The West’s obsession with tanning has long been documented, but it finally appears that attitudes to the sun could be changing.

The latest findings from Mintel Beauty & Personal Care show that the number of new US face care products that offered UV protection in 2011 rose to 19% of total launches, up from 13% in 2008.

Many of the current lotions available on the market include anti-oxidants to increase the skin’s defences from the sun’s damaging effects. For example, SkinCeuticals has launched a new Protect Range that contains a unique plankton extract, artemia salina, for maximum protection.

The product is just one of several demonstrated by Mintel Beauty & Personal Care at Barcelona’s in-cosmetics trade show from 17-19 April 2012, which highlighted the West’s latest fascination with sun protection.

in-cosmetics event director, Lucy Gillam, says the new surge in face care products containing SPF is a positive progression for a cosmetics industry that has been fixated on self-tanning products for the last 60 years: “It seems that our pursuit to look and remain youthful has finally caught up with our obsession of having a tan.

in-cosmetics highlighted this new wave of beauty products that contain innovative ingredients that deliver maximum sun protection.”

Mintel Beauty & Personal Care showcased a range of sun care products at the in-cosmetics Innovation Zone that show how ingredients, packaging and claims differ in the East and West. Eastern consumers are renowned for going to great lengths to keep their skin as pale as possible, in contrast with their Western counterparts.

Japanese manufacturer Shiseido International’s Clé de Peau Beauté range has recently seen the addition of UV Protection Cream SPF 50 PA+++ that contains thyme and turmeric extracts to prevent DNA damage to cells that cause wrinkle formation.

Specifically targeted at teenagers, South Korea’s Yuhan Kimberly has also launched Teen’s Nature Sun Cream SPF 45 PA++ which contains bamboo water and water in silicon to block UVA and UVB rays and nourish skin.

Nica Lewis from Mintel Beauty & Personal Care added: “The market for sunscreens in the East is strong, with China and South Korea projected to experience some of the most robust growth in sun care by 2016. As a result, the innovative new ingredients that manufacturers are using to formulate them are really leading the way for the personal care ingredients industry.

“Although the West is still playing ‘catch-up’ with the East, no doubt consumers’ new preoccupation with skin protection lotions will drive the range of sun care products on the market in the future.”