COOLA is a California-rooted sun and skincare brand known for organic, feel-good SPF that blends serious protection with a luxurious, everyday-wear experience, built around a mission that grew from the founder’s family battle with melanoma and a belief that clean beauty should be delightful to use daily. Founded by Chris Birchby after both parents were diagnosed with melanoma, the company shaped its formulas to be sheer, non-greasy, and fragrance-forward while prioritizing plant-based, dermatologist-tested ingredients and reef-friendly standards aligned with Hawai‘i Act 104.
Origin and mission
COOLA’s story began when founder Chris Birchby couldn’t find an organic sunscreen that felt good enough for daily wear, compelling him to create one that merges performance with pleasure, influenced by Southern California’s health-first lifestyle and a commitment to skin cancer awareness. Early hurdles—like meeting SPF requirements and even a warehouse fire—preceded COOLA’s eventual market debut in 2007, setting a resilient foundation for the brand’s product ethos and design-led identity. The company continues to connect its purpose to prevention as a proud sponsor of the Melanoma Research Foundation, supporting research and awareness initiatives against melanoma.
The feel-good SPF difference
The COOLA “feel-good” promise centers on textures that are non-sticky, non-greasy, sheer, and lightweight so SPF becomes a want-to-wear step, not a chore, reinforcing true daily compliance in real life. This sensory-first philosophy is paired with robust sun protection that is dermatologist tested and crafted “without compromise,” meaning formulas are designed with clean ingredient guardrails and skin-loving antioxidants. The result is SPF that looks and wears like premium skincare while delivering broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and comfort across skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone complexions.
Organic standards and safety
COOLA abides by California Organic Products Act standards, committing to at least 70% certified organic ingredients per formula, a stringent benchmark in personal care that still allows clinically effective, lab-derived components within a clean framework. All products are cruelty-free with PETA certification and are dermatologist tested, reflecting a safety-forward development process that includes HRIPT to minimize irritation risk. The brand is Hawai‘i Act 104 compliant, avoiding Oxybenzone and Octinoxate and offering fully mineral options to meet evolving island requirements while keeping reef safety at the forefront.
Farm to Face commitment
“Farm to Face” is COOLA’s sourcing backbone, emphasizing organically and sustainably farmed ingredients that support local communities while mitigating environmental harms like waterway pollution and soil erosion, linking skincare excellence to planetary health. This approach informs the selection of antioxidant-rich plant extracts—such as red raspberry seed oil, buriti oil, meadowfoam seed oil, and prickly pear—that help defend against free radicals and nourish the skin beyond basic SPF duties. By collaborating closely with suppliers and farmers, the brand connects traceability and sustainability to performance and sensorial feel, closing the loop between ethics and efficacy.
Product highlights and technology
A flagship example is the Classic Face Organic Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 (Fragrance Free), which features a Plant Protection complex of antioxidant botanicals and plant-derived safflower oleosomes to optimize active delivery while maintaining a sheer, hydrating finish. Consumer testing on this formula reports near-unanimous approval on hydration, nourishment, lightweight wear, and transparency, reflecting the core COOLA promise of everyday desirability with high protection. Across the range, the brand emphasizes correct usage—like applying about a nickel-sized amount, roughly 1/3 teaspoon, for the face and reapplying every two hours or after water exposure according to each product’s 40–80 minute water resistance—to ensure real-world protection matches lab performance.
Distribution and growth
From a Carlsbad headquarters, COOLA has grown into a recognized player in prestige and mass beauty channels, with presence at retailers including Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, and even luxury hospitality partners, reflecting cross-market appeal and brand credibility. Industry coverage notes revenue growth and broader distribution milestones, including shelf placement at Target and beauty specialty retailers, signaling scalability without diluting the premium experience. Data platforms track COOLA among notable direct-to-consumer brands, with prior funding and corporate developments underscoring durable category demand for clean, mineral-forward suncare.
Education and trends
The brand pairs product launches with seasonal SPF education, like a Spring 2025 trend report that keeps consumers engaged with texture innovations, skin-first benefits, and evolving preferences for mineral and hybrid formats. This ongoing content dovetails with COOLA’s broader mission to normalize daily SPF as a skincare essential, anchoring routines in protection while celebrating California-inspired fun in the sun. By translating technical standards into simple usage guidance and pleasurable textures, COOLA helps reduce the gap between SPF advice and actual, consistent application.
Sustainability and advocacy
Sustainability is woven into formula choices and sourcing practices, with an emphasis on organic agriculture’s role in reducing environmental burden and advancing resilient supply chains. Compliance with reef-safety legislation and the availability of 100% mineral formulas align the brand with ecological stewardship and travel-friendly SPF behaviors across sensitive destinations. Partnership with the Melanoma Research Foundation further underscores an advocacy stance that places prevention and awareness alongside product innovation.
Looking ahead
In a mineral market expanding year over year, COOLA’s combination of organic standards, dermatologist-tested safety, and sensorial excellence positions the brand to benefit from rising consumer preferences for clean, effective SPF that integrates seamlessly into daily life. With roots in personal purpose and a refined, California-casual identity, COOLA continues to bridge clinical protection and lifestyle desirability, making every day a “days like these” invitation to protect skin and enjoy the sun responsibly. The brand’s enduring edge is simple yet powerful: SPF that people genuinely want to wear—and keep wearing—because it feels as good as it protects.
For more information, visit Coola.