Supergoop! Founder Steps โคAwayโ After selling Sunscreen Empire
Holly Thaggard, โฃthe educator-turned-entrepreneur who revolutionized the sunscreen โฃindustry withโฃ her brand Supergoop!, โhas transitioned from day-to-day operations following the company’s sale to investment firm Blackstone Inc. earlier this year. Thaggard’s โjourney โfrom a teacher concerned about harmfulโค sunscreen ingredients to aโข beauty industry leader demonstrates a โpotent blendโ of personal conviction โขand market innovation,reshaping how consumers approachโ sunโ protection.
The success of Supergoop! isn’t merely a business story; โit reflects a growing consumerโ demand for โคhealthier,more effective skincare. For decades, many sunscreens relied on chemicals linked to potential health risks, leaving a โฃgapโ in the market โfor a product that prioritized โคboth safety andโฃ usability.thaggard’s vision addressed thisโค need, creating โa brand valued for its formulas and its mission to make daily sunscreen use a habit. The sale to Blackstone signals a new chapter for the company, but also highlights the increasing investment inโข the “skinโข health” sector.
Thaggard’s initial โinspiration stemmed fromโข a personal frustration. As a former teacher, โคshe noticed a lack of appealing sunscreen options – products โfrequently enough โฃfelt greasy, smelled unpleasant, and โweren’t integrated into daily routines.โค “I realized that if peopleโ didn’t like wearing it, theyโ weren’t going to wear it โeveryday,” she explained, recognizing the need forโค innovationโ to inspire โconsistent โฃuse. โค
This โrealization prompted a shift in focus. Thaggard dedicated herself โto developing sunscreen formulas that excluded potentiallyโฃ harmful ingredients while maintaining a desirable texture and appearance. Inโ 2005, she โlaunched Supergoop!,โฃ building it into anโค internationally recognized brand. โฃ
Now, Thaggard is pursuing new ventures as an investor and startup advisor, including supporting her son’s work to combat microplastic pollution โขin drinking water.”As a founder โฆ you naturally love to create and build,” she said.”Andโฃ when โa business gets โคto the size that Supergoop!โฃ is today, someโข of the magic โฃofโข building and creating and โฃfiguring things โout and doing thingsโ differently โฆ it’s just where your sweet spot is.”
