Small Brands Can Build Great Sunscreens

News of the recent Australian SPF scandal raised an important question: Should sunscreen be left only to major corporations?

Sunscreens are regulated by agencies like the FDA in the U.S. and the TGA in Australia—the same groups responsible for overseeing prescription medications. These safeguards exist for a reason: Sunscreens are essential for public health, and making a product that truly protects you requires technical expertise. However, this kind of knowledge isn’t reserved for multinational companies.

Smaller brands succeed by assembling the right team: skilled formulators, accredited testing labs, independent regulators, and trustworthy manufacturers. The most critical ingredient, though, is having in-house experience to guide and monitor every step.

At burnd, this foundation is central to our process. Our founders are the scientists that first introduced transparent zinc oxide to the world. We work alongside leading formulators, toxicologists, regulatory specialists, and quality professionals. We manufacture in the US and screen our U.S. manufacturing partners to ensure they meet our standards.

Producing a reliable sunscreen isn’t quick or cheap. Here’s what the process typically involves:

• Budget: $75,000–$150,000 for formulation development, stability assessments, comprehensive SPF/UVA/water-resistance testing, and packaging.
  
  
• Timeline: 12–18 months from concept to shelf.
  
  
• Mindset: Sunscreen deserves the same rigorous treatment as a drug product—precise specifications, a well-defined stability plan, robust QA processes, and routine re-testing.

Small companies can make excellent sunscreens by combining experience, resources, and a commitment to quality. At burnd, that commitment shapes everything we do.