Sunscreen is something most of us own, allowing us to stay safe from UV rays. The question is – when did that start happening? When was sunscreen invented exactly? Well, you might be surprised to learn that the notion of protecting skin from the sun goes back much further than most people think. The truth is, it goes back centuries.
So, if you’re interested in learning more about the subject, let’s take a quick trip through time and look at the earliest origins of sunscreen.
When Was Sunscreen Invented? Thousands of Years Ago
Long before the first sunscreen bottle ever found its way onto your local drugstore shelves, people were using natural types of sun protection. When was sunscreen invented? Literally thousands of years ago, as it dates back to ancient Egyptian times.
People of the time reportedly used a mix of rice bran, jasmine, and lupine to create rudimentary sun barriers. Similarly, early Greeks used olive oil to protect and moisturize their skin. Of course, these methods weren’t SPF-rated, but they reflected an early understanding that the sun could damage the skin.
The First Modern Sunscreens Came in the 1930s & 40s
The first appearance of what we call sunscreen today came during the 1930s and 40s. This seminal moment occurred after Austrian chemist Franz Greiter created the first product after getting sunburn while out mountaineering. His invention was called “Gletscher Crème,” which offered limited protection, but it was a start and that very same chemist later developed the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) system that’s so familiar today.
Around the same time, French chemist Eugène Schueller developed a sun-filtering cream, and in the United States, a pharmacist named Benjamin Green created a petroleum-based red goo to protect soldiers during World War 2.
Mineral Sunscreens Hit the Scene
Up until this point, chemical-based sunscreens dominated the scene, but mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide had always existed in the background, having been used for their soothing properties for centuries.
The earliest versions of mineral sunscreen weren’t particularly user-friendly. The thick white paste wasn’t exactly subtle, but it worked. Thankfully, since the late 90s, leaps in technology have made mineral sunscreens lighter, less visible, and far more wearable for daily use.
Brands like Blue Lizard helped pioneer this shift, offering broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen that’s gentle on sensitive skin, water resistant, and ideal for everything from beach days to outdoor workouts.
When Was Sunscreen Invented? Long Ago, But It Still Protects Today
While the first commercial types of sunscreen date back to the 1930s, the instinct to protect our skin from the sun has been around for centuries. Thanks to modern science—and the increasing demand for cleaner, more effective ingredients—mineral sunscreen is now one of the most trusted options available.
Whether you’re hiking, swimming, or heading out for errands, today’s sunscreens make it easy to stay protected without compromise. Thank goodness we realized that sun protection was needed when we did, because our skin has always needed it!
