Gen Z is diligent about hydrating, moisturizing, and layering skincare products yet they sometimes skip the most foundational step of all—daily sun protection—and e.l.f. SKIN's Sunhinged is a new comedy special centered on this topic. “At e.l.f., we believe in meeting our community where they are—and, in this case, that’s somewhere between a 10-step skincare routine and forgetting sunscreen altogether," said Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer at e.l.f. Beauty.
Part of an awareness campaign for e.l.f. SKIN’s Suntouchable collection, Sunhinged is a roast of the sun hosted by Marie Faustin and features Meghan Trainor, Heidi N’ Closet and others.
According to a 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Association survey, 64% of Gen Zers often forget to apply sunscreen, and to make matters worse, 50% of Gen Z experience severe sunburn in the summer months.
What's Driving This Trend
- Entertaining Health Education
- Comedy specials like e.l.f. SKIN's Sunhinged highlight the potential for entertainment to effectively convey important health messages to younger generations.
- Skincare-conscious Comedy
- Integrating skincare education into entertaining formats such as humor provides a fresh approach to engaging audiences who typically overlook traditional health advisories.
- Crossover Marketing Campaigns
- Blending media formats and product promotion, as seen with e.l.f. SKIN's innovative comedy special, reflects a trend towards more immersive and relatable brand experiences.
Who This Affects Most
- Skincare
- The skincare industry can benefit from creative marketing approaches that blend education with entertainment, addressing common consumer oversights like sunscreen usage.
- Entertainment
- Entertainment sectors exploring partnerships in unconventional topics like sun care can pioneer new avenues for content-driven brand collaborations.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Incorporating humor into marketing strategies opens up new paths for brands to connect with audiences, particularly in raising awareness of health-related habits.
