Why Sunscreen? And more questions about Bee Wild Outside!
Hi there! I'm Alexandra Merlino, the Founder of Bee Wild Outside, a conscious SPF skincare company created for outdoor adventurers who care about protecting their skin and our planet. We’ve received a lot of questions about why we started this business. I’d love to share some answers, but first, here’s a bit about my background.
I caught the entrepreneurial bug early and have been building solution-based businesses and supporting social impact organizations since I launched my first venture, Authentics Home, in 1996. The lessons and skills I've gained along the way have reinforced my belief that private enterprises have the power to solve many of the world’s challenges.
Over the last four years, my focus has shifted towards sunscreen. Here’s why.
Why Sunscreen?
Sunscreen is essential gear when you go outside.
Outdoor activity is more popular than ever, with 175.8 million participants in the U.S. in 2023. Yet, sun care remains one of the most overlooked and misunderstood parts of skin care, even though neglecting it can have the most damaging effects.
As someone who loves spending time outdoors, I had to rethink my relationship with the sun. I used to rely on long sleeves, hats, and sunglasses, but that wasn’t enough. In 2019, I discovered a basal cell carcinoma on my face. I’m lucky; it’s the most common skin cancer, with an estimated 3.6 million cases diagnosed each year, and it’s treatable.
That diagnosis was a wake-up call. Sun protection isn't just a good idea; it’s crucial. Proper use of sunscreen is one of the best—and easiest—ways to protect your skin from the sun. But that means reapplying every two hours, something most people don’t do—and I didn’t either. After my diagnosis, sunscreen became essential gear for my outdoor lifestyle. But I couldn’t find the right product: a clean mineral formula that felt good on my skin, was compact for easy application, and came in a guilt-free, sustainable container. So I created the solution.
Why Are You Focused on ‘Behavior Change’?
If you’re heading outside, sunscreen is essential gear. So why do so many people still get sunburned?
The answer is simple: using sunscreen is inconvenient:
Sunscreen can be messy.
It often feels sticky or slimy.
It can leave a white cast on your skin.
People are confused about which type of sunscreen to use and how to apply it.
People don’t want to interrupt their outdoor fun.
These inconveniences lead to sunburn! We want to protect outdoor adventurers so we’re replacing these obstacles with a fun, easy, and mess-free sunscreen and educating consumers on the benefits of reapplying.
What Does Conscious SPF Mean?
Being conscious means being aware and responding to that awareness. At Bee Wild Outside, our consciousness extends beyond just sunscreen:
Clean Ingredients: We’re committed to using the best ingredients for effective, skin-friendly, and earth-friendly formulas.
Cruelty-Free & Vegan: No animals or people are harmed in the making of this product.
Reduced Waste & Reusable Packaging: We focus on minimizing environmental impact with innovative, sustainable, and refillable packaging solutions.
Sustainable Design: We rigorously evaluate every component and material for its environmental impact.
Bee Vocal: Change doesn’t happen on the sidelines. We’re vocal advocates, defending and protecting the environment, our employees, and our community.
Cultivate Strong Relationships: Businesses thrive on relationships, and we treat ours with care. Employees, customers, and vendors are all stakeholders in our business and are considered in every decision we make.
Keep the questions coming!
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