Recipe Cosmetics designs sun protection in the form of ‘snowflakes’

Recipe Snow Flower Sun Protection Spray provides SPF 50 and UV sun protection with a cooling effect that the company says is the “first sun spray with snowflake shaped particles”.​

According to market researcher Gama Consumer, the use of cooling effects has become an ever more mainstream phenomenon in the skin care and sun protection market.

Its analysts have flagged up this recent innovation as an example of opportunity for creating more fun and dynamic concepts in the sun care space.

"Moving on from generic ‘cooling’ claims or increasingly prevalent ‘ice cream / sorbet’ concepts, companies may feel emboldened to branch out with distinctive and playful ideas, moving sun care from a functional necessity to a more pleasurable and interactive product experience,​" Gama reps tell CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com.

Other products paving the way in this category includes the likes of Nivea’s Sun Protect and Refresh Invisible Cooling Sun Spray and Neutrogena’s Fresh Cooling Sunblocking Spray.

Preference for protection​, coverage and​ cooling down…​

Exposure to the sun is avoided by all means in Asia. Protection is about obtaining clearer, whiter skin and treating pigmentation irregularities from as young as 15. 

According to Florence Bernardin of Inspiration et Information, a Franco-Asian team of analysts; Asian woman look for foundation that also offers protection from the sun all year long.

"They look for protection that will be light enough as a makeup base, waterproof and sweat resistant while being transparent​," she tells this publication.

Florence says that factor 30 and up is best while a light formula is a must, dedicated first to face, and easy to wash off.

"Mists are also favoured, as they can be re-applied during the day without touching the face," ​says the Asia expert.

According to Alain Khaiat, UVA protection rather than SPF products will treat pigmentation irregularities, however this has yet to resonate with Asian consumers.

Thus, protection is sought out in products that reverse or keep this damage at bay, but Alain says that consumers are looking to SPF based products based on an ingrained belief that these type of products are the best protection against pigmentation.

This he says is a misconception, but notes that UVA still does not 'resonate with consumers'.

"On Caucasian skin, wrinkles appear from exposure to the sun as well as other factors, but they are not immediate or certainly do not appear at age fifteen,"​ Alain tells CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com.