Ride the SPF wave: Supergoop! gains celebrity backing to raise skin protection awareness
26 May 2022 --- Experts in Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and sunscreen brands Supergoop! and global investment firm Blackstone Growth have partnered with “world-class” investors to advocate and advance the international use of SPF for skin protection.
Investors include actor Hugh Jackman, fashion designer Jenna Lyons and professional golfer Michelle Wie. Additional investors involve entrepreneurs from within Blackstone’s portfolio, Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, and Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder and CEO of Bumble.
“We are doubling down on our mission to create groundbreaking products as we educate as many people as possible on the importance of daily SPF. We have more work to do to reach our goals as we continue to change how the world thinks about sunscreen,” says Amanda Baldwin, CEO of Supergoop!
“Supergoop!’s growth shows the progress the team has made to shift consumer behavior toward daily SPF use, which is resonating with customers and has drawn support from the set of investors who are at the top of their respective industries,” comments Ann Chung, global head of consumer for Blackstone Growth.
“Supergoop! has created a new category of daily-use SPF for everyone and is looking forward to a new phase of growth as it introduces its formulas to more people across the globe,” comments the company.
Following majority investment
The new partnership follows a previously announced majority investment from Blackstone Growth to help drive Supergoop!’s global reach.”
“These new investors share Supergoop!’s aim of raising awareness of the need for [skin protection] and expanding access to everyday SPF, including through the company’s Ounce by Ounce program, which has donated more than 4,300 SPF pumps to over 1,600 schools and youth organizations across the US,” shares the company.
Investors include actor Hugh Jackman, fashion designer Jenna Lyons and professional golfer Michelle Wie.
The company also plans to collaborate with the I Promise School to provide educational materials and Supergoop! to ensure children and their families understand the importance of sun protection.
Inspiration behind the goal
Supergoop! develops dermatologist-approved SPF products with clean ingredients that “feel good” to wear, making it easier to incorporate daily sun protection into everyday routines, outlines the company.
Holly Thaggard, a former teacher and skincare industry pioneer, founded Supergoop! when her close friend was diagnosed with skin cancer at a young age.
“We are grateful to welcome this inspiring group of investors to Supergoop! and for all of the support, Blackstone has shown our business. We’re humbled by their move to join our mission of encouraging people worldwide to protect their skin and create new daily routines and habits,” adds Thaggard.
The buzz around sunscreen was seen with the launch of Eucerin’s antioxidant-enriched sun protection skincare line in US markets. The line also features five antioxidants to combat aging.
Sunscreen use, however, sometimes comes with differing opinions. Alexandra Kowcz, the Personal Care Products Council chief scientist, issued a statement on the Environmental Working Group’s 2022 advisory on sunscreens. She says the guidance is driving fear over a product that is vital to public skin health when people are spending more time outdoors.
Among the latest product developments, Symrise unveiled its cosmetic brand Neo Heliopan, a mineral UV filter range developed with its strategic partner Kobo, a company specializing in mineral UV filters. The new range offers no white cast to minimal white cast effects.
Edited by Venya Patel
