As personal care routines become increasingly expensive, consumers are streamlining their suncare habits. Even previously growing sectors, such as hybrid suncare, are experiencing their first decline in years. The rising…
US
Suncare
simple
US Suncare and Skin Protection Market Report 2026
"As personal care routines become increasingly expensive, consumers are streamlining their suncare habits. Revitalization lies in consistency over excess."
As personal care routines become increasingly expensive, consumers are streamlining their suncare habits. Even previously growing sectors, such as hybrid suncare, are experiencing their first decline in years.
The rising popularity of mineral-based and clean-label claims, combined with an increasing demand for diverse product textures, highlights the evolving preferences of today’s consumers. Adding to this shift, the anticipated FDA approval of BEMT – the first new UV filter in two decades – could signal a significant reset for the sunscreen category. Inspired by international models renowned for their efficacy, skin feel and dermatological credibility, the US sunscreen market is poised for transformation.
Revitalizing the category lies in promoting consistency and discipline over excess. While most sunscreen users apply regularly, they fall short of daily use. Without compelling narratives and innovations that promote year-round application, category volumes may continue to decline despite occasional bursts of excitement from new product launches. The long-term health of the US sunscreen market depends not on introducing more products but on aligning with daily lifestyles.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Market size and forecast of suncare and skin protection products
Key suncare industry players and sales performances
The impact of macroeconomic factors on the suncare and skin protection market
Winning strategies and innovations for suncare and skin protection stakeholders
Key demographic audiences and purchase drivers of suncare and skin protection
Evolving preferences for suncare textures and claims
Report Attributes
Details
Published Date
January 2026
Data Range
2019 – 2030
Measurement Metrics
Revenue in US $
Country Focus
United States of America (USA)
Consumer Data
2,000 internet users aged 18+, December 2025
Number of Pages
54
Market Segmentation
Facial Sunscreen, Facial Moisturizer with SPF, Body Sunscreen, Body Moisturizer with SPF, Makeup with SPF, Haircare with SPF, Sun Protection Supplements, Clothing or Accessories with Specified UV Protection, Tanning Oil/Lotion, and Self-Tanner/Sunless Tanner used at Home.
Leading Companies
Edgewell Personal Care (Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic), Kenvue (Neutrogena, Aveeno), S.C. Johnson & Son Inc (Sun Bum), Beiersdorf Inc (Coppertone, Eucerin), L’Oréal (La Roche-Posay, CeraVe), and Private Label.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for suncare and skin protection in the US
Winning market strategies and innovations
Emphasize baseline consistency over quantity of products
Skinfeel and good-for-you formulas motivate consistency
Align at-home tanning with healthy skin priorities
Discover the top five trend territories for success in US skincare using Black Swan’s social prediction technology
THE MARKET
Snapshot: market size and forecast of suncare and skin protection products
Report scope and market definition
Suncare and the economic outlook: consumer sentiment remains depressed amid slowing job growth and higher prices
Graph 1: consumer sentiment index, 2022-25
Market drivers
Suncare takes a hit from rising costs of total personal care routines
Graph 2: value, average price and volume of MULO suncare and skin protection product sales, 2020-24
New filter approval to bring new formulas to the market
Aging population challenges a category still anchored to outdoor activity
Graph 3: population, by age group, 1980-2055*
Preference and availability of foreign sunscreens remains prevalent…
…and is already shaping new marketing claims among domestic sunscreen
Graph 4: suncare product launches with PA rating claims, 2020-25
Market size and key players
Market size and forecast of suncare and skin protection products
Graph 5: total retail sales and forecast of suncare and skin protection products, at current prices, 2019-30
US: total retail sales and forecast of suncare and skin protection products, at current prices, 2019-30
US: total retail sales and forecast of suncare and skin protection products, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2019-30
MULO sales of suncare and skin protection products, by leading companies, rolling weeks 2024 and 2025
Graph 6: suncare and skin protection MULO sales change of leading companies and brands, 2024-25
Graph 7: MULO suncare and skin protection share change of leading companies, 2024-25
US: MULO sales of suncare and skin protection products, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2024 and 2025
Keep an eye on Amazon as a key replenishment channel, beauty retailers + social as sources of discovery
Graph 8: retail channels for sunscreen, by generation, 2025
THE CONSUMER
Sunscreen usage trends
Use of topical SPF shows signs of decline
Graph 9: usage of sun protection products, 2024-25
Headwinds come from shrinking sun protection repertoires
Graph 10: repertoire of suncare and skin protection products by gender and age, 2024 vs 2025
Purchases of premium-positioned products may contribute to cannibalized spending
Graph 11: purchase of a premium sunscreen product/brand in the past 12 months, 2025
Low motivation among Gen X and older generations remains a persistent challenge
Graph 12: use of suncare products among consumers Gen X and older, 2024 vs 2025
Young men buck the trend with broader category engagement
Graph 13: net use of suncare products among men aged 18-35, 2024-25
Segment opportunity: men’s daily suncare
Sunscreen seasonality
Daily users remain in the minority, even during warmer months
Graph 14: frequency of use of suncare and skin protection products during warmer months (ie summer), 2025
Consistency of use remains key to brand and category health
Graph 15: select frequencies of use of facial moisturizer with SPF, 2025
Acknowledge seasonal changes to skincare priorities
SPF-infused personal care is also subject to seasonal de-prioritization
Graph 16: changes to suncare application in cooler months, by gender and age, 2025
Treat fall/winter as a tentpole moment
Sunscreen preferences: claims, textures and formats
Gen Z leads the demand for clean and aesthetic claims
Mineral preferences are here to stay, bolstered by better-for-you claims
Graph 17: select filters associated with botanical/herbal claims in suncare, 2022-25
Mineral preferences are here to stay, bolstered by better-for-you claims
Graph 18: attitudes and behaviors toward mineral vs chemical sunscreens, 2025
Young people’s mineral preferences are passed along to their children
Anticipate mineral filters to become a norm for Gen Alpha skin protection
Balance protection benefits and textures for situational skin needs
Graph 19: select attitudes toward SPF levels and product texture, by generation, 2025
Leverage variety and wearability for off-season, year-long use
At-home tanning trends and routines
At-home tanning products see steady growth
Graph 20: use of at-home tanning products, 2022-25
Align at-home solutions with melanated and ethnic skin priorities
Graph 21: usage of tanning oil/lotion by race or ethnicity, 2022-25
Continue to expand perceptions of who can benefit from tanning
Graph 22: frequency of use of self-tanners/sunless tanners, by gender and age, 2025
Continue to expand perceptions of who can benefit from tanning
At-home tanning preferences: benefits, textures and formats
Purchase drivers are diverse, but some fall along demographic lines
Graph 23: purchase factors of at-home tanning products, by race or ethnicity, 2025
Enable both healthy skin appearance and skin longevity
Graph 24: select attitudes and behaviors toward at-home tanning by race or ethnicity, 2025
Conventional creams and lotions decline for lighter-weight formats
Graph 25: textures and formats of at-home tanning products used, 2024-25
Continue to innovate on delivery systems that make routines easier
Graph 26: at-home tanning product launches by format/texture, 2022-25
APPENDIX
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Forecast methodology
Consumer bases: frequency of use
US: value, average price and volume of MULO suncare and skin protection products sales, 2019-24
US generation groups
Terms and abbreviations
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As personal care routines become increasingly expensive, consumers are streamlining their suncare habits. Revitalization lies in consistency over excess.
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