Introducing Soleil Chanel, 1987

Chanel introduced its suncare system in 1987 with the Soleil line, created in Europe. Tanning was still popular in the 1980s, and, in keeping with Coco Chanel’s penchant for a golden tan, Chanel’s focus was on maintaining that golden glow, not so much on sun protection.

The highest SPF was 15 in the Haute Protection sun shelter cream, which is laughable these days. The Bronzage Progressif protective bronzing lotion had an SPF 8, which is even more laughable. The whole focus was on getting tan first, then ‘restoring’ your damaged skin with Apres-Soleil Revitalisant face cream and Apres-Soleil Apaisant body lotion. The illusion that you could maintain that golden young glow of summer was very real.

~Marilyn