DISCOVERING THE NEED
We started LUCA® out of necessity as a high quality sunscreen company! Our story is simple and true! Our children Elise and Luca where allergic to sunscreens. After trying numerous products and multiple visits to the dermatologists, they continued to complain of burning and irritation. As parents, we decided to take matters into our own hands and develop a hypoallergenic line of sunscreens back in 2005.
We took our lead for LUCA® sunscreen from the European, Japanese and Australian markets. There, consumers are much more aware of the damages of unprotected skin. These markets focus on the UVA rating of a product in addition to SPF values. UVA rays are responsible for pre-mature aging and sun induced skin cancer, like Melanoma. We learned that similar to an SPF/UVB value, there is a rating system for UVA rays called Critical Wavelength®. The FDA has just release new labeling rules on all sunscreens that will mandate that sunscreen products must have a minimum Critical Wavelength® value of 370 nanometers to be defined as a Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB Sunscreen. We continue to focus on providing hypoallergenic products with superior UVA and UVB protection and to support our claims with the appropriate Critical Wavelength® rating printed on each product. All LUCA® sunscreen products exceed the FDA labeling standards and offer the Ultimate Broad Spectrum UV Protection! So you don't have to wait until next summer to protect your family from the most harmful rays of the sun!
DECIDING TO EXPAND LUCA®’s PRODUCT LINE INTO EYELASH CONDITIONING AND ENHANCEMENT
Our commitment with our LUCA sunscreen line is to offer superior protection without the consideration for the material costs. In November 2010, we decided to grow LUCA®’s product line into EYELASH ENHANCEMENT when we saw a huge opportunity to bring our Science to the Beauty industry offering the most advanced Eyelash and conditioning product to the market: LUCA® Lash. Our active ingredient for LUCA® Lash is Myristoyl Pentapeptide – 17 for the appearance of thicker, fuller, healthier eyelashes. We also felt it was important that our formulation included vitamins A, C & E and botanicals for added eyelash conditioning. LUCA® Lash is Paraben Free, does not contain Prostaglandins (Growth Hormones)and does not contain the ingredient deemed harmful to some consumers by the FDA, isopropyl cloprostenate. If you see the ingredient isopropyl cloprostenate in any Eyelash Enhancer or Conditioner, understand that it may cause harmful side effects. LUCA® Lash does not have any potential dangerous hormones in our product. Quality and safety continues to be our focus as we grow and expand our LUCA® Beauty line.
OUR PASSION WAS INFECTIOUS
In 2008, Karl’s Charleston, South Carolina grade school buddies and eventual business partners in Reliable Medical Equipment and Piedmont Hospice joined LUCA®’s mission. Alan Richey, Michael Purcell and Wim Kellett are helping to spread the word and build LUCA® into an international Sunscreen and Cosmetic company with a Southern family flavor.