Pre SPF

 With summer hopefully just around the corner it seemed like a good time to think about protection from the glowing orb. Pre 1923 people used clothing and parasols to prevent exposure to the sun as darker skin meant working class. Early Greeks used olive oil to prevent sunburn and by todays ratings has a SPF of around 8, the Egyptians used a combo of rice bran, jasmine and clay. Coco Chanel was the first to make tanning fashionable (in 1923) plus doctors were recommending taking sun for several ailments so the need for sun screens was reborn. L'Oréal was one of the pioneers of sunscreens with a product called Ambre Solaire, an Austrian chemist launched the first commercial product named, Glacier Creme which had a SPF of 2, next up was an US airman/pharmacist who used a red goop called "red vet pet" which was mixed with cocoa butter and coconut oil and was purchased by Coppertone and marketed as "Coppertone Girl" and "Bain de Soleil" in the 1950s as the first commercial US sunscreen.