a little behind the scenes with karine + mary.

The science, the creative decisions, and everything that goes into making SunKids™.

the short version.

A sunscreen doesn’t start with a pouch. It starts with an idea. Then come the ingredients, testing, packaging, and all the decisions most people never see. For SunKids™, those decisions bring together two different perspectives. Karine brings her background in microbiology and product testing. Mary brings her experience in branding, marketing, and understanding how people connect with products.

Together, they’re building something that makes sun protection feel a little more approachable. Here’s a closer look at the thinking behind it.

where did the idea for SunKids™ begin?

Karine: Sun protection has always been important to me, especially because skin cancer has affected my family. With my background in microbiology, I wanted to create something grounded in science but also practical for everyday life. Sunscreen is important, but getting families to use it consistently can be challenging. I wanted to help change that.

Mary: I was interested in making sunscreen feel less like another task. We wanted something kids would enjoy using and parents would feel comfortable choosing. The experience mattered just as much as how we presented the product.

why non-nano zinc oxide?

Karine: We chose 24.1% non-nano zinc oxide as our sole sunscreen active. Zinc oxide provides protection across the UVA and UVB spectrum. But the active ingredient is only part of the story. The complete formula determines how a sunscreen spreads, feels, and performs. That’s why testing the finished product matters. SunKids™ provides Broad Spectrum SPF 50 protection and is Water Resistant (40 Minutes). Those claims reflect the performance of the finished formula, not simply the amount of zinc oxide.

how did color become part of the formula?

Mary: We wanted to make sunscreen a little more engaging. Color felt like a natural way to do that. Blueberry goes on blue. Strawberry goes on pink. Both are designed to blend into skin without leaving a visible tint. And we use color sourced from plants, without artificial dyes. It’s a small detail, but it changes the experience of applying sunscreen.

what’s challenging about developing mineral sunscreen?

Karine: Texture, spreadability, and appearance are important considerations. With non-nano zinc oxide, creating a formula that spreads comfortably while minimizing visible residue can be challenging. You also need to consider stability, preservation, packaging compatibility, and testing. It’s not just about choosing ingredients. It’s about understanding how they work together.

what ingredients did you want beyond zinc oxide?

Karine: We wanted to consider skin comfort alongside UV protection. That’s why we included glycerin and sugarcane-derived squalane. Glycerin helps attract moisture. Squalane helps soften and condition skin. We also included vitamin E and Kakadu plum extract. Each ingredient has a different purpose, and the complete formula matters more than any single ingredient.

what about the ingredients you chose to leave out?

Karine: We chose a mineral-only formula without chemical UV filters such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, and avobenzone. We also made specific decisions about preservatives and colorants. Some exclusions reflect skin-tolerance considerations or environmental research. Others are formulation preferences. I don’t believe every ingredient we leave out should automatically be described as harmful. I think it’s more useful to explain why we made each decision. You can read more in what we leave out and why.

why the pouch?

Mary: We wanted packaging that felt different from a traditional sunscreen bottle. The flexible pouch gave SunKids™ a recognizable look and a more playful feel. But packaging also has to function well. It needs to be comfortable to hold, easy to dispense, and practical for everyday use. Good design should look good and work well. You need both.

how do you balance science and creativity?

Karine: For me, the science establishes what a product needs to do. Ingredient selection, formulation, and testing are essential. But how people experience the product matters, too.

Mary: And that’s where the creative side comes in. The colors, packaging, photography, and messaging all influence how people connect with SunKids™. We want the experience to feel fun without distracting from the product’s purpose.

what’s something you wish more people understood about skincare?

Karine: That an ingredient list doesn’t tell you everything. You need to understand what each ingredient does, how it’s used, and what the finished product has been tested to do. Natural doesn’t automatically mean safer. And a complicated ingredient name doesn’t automatically mean harmful.

Mary: That skincare doesn’t need to be complicated. Especially for kids. A simple routine can be enough. And I think it’s important that brands help people understand what they’re using instead of making them feel like they need more products.

what makes working together special?

Karine: Being able to create something with my daughter that connects my professional experience with something personal to our family. It’s a different kind of experience from running a laboratory, and I’m grateful we get to build it together.

Mary: We bring different perspectives, and I think that’s what makes it work. My mom approaches things through science. I look at how people experience and connect with the brand. We’re working toward the same goal, just from different directions.

two perspectives. one shared idea.

Behind SunKids™ is a combination of science, creativity, and a shared belief that sun protection should be part of everyday life. For Karine and Mary, it’s about making something that families can feel good about using. Something thoughtful. Something approachable. And something that makes a healthy habit a little easier to build.

Protection is the function. The experience creates the habit.

a little more to explore.

Curious about the ingredients and research behind SunKids™?

Explore our science →