sunscreenmist against snappyscreen, an automatic spray-on booths rivalry

things are heating up in the sunscreen vending machines industry, and we’re here to tell you all about it. in 2006, sunscreen mist holdings LLC claims to have created the world’s first automated and patented spray-on booth — suitable for all ages and apparently protective against skin cancer. but in 2016, long-island based company snappyscreen introduced to the market a surprisingly similar product: a sunscreen sprayer booth that applies the desired SPF unto beach dwellers’ bodies, just under ten seconds. so what happened next?

snappyscreen spray-on booth at a beach
image via snapyscreen

in march of this year, a law suit was filed by sunscreenmist against snappyscreen in the florida federal court, claiming that the NYC-based brand has infringed its patent for a sunscreen booth that automatically sprays on an SPF of the user’s choice. even more, sunscreenmist is accusing its rival of falsely advertising its product as being ‘the world’s first touchless sunscreen application system’ — which is patented as well.

the snappyscreen booth automatically covers the body with a misty spray
image via snappyscreen

according to sunscreenmist holdings LLC, ‘each spray-on sunscreen machine allows the customer to choose from the broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 & SPF 30 sunscreens, tan enhancer, cooling aloe, and insect barrier with SPF 30’. additionally, the machine is easily customizable and adaptable for any setting — including hotels, resorts (beach or ski), zoos, theme parks and the like. for that, the company has released three different types of sunscreen spray machines: the mist booth, the dual station and single station.

snappyscreen at atlantis resort
image via snappyscreen

let’s take a look at snappyscreen now, which was created by kristen mcclellan during her freshmen year at cornell university. the sunscreen spraying booth automatically covers the user’s entire body with a misty spray — after entering one’s own height and desired SPF( 15, 20 or 40). according to mcclellan, the idea was born after seeing how bad her sister would apply sunscreen on herself at the beach, and claiming that there has to be a better way at it; that was the moment when the concept of snappyscreen came to the founder’s mind.

sunscreenmist against snappyscreen; who will win and what will be the fate of each company after this rivalry?

sunscreenmist dual station at a resort
image © sunscreenmist