Have you ever considered what goes into making the sunscreen that protects us in the summer months?
Chances are, you've applied sunscreen at least once since summer began. But have you ever considered the work and effort behind producing these essential creams and lotions? Chemical supply chain experts, like ACD member Coast Southwest, play a crucial role in making sure these products are available to keep you protected.
Hidden within every bottle of sunscreen is not only a lengthy list of ingredients, but a lot of value-added services that help ensure users are properly protected, says Olivia Cimo, General Manager, Midwest at Coast Southwest.
“There’s greater consumer awareness than ever before about the importance of protecting your skin from the sun and cancer prevention,” says Cimo.
“People just don't realize how difficult it is to create sunscreen because these filters, chemical or mineral, are very hard to formulate,” she continues. “It’s a very specialized field and there’s, therefore, a lot of innovation happening in this space.”
“We not only sell all the excipient and active raw materials that go into these products, but we have an applications lab to help our customers formulate them, and offer technical support and guidance,” adds Cimo.
Coast Southwest, a full-service chemical distributor and manufacturer based in Irving, Texas, is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, with nearly 20 of those years as a proud member of ACD.
The business currently employs around 120 people and has five principal sites, with another currently under construction. These include manufacturing facilities in Paso Robles, California, and another in Arlington, Texas – both of which focus on surfactant chemistry.
Coast Southwest has been selling ingredients used in sunscreen almost since its inception.
Chemical sunscreens and any excipient, such as an emollient, that go into a sunscreen are a highly commoditized but niche segment. However, more recently, Coast Southwest has also expanded its offering to include ultraviolet (UV) mineral sunscreens – more specialized, natural products that are gentler on the skin. These increasingly popular products are a new kind of novel technology that form part of Coast Southwest’s anti-aging ingredient portfolio.
UV mineral sunscreens can incorporate Sun Protection Factor (SPF) day moisturizers with antiaging elements, zinc for sensitive skin, or iron oxides for tailormade coloring to suit different skin tones. The addition of active ingredients to sunscreen formulations also offers multifunctional benefits such as skin microbiome protection, skin barrier protection, hydration, or anti-aging properties that help with hyperpigmentation while exposed to the sun.
While Cimo acknowledges that few chemical distributors work in the sunscreen space, she says Coast Southwest has positioned itself to offer extensive support in the development of these products.
“We don’t manufacture any sunscreens, but with the advent of Modernisation of Cosmetics Regulation Act, there is a regulatory burden and a level of transparency needed that a lot of distributors, especially smaller ones, can't bear,” she says.
“Sunscreens are considered active pharmaceutical ingredients and there’s a lot of regulatory scrutiny. We have a robust regulatory department that helps keep all of this in line and allows us to do this.”
In the U.S., sunscreens are classed as an over-the-counter drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so there are strict auditing and vetting processes.
“Sunscreens are a really tough market in the U.S.,” adds Cimo. “They're hard to formulate and the tools keep getting taken out of the toolbox of our formulators; there's a lot of chemical filters that have fallen out of favor.”
The FDA hasn't approved a new chemical UV filter in the U.S. for almost 20 years, which is part of the reason why there is now a big push towards mineral sunscreens and Coast Southwest considers this a high-growth segment.
“Sunscreen is now playing a far bigger role in people’s skin routines and brands are wanting to incorporate SPF day moisturizers with anti-aging elements and zinc for sensitive skin,” notes Traci Cassell, Vice President of the anti-aging ingredient portfolio.
“We are constantly seeking out projects with the customers, getting to know what their different projects are, and staying abreast of their changing needs,” she says. “Coast Southwest is always looking for new innovative ingredients and technologies that actually alleviate these challenges. Our anti-aging division is creating some great products that feel good on the skin, are long lasting, and offer excellent protection. It’s really exciting seeing where UV mineral sunscreens are going.”
Besides sourcing and supplying the necessary ingredients for sunscreen, the business also offers formulation capabilities, technical expertise, and guidance – reflecting the ever-changing role of the distributor.
Coast Southwest is involved throughout the development process – formulating the sunscreens, sourcing the ingredients, and shipping those raw materials to the manufacturer ready for production.
Although sunscreens are a seasonal product, a lot of time and effort is invested into their development year-round. In fact, development cycles can easily span 9-18 months and require plenty of sampling, testing, and adjustments.
“It tends to be a tricky formulating process – hitting that desired SPF value plus having the desired aesthetics,” continues Cassell. “We like to be able to provide the full solution.”
“It’s important we highlight the value we bring as a distributor, with our team, and the ingredients,” she says. “We help save our customers time and money by providing value-added services so we can get them to market faster.”
To learn more about ACD members and Affiliates making an impact in the sunscreen industry, visit our Membership Directory https://www.acd-chem.com/member-benefits/membership-directory/
You must be logged in to post a comment.