The Sunscreen Symposium got underway on September 18 with a Continuing Education Program. The first speaker, Marisa Furlonge, provided a detailed look at the process of getting a sunscreen from the lab to the market. It’s an arduous journey, one that can take up to three years, according to Furlonge.

She is the director of R&D at Cosmetic Solutions. She served as FLSCC Chair from 2018-2019 and has more than 20 years of experience in OTC and cosmetic product formulation. During her presentation, Furlonge helped attendees understand the scope and significance of launching a compliant sunscreen product.

“Launching a sunscreen product isn’t quick,” she told attendees. “You typically can’t go to market in six month. Total development time is 20-36 months! To do it correctly, it really takes this long.”

Steps include:

• Identifying essential testing requirements for SPF, broad spectrum and water resistant claims;

• Evaluating formulation strategies tailored to diverse skin types and market regions; and

• Reviewing regulatory and compliance responsibilities to ensure successful product launch.