Chicago – September 10, 2026 -- A new sun care brand is betting that consumers are tired of choosing between chalky mineral sunscreens and products packed with unrecognizable chemicals. Sunsei has launched with a two-product lineup built around just 17 ingredients, all free of synthetic UV filters.
Sunsei uses non-nano zinc oxide instead of chemical UV filters
The brand's formulas center on non-nano zinc oxide combined with plant-derived ingredients including sweet almond oil, green tea extract and shea butter. Sunsei markets the products as 100% mineral-active, paraben-free and free of the white residue often associated with zinc-based sunscreens.
A melanoma diagnosis pushed one founder to rethink daily sunscreen
Founding team member Mika Stambaugh began scrutinizing sunscreen ingredients after a melanoma diagnosis made daily application non-negotiable. She said she was frustrated by having to choose between products with ingredients she didn't recognize and mineral sunscreens that were thick and difficult to wear. That frustration led her to join Sunsei to help build a formula she couldn't find on shelves.
"After my melanoma diagnosis, sunscreen became something I had to wear every single day," Stambaugh said. "I wanted something simple that I could feel good about putting on my skin."
Two SPF options launch at $32 each
Sunsei's debut collection includes an SPF 30 formula for everyday wear and an SPF 45 formula for extended sun exposure, both priced at $32. Both are described as broad-spectrum and free of white cast. The products are available exclusively through Sunsei's own website.
Melanoma cases are projected to climb in 2026
The American Cancer Society projects 234,680 new melanoma cases in the U.S. in 2026, a figure Sunsei's team points to as evidence that daily sun protection needs to be simpler, not more complicated.
Sunsei founder John Tinsley said the team set out to challenge sunscreen conventions rather than replicate them. "We stripped it back to what matters," he said. "We're not interested in doing sunscreen the way it's always been done."