skincare ingredients collide.
Frances van der Velden never loved to wear sunscreen due to its reactive formulas, sticky texture and white cast, along with the ‘screeny smell’. But when Frances was diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 36, she realised something had to change.
Frances: “When I was first diagnosed with skin cancer, I was devastated and shocked. As someone who thrives on predictability, rational thinking and doesn’t tend to get emotional, my diagnosis was momentous.”
From here, Frances began to plan her ultimate “anti-sunscreen” sunscreen, eliminating all the parts that deter people from using sunscreen, and instead creating a product that consumers would fall in love with.
Launching this October, Airyday joins a new generation of sun protection called Skinscreens, where SPF and high performance skincare collide. Airyday Skinscreens are formulated to the highest standard of sun protection (SPF 50+) and are both UVA & UVB approved, 40 minutes water resistant and provide blue light protection.
Skinscreens are packed with high performance active ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide , Vitamin C, E & F, CollaPlant (Vegan Collagen), are dermatologically tested, and are suitable for both the face and body.
The focus on the product is also at some of the core values of Frances, being manufactured as cruelty-free, sustainable (made from 100% recycled aluminium tubes), vegan and reef friendly, and all made in Australia. Airyday Skinscreens also provide a choice for consumers, with either chemical or physical options, dewy finishes or soft-focus finishes, and also a sensitive skin option.
The range of high-performance sunscreens will also be accompanied by a Night Rain Sleep Mask to help relieve tired and stressed skins, providing a 72-hour deep hydration hit.
We spoke to Frances about her venture into the tightly-regulated territory of sunscreens, and what is to come for the future of her business venture.
We know how strict the TGA are on Australian sunscreens, how rigorous was the process in obtaining TGA approval?
TGA approval for a sunscreen is a rigorous process as there are so many boxes you have to tick – but with good reason due to the risks you are exposed to from sun damage.
Once you’ve formulated something you like and think will work, you’ve immediately got to start months of stability testing and meet specific criteria. You must carry out clinical testing in accordance with Australian ISO standards, on a minimum of 10 subjects to prove your formula is broad spectrum, SPF rating claims & the water resistance time claim. Then finally your packaging design & labelling must also meet TGA requirements.
Overall it’s a financially and time intensive exercise as it can take up to 2 years to bring a sunscreen to market. If anything fails – you need to start right back at square one.
Are there plans to extend the range?
In our research we realised that a lot of consumers were changing their morning skin care regime to suit the behaviours of their skin that day – but they were still using the same sunscreen product each and every time.
To us this seemed counter-intuitive, so we have been on a quest to create the perfect SPF wardrobe, which would give consumers the variety of sunscreens they need to match their skin requirements. Definitely watch this space.
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