I had been seeing Good Weather Skin (G.W.S) on my Instagram for well over a year. Knowing it was a Bay Area brand only made me want to try it more, but I had a backlog of SPFs I had already purchased and I refused to buy another until I worked through what I had. Then one fine day, G.W.S gifted* me their products to try and I could not say no. Even then, I waited until I finished my previously purchased bottle before cracking these open, because waste not, want not.
A little about the brand
G.W.S was founded by Franchesca and Alexandra and launched in March 2025. They debuted with The One Daily Sun Cream SPF 30, then expanded into The One Warm Glow Daily Sun Cream SPF 30, both zinc mineral-based formulas. Earlier this year, they also launched the Daily Lip Sun Gloss SPF 30 in two shades, which might be the first time I have ever seen a lip gloss with a mineral filter featuring really wearable colors.
What I have been using
I have been reaching for The One Daily Sun Cream SPF 30* every single day and I absolutely love it. There is ZERO white cast on me, and it feels genuinely moisturizing. I think in the warmer months or on a beach vacation, you could skip everything else and just walk out the door wearing this. It comes out yellow tinted from the bottle and melts into my skin with ZERO white cast.
The One Warm Glow Daily Sun Cream* reads a little too peachy for my face, but if you have a cooler undertone, you might actually prefer this one over the original (I am olive and warm-toned, for reference). Both formulas are unscented. The Warm Glow also has a subtle shimmer, nothing that will make you look like a glitter ball, just a really lovely pearlescent finish.
I have not tried the lip glosses yet, and while I am not typically a gloss person, my lips always end up sunburnt on vacation. So this is genuinely tempting, especially the Ripe Berry shade, which looks incredible. I am hoping to try out both colors at my local Credo Beauty store before picking one up in time for summer vacay.
The industry agrees
It is not just me. Both customer reviews and the beauty industry are raving about this brand. G.W.S is now sold at Credo Beauty and Violet Grey, which is really saying something.
As I have said before, finding a great SPF is hard, especially if you have sensitive skin or more melanated skin. This one works for me across the board, and that is exactly why I had to share it.
A quick ingredient note
G.W.S uses Butyloctyl Salicylate, an ingredient known for helping to stabilize mineral sunscreens and improve their texture and spreadability. You can read more about it in their FAQs on their website.
Where to buy
As of this week, Credo Beauty is running their 20% Friends of Credo sale, which includes all G.W.S products if you want to take advantage.
You can also buy directly from the G.W.S website. Use code BRANDSANDBOBS15 for 15% off.
Also at Credo: A Few Things Worth Adding to Your Cart
While you are at it, here are a few other things I would highly recommend picking up during the 20% off sale:
Bonjout Beauty night cream - The best night cream I have found. I wear it on top of my tret and it is just chef’s kiss.
Sidia Hand Serum - I have written a whole newsletter about this one. It smells amazing, makes your hands genuinely soft, and does not feel greasy at all. Incredible on cuticles too.
Sweed Hair Growth Serum - The only brow serum I have used that actually seems to make a difference.
Cocolabs - I use everything: the toothbrush, the paste, the floss. It is all so good.
Aora ACARÍCIAME MÁS Volumizing Solid Lip Serum - My current everyday lip balm. It has a spicy tingle, leaves a lovely tint, and is super moisturizing without being tacky. A winner in my book.
Can you share a little bit about your background?
I’ve spent most of my career in marketing, but what really drove me was curiosity — wanting to work in all the things I loved. Magazines, travel, entertainment, fashion. I followed that thread across industries, and eventually it led me to Everlane, which is where I met Alexandra. I’ve always been a deeply curious person, and honestly that curiosity is what set everything in motion — both in my career and in starting Good Weather Skin.
What made you want to launch Good Weather Skin (GWS)?
Honestly it started with a personal frustration. I’d had twin girls and you realize how much time you spend checking ingredients for what you put in and on their bodies — but I hadn’t done the same for myself. So I started talking to Alexandra about cleaning up my routine, and sunscreen was the one product we kept getting stuck on. I couldn’t find anything with clean ingredients that also worked with my skin tone. Every mineral option I tried left a white cast or felt heavy. And Alexandra had literally written a book on clean beauty and felt the same way. We started talking and realized it wasn’t just us. The sunscreen industry just hadn’t kept up with what women actually wanted. So we decided to build the thing we couldn’t find.
What do you feel makes GWS unique?
Sunscreen had an experience problem. And I mean that across the board. The texture was too chalky or too greasy, the white cast, the feeling that it was the worst last step in your routine. And then there was the branding — cheap, commercial, completely disconnected from the rest of the skincare world. We created Good Weather Skin to bring some freshness to the category To make a sunscreen that actually felt like it belonged in your everyday routine without any sacrifices. Clean ingredients, science-backed actives, and a texture that feels genuinely pleasurable the moment you put it on, all wrapped up in a brand experience that matches the product inside. Everything about your sunscreen should feel good.
What is something you wish your consumers knew or understood about your industry?
That there is a sunscreen out there that you can love — don’t give up. I completely understand the awful past experiences. But there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Part of why the US sunscreen market has lagged is actually a regulatory one. The FDA treats sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug, which means approving new UV filters takes the same process as approving a pharmaceutical. The result is that the US has only 8 real approved UV filters and hasn’t approved a new one since the late 1990s. The EU, by comparison, has 28. That gap directly affects texture, feel, and how well a formula blends on different skin tones. It’s a big reason why sunscreen in the US got its bad reputation in the first place.
There is a real shift happening though thanks to people demanding better. Regulation is slowly moving toward innovation and we’re hopeful that will open things up for everyone. In the meantime, mineral filters like zinc oxide are actually the most studied and proven options we have — and we spent three years making our formula as gorgeous as possible.
Can you share a little about any exciting launches coming up for GWS?
Oooo, we have some good ones coming out this year! We are so excited to expand beyond SPF face cream but only where it makes sense for us and where we’re confident we can add something truly pleasurable to your routine. First is our Sun Gloss, launching March 31st — a clean mineral SPF 30 lip gloss in two modern neutral shades. Hydrating, buildable, and no sunscreen taste. You can wear it as a neutral or build the color for more of a pop. Then in May we have something really good that works from head to toe. Can’t say too much more just yet, but dang it’s good. (ED note: the brand just launched a preview and it's so exciting! Genuinely can’t wait for this to launch!!!! Sign up for the waitlist!)
Where can consumers learn more about you/ GWS?
You can visit goodweatherskin.com or follow us on Insta!
A fun one: what is something unexpected someone might find in your bag? Bonus points for a “What’s in my bag” photo!
Kids jewelry… I’m a mom of two 7yr old girls.. Accessories are queen!
Thank you so much to Franchesca and the G.W.S team for taking the time to answer my questions!
Oh a few other things I have enjoyed recently:
I love sandals (duh! did you read my last two newsletters?) and this round up from Joyce Lee had me like a moth to a flame.
Loved this from Natalia Herrera.
Not only do I love a peak into people’s bags, I also LOVE a peak into people’s fridges and this was a fun read from Katie Stone all about Melanie Masarin.
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.
Brands and Bobs is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.