Tans Get Trendy—and a French Chemist Begins Key Research

1920s

Coco Chanel got a sunburn while on vacation, and she returned with an inadvertent tan that started a trend. It wasn't long before sun tan oil entered the market.

1932

Australian chemist H.A. Milton Blake developed the first recognized sunscreen, using the UV filter salol (phenyl salicylate).

1936

French chemist Eugène Schueller introduced a formula that became L'Oreal's first sunscreen product.

1938

Austrian-born chemistry student Franz Greiter, who suffered severe sunburns while mountain climbing and skiing throughout his early adult years, began researching effective sun protection formulas.