One and done: ONLYSKIN launches cleanser-sunscreen hybrid to boost consumer convenience

ONLYSKIN is a subsidiary of ONLY Group, a medical aesthetics company founded in 2005, operates four medical aesthetic clinic brands, a cryotherapy centre and develops a range of products including its own skin care line.

The firm recently launched Cleanse Protect Renew (CPR), a multifunctional sunscreen that protects against UV rays, blue light, and pollution – after washing it off.

“All you need to do is wash your face. And after that, on top of having clean skin, you’ll be protected from UV rays,”​ explained Eliza Yuen, head of marketing, ONLY Group.

The company has dubbed CPR the ‘Tesla of sunscreen’​ as it uses advanced ionic bonding technology that enables a full 24-hour broad-spectrum protection of harmful UV radiation without the need for any reapplication.

“On the surface of our skin are negative ions, and CPR is charged as a positive ion. Because of this, when you apply it on the skin, the ions bond together and latch on. The best part about it is that once you wash your face, you can go on with your normal make-up and you'll still be protected throughout the entire day until your next wash,”​ Yuen elaborated.

The company conducted two clinical trials for the product to test how long its protective abilities could last.

The first experiment pitted it against a conventional sunscreen formula and tested the degree of UV ray penetration over the course of time.

Hourly checks were conducted over the course of eight hours and the CPR formula did not degrade while the conventional sunscreen started to wear off within the first hour.

In another test, subjects were asked to apply CPR and then made to submerge themselves in water. The results found that CPR stayed on the skin even after contact in water.

Ease of use

The biggest differentiator between CPR and conventional sunscreen is the convenience it offers to consumers, which Yuen highlighted was key to encouraging sunscreen use.

“Most people apply sunscreen before they leave the house in the morning and that’s it. We know it is very important to reapply sunscreen every two hours but who does that really?”​ said Yuen.

The company developed the product with consumers that undergo aesthetic treatments in mind.

“We found that a lot of problems our customers face is attributed to not having adequate sun protection when they finish their aesthetic treatment. Post-treatment skin is very raw and without adequate protection, it’s a lot easier to develop issues like hyperpigmentation,”​ said Yuen.

“Because of that, we decided it would be better to develop something that takes away the inconvenience of sunscreen protection because the reality is nobody is going to touch up their sunscreen every two hours.”​

Moving forward, the company is looking to develop another wash-on sunscreen specifically for post-aesthetic treatments, especially more invasive treatments that may result in hypersensitive skin.