Hot Girl Summer Needs SPF

If clothes are my first love, skincare (and makeup) might be my religion. The older I get, the more serious I am about anything I add to my wardrobe, because ain’t nobody got space (or money) for “meh” pieces. When it comes to my skincare, I am always evaluating what is best on the market while still trying to keep things simple - I have about 4-7 mins on a good day to get my face ready for work. I tried to be the kind of person who gets facials regularly, but I couldn’t even make it to the second month. However, I am diligent about my at-home routine; I don’t remember the last time I went to bed without washing my face.

As I approach 40, I’ve noticed a shift in my skincare focus. I’m officially adding 'worrying about wrinkles' to my usual stress over hyperpigmentation. It’s a lot to manage, but I'm on a mission to find the products that actually multitask as well as I do. And the thing is, there is one simple thing I do that helps with both: wearing SPF. I’ve known about the importance of sun protection since childhood, as I tend to burn and peel when I spend too much time under the sun. But I didn’t realize the importance of SPF - specifically wearing it daily - until I saw two videos from Lisa Eldridge 16 years ago. That’s all it took for me to become obsessive about daily application (especially given I use tret on and off a lot). While a lot of my skincare has changed in the last 16 years, I have been consistent about two things she recommended: Bioderma and SPF.

Though I have never switched my micellar water of choice, I have tried countless brands of SPF. I realized pretty early on that I am allergic to chemical sunscreen; it activates my dermatitis, and I often end up with swollen eyes and an itchy face. So, I’ve had no option but to stick to a mineral sunscreen routine, and let me tell you, that has been a journey. Back in those days (God, I feel old), most mineral formulas were thick and chalky. And I had to wear makeup on top just to counteract the grey cast. Then came the tinted ones, but sometimes the tint was so strong (or just the wrong tone) that I didn’t use as much product as was actually needed to achieve the SPF strength on the label.

Still, I tried my best to get something on my face every day. Even on my wedding day (which was outdoors in the daytime) I made sure to wear sunscreen and test it with my foundation to ensure I didn’t have a weird cast in my photos. Back then, my biggest fear was my breakouts turning dark from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and I was too paranoid to even skip it for my wedding.

There are plenty of incredibly knowledgeable people out there sharing the fact that all the serums and treatments in the world are pointless if we don’t protect our skin every day with SPF, and I take that advice very seriously. And any derm worth their salt will tell you the best sunscreen is the one you actually wear daily. Whether that is a mineral or a chemical formula, it’s all about your willingness to wear it every single day. While all that is true, finding an SPF that I truly love has been a tough mission. In the last year or so, mineral SPFs have come a long way, and there are some truly great ones I’ve been enjoying recently. That’s right “ENJOYING.” Not wearing it because I have to, but rather because I actually enjoy the application.

One such brand is Sonni. I came across the brand on my IG last year and after a couple of months of wondering about brand, I just decided one day that I really wanted to try it. I went with SunDay Mineral Serum SPF 50+ and I think it was the packaging that really got me 😬 if I am being honest. Regardless, I’ve been wearing it daily since this January and even featured it in one of my “Five on the Fly” segments. What I love about Sonni SPF is that while it does go on with a mild white cast, that disappears within 10 to 15 minutes, I don’t feel the need to add anything on top if I’m WFH. On the days I wear makeup, the serum-y SPF provides a great, primer-like base. I love the glass bottle and dropper; the formulation is very fluid and my highly sensitive skin has been so happy with it. Sonni’s mineral formulation is different from other brands, which definitely makes the application a lot more enjoyable than what most of us have come to expect from similar products. (You can read more about it in the interview below.)

So I did what I always do and reached out to the founders, asking if they would be interested in being interviewed for Brands and Bobs, and they very kindly said yes. If you are in the market for a new SPF to try, I think Sonni might have the formula for you.

And if you do want to try Sonni, use code: BRANDSANDBOBS15 for a discount! Now, here is more from Meg, one of Sonni’s co-founders!

1. Can you share a little bit about your background?

My co-founder, Eli, and I grew up in Toronto as family friends and then both ended up in California for undergrad. After graduating from USC, I joined the Global E-Commerce Strategy team at The Estée Lauder Companies. Eli graduated from Stanford and went into the consumer practice at McKinsey before joining Little Spoon, where she fell in love with operations. We both eventually got the business school itch. Eli returned to Stanford for her MBA and I went to Kellogg, where the early idea for SONNI started taking shape.

2. What made you want to launch Sonni?

One day I was walking to class and realized I was getting a sunburn. I had applied SPF on my face that morning as part of my skincare routine, but I hadn’t reapplied, and I definitely didn’t have any on my shoulders and chest (I avoided those areas because the product I was using usually got all over my clothes). Around the same time, my older sister - a doctor who spends a lot of time inside - had melanoma removed from her ear. This combination was a huge unlock for me, especially after my time in the beauty and skincare industry.

Dermatologists consistently say that daily sunscreen and regular reapplication are the most important habits for protecting your skin. In practice, though, most formulas aren’t designed for the way people really live. Chemical formulas can sting your eyes or smell strong, and mineral options are often gentler but feel heavy or leave a strong white cast on skin. Most products are still designed for beach days rather than the everyday sun exposure we get year-round.

I started researching sunscreen formulas, meeting with mineral SPF formulators in the US, and learning more about the science behind zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. I found a partner approaching mineral SPF formulation in a very different way and was able to develop a formula that felt meaningfully better than what I had been testing. That became the foundation for SONNI.

3. What do you feel makes Sonni unique?

A big part of it comes down to the way we formulate mineral sunscreen. Most mineral SPF formulas start with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as a powder that gets mixed into the formula. Our formulas begin with zinc or titanium in elemental metal form, which we break down in a controlled process to create a much more potent mineral particle.

This means we can use a lower percentage in the formula while still achieving the same SPF level, which makes a big difference in how the product feels on the skin. Mineral sunscreen has historically struggled with heaviness, dryness, or all visible cast. But, using a more potent form of zinc in a smaller percentage helps avoid many of those issues while also leaving room in the formula for skincare ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to support the skin barrier and hydration.

People don’t like wearing sunscreen every day, but they do love their skincare rituals. We’re trying to make SPF and suncare feel more like that experience - something you actually look forward to using, with formulas that feel luxurious and beautiful enough to become part of your routine year-round.

We currently have three SPF products in our SunDay collection (Invisible Defense SPF 40+ and Mineral Serum SPF 50+ for face; Body Balm SPF 40+ for body), but suncare doesn’t stop at SPF. We launched with one treatment in our SunDown line that’s designed to support skin recovery after time in the sun. We took cues from Korean beauty and applied them to an after-sun category that, in the US, has historically been pretty limited, often defined by big bottles of aloe gel. The SunDown Restoration Electrolyte Sheet Mask is a cooling, 20-minute reset after a long day in the sun or, honestly, just a long day in general.

4. What is something you wish your consumers knew or understood about your industry?

I think there’s a lot of conversation in the U.S. right now about ingredients and product testing. Many of those conversations are valid, especially because some brands have clearly cut corners when it comes to properly testing their products.

At the same time, some of the ingredient discussion has become so detailed and specific that we’re starting to lose the bigger picture. It’s less about the exact 0.01% of an ingredient in each product and more about the fact that people should be wearing SPF every day. Skin cancer is always a bigger risk than wearing sunscreen.

This might sound like a hot take coming from the founder of a mineral suncare brand - and I do really believe that mineral sunscreens are the future - but sometimes it feels like we’re splitting hairs when the real goal should be encouraging people to wear sunscreen daily.

If you ask a dermatologist what the best sunscreen is, they’ll usually give a simple answer: the one you’ll actually wear every day. That idea has guided how we made these products and how we’re building the business.

5. Can you share a little about any exciting launches coming up for Sonni?

We’re proud of the four products we started with and we’re thoughtful about adding anything new to the lineup. Every product we bring to market needs to add real value to people’s lives.

We’re also spending a lot of time listening to our community and using that feedback to guide what comes next. In the meantime, it’s been exciting to start meeting customers in person! You can currently find SONNI at Pop Up Grocer on Bleecker in Manhattan (more soon!).

6. Where can consumers learn more about you / Sonni?

You can learn more about us by heading to our website here, signing up for our mailing list here, and following along on Instagram @SONNIskin & TikTok @SONNIskin / @SONNIsquad)!

7. A fun one: what is something unexpected someone might find in your bag? Bonus points for a “What’s in my bag” photo!

I’m currently obsessed with the volcanic face roller from Luna Roca. My sister gave it to me and I carry it everywhere. It absorbs oil and leaves your skin looking refreshed, almost like a quick touch-up without makeup.

All images provided by brand

Thank you so much to Eli and Meg for taking the time to answer my questions! I am so excited to see what other products they come out with next. I truly wish them and Sonni all the success!

And if you want to watch the videos that got me obsessed with SPF 16 years ago, here they are:

Here’s the deal: every newsletter takes me hours to write and edit. It’s a true labor of love and something I look forward to, even if it takes way more time (and tea ☕️🫖) than I care to admit. If you enjoy reading Brands and Bobs, I’d be so grateful for your support.

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