By Gabrielle Echevarrieta
Teens are infamous for believing they are invincible. Warnings from worried parents often go in one ear and out the other, but sage advice from those their own age can be life-changing. Sasha Marmur, an NYC teen immersed in the world of skin health, is on a mission to bridge the gap between medical experts and young adults with Sasha Suncare. Noticing a profound lack of sun protection targeted toward those in her age group, the young entrepreneur collaborated with her mother’s skin care line, MMSkincare, to create products that speak to her peers and support a worthy cause.
“As a teenager, I see how others my age view sunscreen. It’s something that’s not seen as a necessity, even though 80 percent of sun exposure happens before the age of 18,” says Marmur. “It showed me how important it is to take care of your skin throughout your life. Kids usually see sunscreen as a bother. They don’t like the feeling, or just see it as a chore to do before you can go have fun. I really wanted to change that perception, and emphasize that applying sunscreen is not a choice—it’s a crucial thing to do every single day.”
The new vegan, gluten- and cruelty-free line is gentle for both skin and the sea, containing natural ingredients that won’t damage precious coral reefs. Formulated with vitamin B and caffeine USP to boost skin elasticity and prevent dryness, the tinted mineral sunscreen is water resistant for up to 40 minutes and can be applied under makeup or by itself for a smooth, sun-kissed complexion. Infused with rejuvenating vitamins C and E, aloe, cucumber and coconut oil, the mineral and nourishing sport sprays are water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Plus, 100 percent of profits from the collection are donated to Beyond Suncare, an organization supporting the health of people with albinism (PWA) in Malawi, a country with a high rate of children born with the condition. Often facing extreme discrimination as well as a lack of education and resources about skin care, PWA are at great risk of developing precancerous and cancerous lesions as children; all these factors contribute to 90 percent of PWA dying before the age of 40. Beyond Suncare and Sasha Suncare are diligently protecting the health and dignity of PWA—every 10 bottles of Sasha Suncare equating to an entire year’s worth of sunscreen, education and dermatologic screening for a person with albinism.
Find Sasha Suncare in the Hamptons at Bandier (44B Main St., Southampton), Flying Point Surf & Sport (34 Main St., Sag Harbor) and Sag Harbor Tennis (395 Main St., Sag Harbor); mmskincare.com/collections/sasha-suncare; beyondsuncare.org
