It wasn’t long ago that using SPF felt like a chore. Thick white casts, greasy finishes, and that chalky look. But in 2025? Sunscreen’s having a moment, and it’s a fun one.

Today, SPF is more than skin protection. It’s a beauty category with personality, packaging that pops, and formats you actually want to reapply. SPF sticks look like lip balms. Mists feel like setting sprays. There are shimmer sunscreens, tinted gels, and even SPF mousse. The sunscreen drawer is officially fun.

And when something’s fun, it’s no longer forgotten.

SPF That Doesn’t Scream “SPF”

For Gen Z and younger Millennials, the best beauty products do more than work; they fit their aesthetic and seamlessly into their beauty routines. Sunscreen is no exception. A growing wave of fun SPF products is redefining how we view sun care: from a necessity to a self-expression tool.

Take Supergoop’s cult-favorite Glow Stick. Or Habit’s pocket-sized SPF mist with neon gradient packaging. Then there’s Vacation’s nostalgic branding with banana-scented sunscreen in retro bottles that look like 90s poolside ads.

It’s not just about ingredients anymore. It’s about the vibe.

SPF Mists: The Hero Format of the Summer

If there’s one trend that’s gone from niche to need-it-now, it’s the SPF mist. Why?

SPF mists have unlocked the ritual of reapplication, which was one of the biggest hurdles in sun safety. Instead of setting a reminder to smear cream midday, users now keep their mist beside their phone. A quick spritz, a cooling sensation, and done! UV protection that doesn’t interrupt your look.

Brands like Habit, COOLA, and Neogen have leaned into the SPF mist trend hard. And the numbers speak: SPF mists saw a 62% YOY growth in 2024, according to BeautyStat. Instagram reels and TikTok love the pssst of the application. And yes, that sparkle? A sensory hook that plays well on camera.

The Role of Packaging: Playful, Portable, Practical

What made these SPF innovations catch on wasn’t just formulation it was packaging that rebranded sunscreen as desirable.

From twist-up tubes that resemble lip balm. Mists that mimic face setting sprays. Or frosted pump bottles in bold neons and holographics.

Brands are rethinking:

This is where visual strategy comes in. At Admigos, we help brands animate product packaging in motion, capturing not just how an SPF looks, but how it moves, opens, sprays, and feels. Because these are the visuals that turn scrolls into saves.

SPF as a “Reel-Ready” Category

In the past, SPF ads were stuck in the same formula: a beach, a model, a zoom on skin. But the new wave of SPF marketing has adapted to Gen Z ways. It embraces-

The formats themselves inspire content. When packaging looks like a lifestyle item, users are more likely to feature it in #whatsinmybag or morning routine videos.

A New Era of Sun Care for Every Skin Tone

Another reason SPF is trending? It’s finally becoming inclusive.

Gone are the days when only ultra-fair skin was marketed with SPF. Today’s top products are formulated with melanin-rich skin in mind. No white cast. Just dew, hydration, and a universal glow.

Brands like Black Girl Sunscreen, Fenty Skin, and Live Tinted have set the new bar. And their visuals reflect it with warm undertones, radiant natural light, and packaging that looks like it belongs on every shelf.

When you animate SPF for every skin tone, you’re not just marketing a product; you’re shifting perception. You’re telling someone: this was made for you.

SPF, Rebranded

Sunscreen went from an afterthought to an afterglow, and the brands that win in this new space? They’re the ones that make SPF an experience, not a lecture.

So yes, reapply. But make it fun. Make it visual. Make it yours.

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