A Mum of Two Is Behind Sun & Daughter, a Mineral SPF Designed Specifically for Kids

Most parents probably struggle getting their kids to wear sunscreen, with the little ones trying to wriggle out of the way when you’re applying thick SPF onto their skin. It’s not a problem Tori Gill has with her two sons.

“They’ll literally use half the bottle in one go, because they just squeeze it out everywhere and love painting it on,” she says. “Luckily, I own the brand.”

Gill launched Sun & Daughter in late 2024, after struggling to find a mineral sunscreen that wasn’t chalky and didn’t flare up her eldest’s eczema. (Mineral sunscreens are typically thicker in texture than chemical sunscreens, but are less likely to irritate sensitive skin.) What followed was a two-year product development process, trying to find a formula that felt good on the skin and gave kids the sun protection they needed.

“Our whole idea is we protect children’s delicate skin from the harmful rays … while at the same time making something fun and getting kids to spend more time outdoors,” she says. “We want to get them outside and in nature, so all their fond memories are out in the sunshine.”

First came the flagship SPF50+ mineral sunscreen, formulated with naturally derived ingredients and using non-nano zinc to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. It’s water-resistant for up to two hours and fragrance-free, with shea butter and coconut oils for a nourishing, moisturiser-like texture.

This was followed by two playfully coloured versions in pink and yellow that bring added fun to sun protection. The formula is mostly the same as the original, with the addition of natural mineral pigments (instead of synthetic dyes) that make the colours pop.

The online shop opened on Boxing Day 2024, and Gill sold 20,000 bottles in her first year. Now she’s in talks with retailers to sell her sunscreens more broadly, in addition to the boutique shops Sun & Daughter is already stocked in. There’s also a sunscreen stick in the works and a body wash, both to be launched soon.

Outside of the three main sunscreens – which you can purchase altogether in a bundle – Sun & Daughter also encourages other sun-smart moves, selling bucket hats, caps and sunglasses. And its other bestselling product doesn’t necessarily provide extra protection from the sun, but makes it more exciting for kids to wear their sunscreen.

“I created these paintbrush applicators, which are essentially a makeup brush that I got custom-made to look like a paintbrush, so kids feel like they’re painting [sunscreen] on their skin rather than just slapping it on,” Gill says. There’s even a pink brush and a yellow brush to match the coloured sunscreens.

Her kids, of course, can’t get enough. “They’re always painting on each other and themselves. Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen – especially a mineral sunscreen … but [my kids] probably apply too much,” Gill laughs. “But I feel good about them wearing it.”

sunanddaughter.com

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