Not Your Vacation Sunscreen: Why We Built SONNI
A Note From Meg & Eli
When we started SONNI, it wasn’t because the world needed another skincare brand. It was because we couldn’t find mineral-based sunscreen we actually wanted to use every day—the kind that didn’t sit heavy, didn’t smell like coconut lotion at 8 a.m., and didn’t feel like something you only reach for on vacation.
We built SONNI for ourselves, our friends, and anyone who’s ever rolled their eyes at sunscreen but still cares about their skin. Our hope is that this blog—Light Reading—feels like the friend who did the homework for you. We’ll share the science, the habits, and the cultural stuff that makes SPF more than just another step.
Thanks for being here from the start. We can’t wait to build better sun habits together.
– Meg & Eli
TL;DR
Most sunscreens are made for the beach. We built SONNI for real life—lightweight, mineral-based SPF you’ll actually want to wear every day, all year long.
Why Most Sunscreens Don’t Work for Real Life
Ask around and you’ll hear the same complaints about sunscreen:
- It feels greasy or heavy
- It leaves a chalky cast
- It smells like the beach (even when you’re commuting)
- It’s treated like a “vacation-only” product
That’s the problem: sunscreen has been positioned as a seasonal extra instead of an essential step in your daily skincare routine.
Why Daily Sunscreen Is Non-Negotiable
UV radiation doesn’t take breaks. Even indoors or on cloudy days, your skin is exposed to UVA and UVB rays that:
- Cause premature aging (fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation)
- Damage your skin barrier
- Increase your risk of skin cancer
Derms agree: the single most important step in any skincare routine is daily sunscreen all year round. But if SPF doesn’t feel good on your skin, it’s hard to make the habit stick.
Our Answer: The SONNI Suncare System
We created SONNI to make sunscreen feel less like a chore and more like skincare. Our products are:
- Mineral-based for instant, broad-spectrum protection with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
- Non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, safe for sensitive and breakout-prone skin
- Lightweight, breathable, and reapply-friendly, so you actually want to use them every day
- Skin-first formulas that hydrate and support your barrier while they protect
Instead of a single “one-size-fits-all” sunscreen, SONNI is a system: protection for every day, plus recovery care to help your skin bounce back after time in the sun.
Built for Daily Use, Not Just Vacations
SONNI isn’t another beach sunscreen. It’s SPF that works with your life:
- Works under makeup without pilling
- Layers like skincare (because it is)
- Lives in your bag, not your bottom drawer
- Keeps up with the way you actually live—commuting, running errands, working out, skiing in January, or sitting by a sunny window
We want daily suncare to feel as automatic as grabbing your water bottle before you leave the house.
Our Mission Going Forward
Our goal is simple: smarter sun protection, stronger habits, healthier skin. We’re starting with products we personally wanted and couldn’t find in the hopes of changing how people think about taking care of their skin.
Bottom Line
You don’t need another “vacation sunscreen.” You need daily SPF that fits your real life. That’s what we built SONNI to be: mineral-based sunscreen that feels like skincare, works with your routine, and makes protecting your skin second nature.