Bloom

☀️ Now that summer is upon us, I start getting asked about tallow-based sunscreen a lot — so I wanted to openly share why the answer from me will always be NO.

Not because I don’t believe in tallow or natural products. I absolutely do! You definitely don’t have to tell me how awesome tallow skincare is.😂

But sunscreen is an entirely different category than skincare products.

In the United States, sunscreen is regulated by the FDA as an over-the-counter drug. That means there are strict legal requirements surrounding SPF validation, broad spectrum testing, stability testing, manufacturing standards, labeling, safety compliance and more.

One of the biggest misconceptions I see online is the idea that companies can somehow avoid sunscreen regulations by simply labeling the product vaguely and avoid the word “sunscreen.” Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.

Non-nano zinc oxide is recognized by the FDA as an active sunscreen ingredient. Once you are formulating with, it implies sun protection. At that point, you are entering OTC drug territory whether you directly use the word “sunscreen” or not. There really is no loophole around that the way there may be for other products labeled “not for human consumption” or similar disclaimers.

Properly bringing a sunscreen product to market through the correct legal and testing channels is also extremely expensive, like $10,000 or more last I checked. And for good reason — because inaccurate SPF claims can result in real harm.

I’ve personally spoken with several people who were severely burned while relying on homemade or improperly tested sunscreen products. Because of that, I take this category very seriously.

There’s also the liability side of things. Most insurance companies will not cover untested sunscreen claims if customers are injured. As a business owner whose products are sold mostly through local retailers and has been trusted by thousands of customers over the years, that risk is simply not something I’m willing to take.

I completely understand why many individuals choose to make or use homemade sunscreen for personal use, and that is their choice to make. But from my perspective as a business owner serving a much broader audience, it would honestly feel irresponsible for me to participate in this category — even though it’s currently an incredibly popular, natural product.

At the end of the day, I would rather stay within the scope of products I can responsibly formulate, confidently stand behind, and ethically sell. That matters more to me than following the money.💛

Stop in and see our new skin care!

We have new skin care in the salon!