Behind the scenes

Record sales at Galaxus: sunscreen is selling like crazy

16.7.2025

Translation: Eva Francis

We’re all about sun protection – in the first half of 2025, Galaxus sold as much sunscreen as in the entire year 2024. The most popular ones are sunscreens with high protection factors and Korean trend products.

The hot and dry early summer has caused a surge in demand for sunscreen – and record sales on Galaxus. In the first half of 2025, customers ordered a six-digit number of sunscreen bottles, sprays and squeeze tubes. That’s more than in the whole of last year. June 2025 even marked a new all-time record for sales per month.

Other skincare categories have also benefited from the great weather. Sales of aftersun lotion, for instance, increased by 78 per cent in the first half of 2025, while sales of self-tanning products grew by 45 per cent. Nevertheless, the winner’s undoubtedly sunscreen, which was sold 16 times as often in 2025 as aftersun and tanning lotions.

All sunscreen products protect the skin from UV radiation, but they don’t all work in the same way. There are two types of UV filters: chemical and mineral. Chemical filters, such as Avobenzone, Octocrylene or Tinosorb, are absorbed by the skin and convert UV rays into heat. They’re invisible, easy to apply and particularly suitable for everyday use or under make-up. However, they’re suspected of damaging coral reefs and marine organisms when they wash into the water. Mineral filters – also known as physical filters – usually consist of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Just like chemical filters, they work primarily by absorption, i.e. they convert harmful radiation into harmless heat. These filters are considered particularly skin-friendly and are ideal for children or adults with sensitive skin. In the past, they often left a white film on your skin. Today, improved formulas are available, which don’t contain so-called nanoparticles. Mineral filters without nanotechnology are considered more environmentally friendly, as they don’t dissolve in water and are unlikely to cause damage to marine ecosystems. Sunscreens with mineral filters without nanoparticles are available from manufacturers such as Laboratoires de Biarritz, Attitude and Eco Cosmetics.

Sunscreen

Avène Mineral sun milk

Suntan lotion, SPF 50+, 100 ml, 151 g

Annemarie Börlind Tan Booster (Suntan cream, SPF 30, 125 ml, 500 g)

Sunscreen

EUR30,13 EUR241,04/1l

Annemarie Börlind Tan Booster

Suntan cream, SPF 30, 125 ml, 500 g

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice Probiotics (Sun cream face, SPF 50+, 50 ml)

Sunscreen

EUR18,65 EUR373,–/1l

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice Probiotics

Sun cream face, SPF 50+, 50 ml

Sunscreen

Avène Mineral sun milk

Sunscreen

EUR30,13 EUR241,04/1l

Annemarie Börlind Tan Booster

Sunscreen

EUR18,65 EUR373,–/1l

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice Probiotics

SPF 50+ is the new standard

Just a few years ago, SPF 30 was the way to go. In 2020, 37 per cent of all sun protection products sold on Galaxus featured SPF 30. In 2025, this share’s dropped to 14 per cent while higher protection factors have become more popular. Today, 30 per cent of sales are SPF 50 products – and more than half feature SPF 50+.

Why’s that? Katja Jakobs, Product Manager Health + Beauty at Galaxus, has an explanation: «More and more people understand that a high SPF blocks more UV rays and offers more reliable protection. Modern sunscreen with SPF 50+ is easy to apply, absorbs quickly and works well alongside other skincare and make-up products.»

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It indicates how much protection your sunscreen provides from UVB radiation. Here’s an example: If you get sunburnt after 10 minutes without protection, SPF 30 would in theory give you 30 times that protection – or 300 minutes before you would burn. In practice, however, other factors such as sweating, water or friction shorten this time. That’s why it’s important to reapply sunscreen regularly. Also keep in mind that the SPF value only refers to UVB rays that cause sunburn. Only a product with additional UVA protection protects against UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin and promote skin ageing. To make sure a product features UVA protection, look out for the UVA logo in a circle or the addition of «broad spectrum»

Korean hype meets everyday needs

The bestseller of the year comes from South Korea: Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics is the new number one sunscreen on Galaxus. The facial sunscreen from South Korea impresses with its pleasant texture and viral appearance on TikTok. Katja Jakobs’ opinion? «High protection, a comfortable feel and a touch of Korean skincare routine – that’s what our customers are looking for.»

Classics such as Daylong are also in demand. Four products from the Swiss brand feature in the top ten, even though the brand has long since moved its production abroad. By the way, all ten sunscreens offer SPF 50 or more.

High sunscreen expertise

The days of sunburn and a white film on faces are over. The trend towards high protection factors and smart care is likely to continue in the coming months – especially as summer has only just begun.

What about you? Do you use SPF 30 or are you team 50+?

This article has no likes yet.

Manuel Wenk

Communications Manager

Manuel.Wenk@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a multimedia producer, it is a matter of course for me to prepare content in a variety of ways. In my free time, I'm drawn to the mountains, whether it's skiing, mountain biking or hiking. And of course I always have my camera to hand, as well as my FPV drone.

These articles might also interest you

Behind the scenes
Record-breaking June for Galaxus as sunscreen sales hit all-time high
by Stephan Kurmann
Background information
Don’t be blinded by the SPF
by Natalie Hemengül
Behind the scenes
Lattafa trumps Versace as Arabian fragrance trend wafts over Europe
by Alex Hämmerli