The history of Daylong™ is closely linked to the Swiss traditional company Spirig AG, later Spirig Pharma GmbH. Family-owned since 1907, Dr. Hugo Spirig took over his father’s pharmacy with the clear goal of developing it into a manufacturing facility for pharmaceutical products. This marked the beginning of a Swiss success story.
Thanks to resourceful and dedicated employees, strong expertise in research and development, and investments in the Swiss site, Spirig was able to continuously expand its success. Over the years, the company evolved into a highly successful business with a focus on dermatological products.
When Spirig launched its sunscreen Daylong™ 16 on the Swiss market in 1993, it marked the beginning of a success story that continues to this day. At the time, awareness among the Swiss population regarding the sun and its effects on the skin had been changing for several years, with the ozone hole a constant topic in public discussion. Daylong™ 16 was therefore so special because it was pleasant and easy to apply while at the same time—unusual for that era—offering extremely high water resistance. Incidentally, the “16” refers to the sun protection factor (SPF) 16, which was considered very high at the time.
By its third year on the market, Daylong™ 16 had become the market leader among sun protection products in Swiss pharmacies and drugstores. Daylong™ owes this rapid rise to the fact that experts in specialist retail were fully convinced by its properties. With Daylong™ après, a new product—an after-sun lotion—was launched on the market for the first time.
As awareness in Switzerland of the dangers of sun exposure continued to grow, demand also increased for products offering significantly stronger protection, i.e. a higher sun protection factor. The new Daylong™ 25 became the market leader in specialist retail in its very first year.
During the “summer of the century” in 2003, temperatures above 40°C were recorded in Switzerland for the first time (in Grono, Graubünden), and heat dominated life in Switzerland for months. Exactly ten years after the launch of Daylong™, Daylong™ Extreme 50+ was introduced—just in time for the summer of the century.
After extensive testing, Daylong™ actinica (now available under the name Actinica™) became the first sunscreen product in Europe to be granted medical device status. In the same year, Daylong™ launched its first spray product.
Children’s skin is far more sensitive to sun exposure, and skin damage sustained in childhood can last a lifetime. To address this, Daylong™ launched its latest sunscreen product, Kids SPF 30, specifically tailored to the needs of sensitive children’s skin.
After Daylong™ had been fully convincing on the Swiss market for 20 years, the brand became available in more than 40 countries worldwide from 2013 onwards - facilitated when Spirig Pharma AG (including the Daylong brand) was acquired by Galderma Pharma SA, now Galderma SA.
Daylong™ set new standards in sun protection with the new Daylong™ Face SPF 50+ and the ultra-light Daylong™ Sport SPF 50+. In this year, the brand introduces two new products developed specifically for the daily use and the active use providing high levels of protection whilst also feeling light on the skin.
For the 2021 season, our new Daylong™ Sun to Go Stick complements our product range. Lightweight and space-saving, the stick is the ideal companion for on the go—whether on a city trip, during sports, or for quick reapplication during a lunch break or after work.
After more than 30 years of expertise in sun protection, in 2026 Daylong™ enters a new era: whilst reliable, high-performance products remain the focus, Daylong™ is now positioning itself as your trusted companion for carefree moments in the sun – for every skin type, every day and every situation. Daylong™ is evolving with a revised and expanded product portfolio, incorporating new product innovations – including the new Oil & Blemish Control line, the Anti-Aging Fluid and the Mineral Face Cream. The facial segment, daily use and SPF 50+ become clear focal points. Visually, too, Daylong™ is entering a new era in 2026. The brand now features a entirely new, user-friendly packaging design accompanied by a new, emotion-driven campaign based on sun expertise, the Swiss daily life, positive storytelling and an authentic character – Enjoy the Sun. Daylong™
