SPF Products Survey Insights

Kaidron — SPF Products Survey

Kaidron Community Insights — SPF Products

SPF is no longer a summer ritual — it's a daily non-negotiable. And our community takes it seriously.

The message from this week's survey is clear and unambiguous: sun protection has fully graduated from seasonal holiday essential to everyday skincare staple. The overwhelming majority apply SPF as part of their daily routine — not occasionally, not only in sunshine, but every single morning. The question for this community is no longer whether to use SPF, but how to wear it as seamlessly as possible alongside everything else in their routine.

What makes this data particularly striking is the sophistication behind the choices. SPF level leads as the most influential purchase factor, with texture and ingredients close behind. The community isn't buying on instinct — they're making informed, deliberate decisions. And with SPF 30, SPF 50, and SPF 50+ all commanding near-equal shares, protection standards are high across the board.

For brand partners, the opportunity lies in the details: formulation that sits beautifully under makeup, products that earn expert endorsement, and brand positioning built around credibility. In a category where the decision has already been made — the question is just which product earns the spot in the routine — trust and texture win.

81%
apply SPF as part of their daily skincare routine — every day, year-round
90%
apply SPF before their makeup — not after, not on top
77%
prefer cream or lotion formulations above all other SPF formats
93%
look for SPF 30 or higher — with SPF 50+ growing in adoption
77%
have no preference between chemical and physical filters — performance matters more than formula type
Chapter 01

Daily Habit & How SPF Fits the Routine

SPF usage in this community is near-universal and deeply ingrained — and the application protocol is consistent: it goes on before makeup, always.

81%
use an SPF product every single day — making it one of the most consistent steps in their entire skincare routine
90%
apply SPF before makeup — the correct protocol, and one this community follows almost without exception

How often they use SPF

81% Daily
Daily 81%
Several times a week 12%
Occasionally 6%

Where they apply SPF

Exposed skin only
69%
All over — including under clothing
23%
Only when going outdoors
8%
Chapter 02

SPF Product Types & Formulation Preferences

Moisturiser with SPF leads all product types — a signal that this community wants protection built into their routine, not added on top of it. Cream and lotion dominate formulation preferences by a wide margin.

SPF product types used (select all that apply)

Moisturiser with SPF
24%
Sunscreen
20%
Foundation with SPF
17%
Lip balm with SPF
16%
BB Cream with SPF
13%
CC Cream with SPF
9%

Preferred formulation

77% Cream / Lotion
Cream / Lotion 77%
Spray 12%
Gel / Stick 9%
77% have no preference between chemical and physical filters — what matters is how a product performs on the skin, not how it works beneath it.

"SPF level is the first thing they check — texture and ingredients are a close second. The product brief writes itself."

25%
of all purchase-factor selections go to SPF level — the single most influential consideration when choosing a product
36%
of SPF usage motivations are driven by concerns about UV skin damage — the primary reason this community reaches for protection daily
93%
look for SPF 30 or higher — combining SPF 30, SPF 50, and SPF 50+ reveals a community that takes protective strength seriously
Chapter 03

What Drives the Purchase Decision

Six factors all matter — but SPF level leads clearly, with texture and ingredients forming a secondary tier of near-equal influence. Dermatologist recommendation and price sit in joint third.

Factors influencing SPF product choice (select all that apply)

SPF level
25%
Texture / Consistency
19%
Brand reputation
16%
Ingredients
16%
Dermatologist recommendation
13%
Price
13%

SPF protection level preferred

SPF 30
34%
SPF 50
33%
SPF 50+
26%
SPF 15
7%

What motivates them to use SPF (select all that apply)

Concern about UV skin damage
36%
Sun exposure frequency
24%
Expert / dermatologist recommendation
24%
Friends & family recommendations
16%
Chapter 04

Where They Buy & What They Spend

Specialty beauty retailers lead purchase channels — a trust-based channel — while monthly spend clusters in the €10–€30 range, suggesting a category treated as a skincare essential rather than a luxury.

38%
buy from specialty beauty retailers — the channel that signals category credibility
33%
buy from drugstores and pharmacies — a trusted, expert-adjacent channel
35%
spend €10–€20 per month on SPF products — the most common price band
33%
spend €20–€30 per month — a premium tier with near-equal share to the mid-range
15%
purchase online through brand websites or marketplaces
26%
are willing to spend €30 or more monthly — real premium appetite in this category

La Roche-Posay leads brand preference by a clear margin — but the community's loyalty is broad, knowledgeable, and skewed toward dermatology-backed names.

#1
La Roche-Posay is the most mentioned brand — cited far more than any other, across different product formats
#2
Garnier is the second most cited name — a mass-market brand with strong everyday SPF penetration in this community
#3
Nivea and Vichy round out the top four — both pharmacy-channel anchors with solid clinical trust signals
Chapter 05

Community Brand Preferences

Community members named their favourite SPF brands in their own words. La Roche-Posay dominates, followed by Garnier, Nivea, and Vichy. K-beauty brands are a notable and growing presence.

La Roche-Posay
Garnier
Nivea
Vichy
Bondi Sands
L'Oréal
Beauty of Joseon
Heliocare
Supergoop
Ultrasun

Brand mention bars show relative popularity — indexed to La Roche-Posay as the top-mentioned brand. Based on open-text responses; brands mentioned in combination with others are counted individually.

Source: Kaidron Community Survey — SPF Products (Survey ID SPF_Survey). Data expressed as percentages of total responses per question. Multi-select questions (Q604, Q606, Q609) are expressed as share of total selections. Brand mentions (Q614) are open-text responses counted individually; approximate figures only. Minor rounding variance may apply.
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