SeventyOne Percent Sunscreen 2026 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Sunscreen 2026 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: SeventyOne Percent
Interviewee: Raphaël Vannier — Co-Founder & CMO

How was demand in the sunscreen market in 2025?
Demand stayed strong across Europe in 2025. Two forces drove the market: renewed travel and mass participation in outdoor activities, and a more sophisticated consumer who expects true UVA protection together with verified environmental credentials. Premium technical sun care for outdoor sports — specifically nomadic formats and sticks for frequent on-the-move re-application — showed the clearest growth across surf, outdoor and specialty retail.

What are the latest trends in Sunscreen?

UVA-first performance: buyers demand demonstrable UVA defence, not just SPF/UVB numbers.
Hybrid / multiformat packs: combined applicators for fast, targeted reapplication.
Independent eco-validation: “reef-friendly” claims are only meaningful when supported by independent eco-tox data.
Sensorial excellence: invisible finish, rapid absorption and pleasant, subtle scents.
Nomadic packaging: rugged, travel-friendly designs for outdoor use and frequent reapplication.

Please tell us about your innovations for 2026
For 2026 we executed two strategic moves: (1) reformulate core bestsellers to increase outdoor performance, sensoriality and sustainability; (2) launch Sun Combo 2in1, a hybrid format combining Sun Stick Invisible and Coucou Sun into one single pack tailored for outdoor travellers and action-sports athletes.
Key pillars: extended UVA defence (ROKA SMART UV® where applied); hybrid delivery (targeted stick + creamy body formula); re-engineered textures for fast absorption and invisible finish; and packaging focused on monomaterial design, reduced plastic and higher recycled content.

What ingredients are you using?
We prioritise natural-origin ingredients when they outperform alternatives, combine mineral and organic filters for true broad-spectrum performance, and add sensorial botanicals and antioxidants to support skin health.
Highlights: clean mineral/organic filter systems (SPF30–SPF50+), ROKA SMART UV® (photo-adaptive UVA defence where used), nourishing botanicals & antioxidants, typical natural-origin ratios of 80–100% where feasible, and pediatric/sensitive-skin formulas suitable from 1 year old with dermatological validation.

How do you address sustainability / eco-friendliness in your products?
Sustainability is both formulation and packaging practice: we prioritise natural origin ingredients, validate environmental impact via independent eco-toxicology tests, and apply the 3-R approach in packaging — Reduce (no overpacks, thinner plastics), Recycle (monomaterial choices) and Reuse (min 50% PCR where technical). We strongly stress that “reef-safe” is an ambiguous marketing label — no sunscreen is impact-free. Every formula has a footprint; that’s why SeventyOne Percent uses objective independent eco-tox validation and transparent communication so retailers and consumers can evaluate trade-offs between performance and environmental impact.

Any exciting marketing campaigns coming up for your product line?
Yes — 2026 activation is centred on Sun Combo 2in1 and our outdoor expansion:

Retail partner programme: POS kits, staff training, in-store demo and testers.
Digital & social: “how-to” reapplication content, athlete testimonials and short demo films.
Community building: we are cultivating a strong, engaged organic community beyond the ocean, extending into broader outdoor lifestyles and team sports.
Outdoor shop activation: deeper local partnerships with outdoor sports retailers — localized merchandising, co-op marketing and staff education.

What other benefits, apart from sun protection, does your product offer?

Non-stinging, very water/sweat resistant performance for board sports and endurance.
Skin care benefits: hydration, antioxidants and anti-ageing support.
Broad suitability: formulas for age 1+ and for sensitive skin.
Convenience: hybrid formats & Sun Combo 2in1 simplify reapplication.
High sensorial quality: invisible finish, no white cast, subtle island-vanilla scent and pleasant feel to encourage repeat use.

Why should retailers stock your brand & your latest collection?

Founder-led surf DNA: 15+ years of credibility in boardsports and technical outdoor sun care.
Technical leadership: innovations like ROKA SMART UV® and outdoor-grade formulations built for athletes.
Retail readiness: POS, staff training, sampling and co-marketing to drive conversion.
Verified sustainability: independent eco-tox validation and progressive packaging upgrades.
Category opportunity: Sun Combo 2in1 addresses a clear gap — hybrid formats that increase basket value and suit impulse channels (travel, beach kiosks, premium counters).

What POS are you helping retailers out with?
We supply a tiered POS suite:

Stick-only counter display — high rotation, impulse/checkout.
Selected-range countertop — curated sticks + fluids for premium counters.
Mixed modular display — seasonal beach sets & outdoor shops, with a dedicated Sun Combo 2in1 face.
Launch & demo kits — testers, sample sachets, staff training packs and how-to visuals.
Digital assets — lifestyle photography, white-background product shots and short video loops for in-store screens and social.

We also offer bespoke merchandising plans and co-op marketing for key accounts.

Key Products:

Sun Stick The Inbvisible:
The Invisible Sun Stick is an invisible, pocket-ready SPF50 stick delivering targeted, very water-resistant protection for the face, lips, ears and other high-risk zones. Non-stinging and independently eco-tox validated, it is enriched with nourishing botanicals and formulated for sensitive skin and from one year old. Fast to apply with an invisible finish, it’s ideal for action sports and on-the-move daily reapplication.

SunStick_TheInvisible

Sun KIssed Lotion:
Sun Kissed Lotion is a lightweight SPF50+ cream for face and body with a fast-absorbing, invisible finish and very high water resistance. Formulated with 80–100% natural-origin ingredients where feasible and validated by independent eco-tox testing, it is suitable from one year old and for sensitive skin. With over 3,000 five-star reviews, this best seller is trusted by outdoor families and boardsports communities.

Sun Combo 2in1:
Sun Combo 2in1 merges SunKissed Sun Stick and Coucou Sun into a hybrid pack for outdoor use. It delivers targeted stick protection for face and high-risk zones alongside a creamy, fast-absorbing body formula for full coverage. Powered by clean mineral-organic filter blends and ROKA SMART UV® where appropriate, it emphasises enhanced performance, very high water resistance and simple reapplication.

2026 – Fiche Produit

Additional technical note on “reef-safe”
The marketing label “reef-safe” has become ambiguous. No sunscreen is impact-free; every formula has an environmental footprint. SeventyOne Percent therefore avoids unqualified slogans: we test outdoor formulas through independent eco-toxology protocols and publish results so retailers and consumers can understand trade-offs between efficacy and environmental impact.