While there are many trends in the sun care space (and maybe FDA approval of a new ingredient down the road), here are three that the experts at NIQ are watching closely right now:

No. 1: The Skinification of Sun Care

Tried and true skin care ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and retinol are making their way into sun care. Consumers are looking for multifunctional products that can do it all, delivering skin care benefits on top of sun protection, according to NIQ.

For example, sun care products with hyaluronic acid grew +20.2% and products with ceramides were up +28.3%, says NIQ.

Further, retailer search volume surged for products that are long lasting (+1044%), sweat proof (+435%), and for oily skin (+33%).

No. 2: Innovation & Indies Propel Sales Growth

Sun care is evolving from a functional category made of up heritage brands to a hotbed of innovation, according to NIQ’s experts. From new forms, new brands, and new ingredients, the pace of change is moving faster than ever.

Search volume for sunscreen in “oil” and “butter” forms grew this past year, according to NIQ’s experts.

Indie brands now make up 39% of sunscreen sales, up from 34% two years ago.

Also on NIQ’s radar is the “significant brand expansion” from the facial skin care and body care categories into sun care. Bubble, Eucerin, CeraVe, Byoma and Sol de Janiero are some of the brands that have made moves into this market.

No. 3: The Gen Z Takeover

For the youngest beauty consumers, sun care is a priority, according to NIQ experts. Dedicated to skin protection and anti-aging, Gen Z is responsible for much of the sun care category’s growth. NIQ contends savvy brands will cater to this important consumer.

Sunscreen dollar growth is fastest among Gen Z consumers, up +42.0% followed by Millennials, up +8.3%, notes NIQ.  Gen Z and Millennials spend $44+ a year on sunscreen, according to NIQ’s data.

Another stat to note: 61% of Gen Z is very/somewhat concerned about aging.

If these key consumers recognize the role that sunscreen plays in slowing down the appearance of aging on the skin, and they are spending money on sunscreen products, that’s great news for growth of the category.