What COOLA does

COOLA is a privately-held organic suncare and skincare brand founded in 2007 by Chris Birchby in Carlsbad, California, after his parents were both diagnosed with melanoma. The company develops and sells feel-good SPF products — face and body lotions, sprays, sticks, scalp/hair mists, lip balms, tinted moisturizers, firming oils, and anti-aging hand cream — alongside a small adjacent skincare line. COOLA's core technology rests on organic formulations meeting California Organic Products Act (COPA) standards (70%+ certified organic ingredients), proprietary complexes such as BlueScreen Digital De-Stress Technology and Plant Protection Complex, Farm to Face ingredient traceability, Safflower Oleosomes encapsulation, and reef-safe (Hawaii Act 104 compliant) chemistry. All formulas are PETA-certified cruelty-free, vegan, non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested, and exclude 1,600+ undesirable ingredients per EU-level standards.

COOLA operates a dual-channel commercial model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via coola.com (with subscription options, 15% first-order email incentive, free shipping over $50) and multi-channel wholesale through Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom, Target, and Amazon. Products are priced from $14 (Clear Sunscreen Spray 6 oz) to $68 (SunBlur Bundle), with most SPF items in the $24-$42 range. The brand serves health-conscious consumers, sensitive-skin users, anti-aging-focused buyers, beauty enthusiasts seeking SPF-makeup hybrids, and active/outdoor lifestyle customers. Brand-building is anchored in the founder's melanoma-prevention story, Melanoma Research Foundation sponsorship, blog content marketing, influencer review programs, and earned media including the 2026 EBONY Beauty & Grooming Award. The company employs 251-500 people and has raised approximately $74.1M across four funding rounds, most recently in May 2019. COOLA has been actively expanding its SKU surface across 2025-2026 into makeup-SPF hybrids (SunBlur), anti-aging oils (Firming Face/Body Oil), and tinted moisturizers (Rosilliance), signaling a category-broadening strategy.

Name

COOLA

Legal name

COOLA LLC

Website

https://coola.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

COOLA is a privately-held, Carlsbad-based organic suncare and skincare brand founded in 2007, selling feel-good SPF lotions, sprays, mists, and adjacent skincare via DTC e-commerce and major retail partners (Ulta, Nordstrom, Target, Amazon) to health-conscious, clean-beauty consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Sunscreen and Skincare

NAICS

Health and Personal Care Retailers (4561), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Sunscreen (Face) (CRABAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sunscreen (Body) (CRABAHAB), SPF Cosmetics & Daily Wear (Tinted SPF, BB/CC, SPF Primers) (CRABAHAL), Sun Protection for Sensitive/Medical Needs (Reef-Safe, Hypoallergenic, Post-Procedure) (CRABAHAN), Sun Protection Lip Care (SPF Lip Balms) (CRABAHAK)

Keywords

• Organic sunscreen
• Mineral suncare
• SPF skincare
• Reef-safe sunscreen
• Clean beauty products

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: COOLA generates revenue primarily through direct sales via coola.com, offering the full product catalog with free shipping on orders over $50.
2. Retail Partnerships: Distribution through major retail partners including Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom, Target, and Amazon, reaching consumers through physical and digital retail channels.
3. Amazon Marketplace: Sales through Amazon marketplace, expanding reach to Prime customers and those preferring third-party e-commerce platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

COOLA designs, manufactures, and sells organic and mineral-based sunscreen and skincare products for face, body, lips, scalp, and hair. The portfolio includes SPF lotions, sprays, sticks, serums, oils, tinted moisturizers, sunless tanners, and complementary skincare items formulated with organic ingredients and proprietary complexes such as BlueScreen Digital De-Stress Technology and Plant Protection Complex.

Product overview

COOLA is an organic sunscreen and skincare brand offering a comprehensive portfolio of SPF products and skincare essentials. The core offering centers on feel-good sun protection with formulations ranging from lightweight face lotions (SPF 30-50+) and body sprays to specialized products like scalp & hair sunscreen mist, mineral sunscreens, and tinted moisturizers with SPF. The brand differentiates through organic ingredients, diverse scent profiles (Tropical Coconut, Piña Colada, Guava Mango, Peach Blossom, Cucumber, White Tea), and specialized collections including mineral sunscreens, blue light defense products, and sunless tanning. Newer launches include firming face and body oils with clinical efficacy claims, the SunBlur makeup-SPF hybrid line, and award-winning hand cream with SPF. The portfolio also includes travel-size kits, branded merchandise, and non-SPF skincare items like cleansers and serums.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Face Sunscreen Lotion Lightweight organic face sunscreen lotions available in SPF 30, SPF 50, and SPF 70, offered in fragrance-free and scented variants including Cucumber, White Tea, and Tropical Coconut.
• Body Sunscreen Lotion Hydrating body sunscreen lotions with broad-spectrum SPF protection in various scents and SPF levels including SPF 30, SPF 50, and SPF 70.
• Clear Sunscreen Spray Clear, fast-absorbing sunscreen sprays for body application available in multiple scents including Tropical Coconut, Piña Colada, Guava Mango, Peach Blossom, and Fragrance-Free options.
• Scalp & Hair Sunscreen Mist Lightweight SPF 30 spray designed to protect hair and scalp from sun exposure and color fading, featuring cica, monoi oil, and panthenol.
• Liplux Lip Sunscreen SPF lip balm and lip oil products for lip sun protection, available in clear, tinted, and flavored variants including Original, Tinted, and Mineral formulations.
• Sunscreen Stick Portable stick sunscreens for easy application and reapplication, including Classic and Mineral formulations for face and body.
• Refreshing Water Cream SPF 50 face moisturizer with hyaluronic acid providing hydration and sun protection in one product.
• Refreshing Water Plumping Gel Serum SPF 30 gel serum for face providing plumping hydration and sun protection with lightweight texture.
• Sun Silk Drops Anti-aging face sunscreen drops with SPF 30 providing silky, weightless sun protection.
• Dew Good Illuminating Serum SPF 30 illuminating serum with probiotic Complex that instantly brightens and hydrates skin, clinically proven.
• Firming Face Oil Organic SPF 30 face oil with skin-firming benefits, clinically proven to increase skin firmness by 50% in eight weeks.
• Firming Body Oil Mist Organic SPF 30 body oil mist that hydrates, firms, and nourishes skin with clinical results showing 50% increase in skin firmness in eight weeks.
• Sunless Tan Products Organic self-tanning products including serums, lotions, and body brush for streak-free, natural-looking glow with anti-aging benefits.
• Mineral Sunscreen Collection Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide based mineral sunscreens providing physical UV protection, suitable for sensitive and breakout-prone skin.
• Day & Night Eye Cream SPF 30 eye cream for daytime and separate night eye cream providing anti-aging benefits for the eye area.
• Anti-Aging Hand Cream with SPF Luxurious organic hand cream with SPF 30 that nourishes, protects, and visibly smooths skin. Winner of EBONY Beauty & Grooming Award 2026.
• SunBlur Primer SPF 50 makeup primer providing sun protection and creating a smooth base for makeup application.
• SunBlur Makeup Setting Mist SPF 50 makeup setting mist that refreshes makeup while providing sun protection throughout the day.
• Rosilliance Tinted Moisturizer Tinted moisturizer with SPF 30 available in Fresh Rose, Golden Hour, and Bronze Goddess shades.
• Dew Good Illuminating Body Melt SPF 40 illuminating body lotion that provides glow and hydration with broad-spectrum sun protection.
• Skincare Products Non-SPF skincare items including facial cleansers, exfoliators, rosewater mist, and skin renewal serums.
• Travel Size SPF & Kits TSA-friendly travel-size sunscreen products and curated suncare kits for portability and convenience.
• Blue Light Defense Products Products featuring BlueScreen Digital De-Stress Technology that help mitigate effects of blue light, infrared, and pollution.
• Refreshing Water Hydration Stick SPF 50 hydration stick for face providing water-light, non-greasy sun protection in portable format.
• Clear Skin Oil-Free Moisturizer Oil-free face moisturizer with zinc oxide and SPF 30 designed for clear skin and acne-prone skin types.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% increase in skin firmness in 8 weeks (Firming Face Oil clinical trial)
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOOLA is a proud sponsor of the Melanoma Research Foundation, supporting research, prevention, and awareness initiatives aimed at eliminating melanoma. The partnership aligns with COOLA's founding story (founder Chris Birchby's parents were diagnosed with melanoma) and brand mission of skin cancer prevention.
• Ulta BeautycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor prestige beauty retailer partner distributing COOLA products in stores and online at ulta.com. One of COOLA's primary retail distribution channels.
• NordstrommajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium department store partner offering COOLA products as part of their skincare and sun care assortment. Distributes COOLA products to affluent consumer segment.
• TargetmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMass retail chain partner distributing COOLA products at Target stores and Target.com. Provides wide consumer reach in mass market channel.
• AmazonmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorE-commerce marketplace partner selling COOLA products on Amazon.com, reaching Prime members and expanding digital distribution.
• VoluspaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVoluspa California Summers Mini Tin candle offered as Gift With Purchase with COOLA's California Summers Clear Sunscreen Spray, demonstrating co-marketing partnership in the lifestyle and sun care space.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Badger Balm: Niche, family-owned mineral sunscreen and balm brand with a strong organic/natural positioning that overlaps with COOLA's reef-safe and COPA-compliant narrative, though with smaller scale and narrower distribution.
• Drunk Elephant: Adjacent clean/biocompatible skincare brand (Shiseido-owned) with comparable clean-beauty standards and selective Sephora/Ulta distribution; relevant as a benchmark for premium clean-beauty pricing and exit valuations.
• Biossance: Clean-beauty skincare brand (Amyris) with overlapping clean-ingredient positioning, Sephora distribution, and a focus on multifunctional skincare — relevant as a comparable for COOLA's skincare-adjacent extension strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Gold: Established broad-spectrum sun care and sunless tanning brand with mass and salon distribution; comparable in body sunscreen and self-tan product formats though positioned at a lower price tier.
• Neutrogena: J&J-owned mass-market incumbent with broad SPF portfolio across face, body, and beach formats; competes on shelf space at Target, Walmart, and drugstores and has been expanding its mineral/clean lineup.
• La Roche-Posay: L'Oreal-owned broad incumbent that co-leads the mineral sunscreen market with COOLA at ~30% combined share; offers Anthelios and other SPF ranges at premium price points through dermatologist channels and major retailers.
• Coppertone: Bayer-owned legacy mass-market sun care incumbent dominating beach/outdoor SPF sprays and lotions; a key competitor in body sunscreen shelf space at mass and drug retail.

Direct peers

• Sun Bum: Direct peer in lifestyle-positioned sun care with mass and DTC distribution, comparable product formats (sprays, lotions, lip SPF), and similar target consumer (active, beach/outdoor lifestyle).
• Supergoop!: Direct peer in the clean/feel-good SPF category with a similar DTC-plus-retail playbook, broad portfolio across face, body, and makeup primers, and comparable premium price points. Both brands target health-conscious women seeking daily-wear SPF.
• EltaMD: Direct peer in dermatologist-recommended sunscreen, overlapping in mineral and chemical SPF SKUs and similar face/body lotion format, with comparable premium positioning and broad retail distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coola_suncare
• Facebookfacebook.com/COOLA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coola-suncare

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about COOLA