Thousands of people – many in skin-baring apparel – braved the sun of the Sonoran Desert this spring for the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Neutrogena, the official skincare brand of the multi-weekend event, was also there, setting up branded kiosks throughout the grounds of the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, to dispense free sunscreen to attendees.

During the first weekend alone, the kiosks provided more than 1,700 fluid ounces of sunscreen. Neutrogena also set up a sensory-driven brand activation to educate festival-goers about the importance of protecting their skin.

IMPACT Melanoma’s touch-free sunscreen dispensers are durable and can be mounted to any permanent structure or used with a portable stand.

Free sunscreen dispensers are becoming increasingly common, according to IMPACT Melanoma, a nonprofit dedicated to prevention and early detection of skin cancer. The organization has partnered with businesses to install more than 7,000 of its bright-yellow branded sunscreen dispensers across the country.

“Forward-thinking cities, citizens, non-profit organizations and businesses of all shapes and sizes can make a positive impact on the health of their community by installing convenient and attractive sunscreen dispensers in high-traffic areas and outdoor spaces,” according to the IMPACT Melanoma website.

Castle Biosciences teamed up with IMPACT Melanoma earlier this year to place 13 sunscreen dispensers at rest and lunch stops along the route of a charity bicycle race in Texas. And in the greater Philadelphia area, the King of Prussia Mall recently partnered with the Mike Schmidt Cancer Prevention Initiative to install sunscreen dispensers at each of the building's exits. The initiative has also placed the weather-resistant, non-battery-operated dispensers in Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies MLB team, and is working to get more free sunscreen stations in parks, pools, schools and outdoor venues throughout the City of Brotherly Love. In Canada, the Save Your Skin Foundation has installed 40 automatic, touchless sunscreen dispensers across the country in the last two years.

Dispensers set up in visible spots can help make sunscreen top of mind, says Kate Nash, director of promotional sales and marketing at Raining Rose (asi/80489) and a member of the Promo for the Planet advisory board. “Anything that advocates for a good reminder to reapply your sunscreen protection is a win in our book,” Nash says.

Of course, public sunscreen dispensers aren’t the only way to spread awareness about skin cancer prevention. Promo suppliers also offer an array of brandable sunscreen products that can be given out at summer events of all sizes to help protect attendees from harsh rays.

This sun stick (MSS-SS) from Raining Rose contains mineral SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen and has a full-color label.

Find on ESP Find on ESP+

“As we’re going outside and enjoying time in the sun, we’re not always thinking about the effects of even a small amount of sun exposure on our long-term skin health,” says Brittany David, chief revenue officer at Top 40 supplier SnugZ USA (asi/88060). “What better way to show your appreciation for your audience than to give them a personal care product – in this case, sunscreen.”

David says health and wellness have been a hot topic in the past several years in relation to mental and physical health, but skin is not always top of mind.

“I have a brother who, unfortunately, has melanoma and is in a really tough spot right now,” David shares. “I know in hindsight if there was a way to have prevented that a little bit more intentionally, he would be a much happier person, but I think it’s something that’s very much an afterthought.”

This sun protection set (ZSUN19D-ZLBPWT) from SnugZ USA includes a 1.9-oz. SPF 30 sunscreen, SPF 15 lip balm and carabiner.

Find on ESP Find on ESP+

David and Nash agree that providing sunscreen is a great opportunity to show care for customers and encourage them to protect themselves. Whether it’s for a golf tournament, 5K walk/run or music festival, there are several considerations to take into account.

Sunscreen is regulated as an over-the-counter drug, so distributors should ensure the products they recommend have been tested to confirm product claims. It’s important that it provide broad-spectrum protection and an SPF level of at least 15, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The application type is another important factor. “For example, we recommend our sun stick a lot for athletic environments, like golf,” Nash says. “It’s easy to use, so it’s not getting all over end-users’ hands and potentially impacting their performance.”

David adds that it’s a good idea to understand where people are going to receive sunscreen. If the event is in Hawaii, for example, distributors should source reef-safe sunscreen that doesn’t harm the environment.

“We all want to celebrate so many causes outside in the summer, and it’s really important that we’re taking care of our skin while we’re doing it,” Nash says.

Click here for a PDF of the below infographic.

Product Hub
Find the latest in quality products, must-know trends and fresh ideas for upcoming end-buyer campaigns.