A chat-bot just helped me find the perfect sunscreen

If I can find a way to avoid talking to people I don’t know or like, I will. Take customer service for my bank, phone, internet and other such companies for example… I’m all about the online chat option if it’s available, as I’ve found it’s usually more efficient than talking to someone in a call center halfway around the world (and I don’t have to worry about coming off as nasty if I get aggravated). But at the same time, there’s nothing more aggravating than a bot who just doesn’t understand you.

I was intrigued when I got an email about What’s In My Jar’s new Sunscreen Finder, which uses AI smart-chat to guide you to the ideal sunscreen that matches your preferences as well as your skin’s needs. And, OMG, it totally works.

The “conversation” starts with questions about where you live (since available products and ingredients vary by country) and whether you need SPF for face or body (or both) and if it’s for an adult, child or baby. Great questions from the get-go!

These were followed by some skin-centric questions such as how your skin feels when you wake up and how sensitive and acne-prone your skin is. I particularly liked the question that involved a colored dot for skin tone comparison, since some mineral-based sunscreens leave darker skin with a white cast. Last, I was asked how I felt about tinted sunscreens—and although it was a multiple-choice answer, I wanted type, “I LOVE a tinted SPF—thanks for checking!”

Then we got into water-resistance and if I was planning on swimming in the ocean—because even this bot wants to preserve what’s left of the coral reefs! The next query was about eye-stinging (and if I prefer a non-stinging product). I think we’d all prefer something that doesn’t burn our eyes if it happens to get in there, but I realized this was basically a veiled attempt to find out if I want a mineral- or chemical-based sunscreen (or if I don’t care).

The last batch of questions was about my desired price point and level of SPF, and the bot said it strongly recommends sunscreen with at least SPF 30. (I didn’t ask for its opinion but the advice was certainly appreciated.)

Then, poof!, I got my personalized list of five, which included:

Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 35

PCA Skin Sheer Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 45

SkinMedica Essential Defense Mineral Shield SPF 32 (Tinted)

Clinique Pep-Start Daily UV Protector SPF 50

Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral Naked Broad Spectrum SPF 45

Upon closer inspection, all of these options seem to meet my needs and wants, but I was also able to view an expanded list that allows you to filter the products further. And guess what was on there? My all-time favorite yet sadly discontinued Eau Thermale Avene tinted sunscreen. This bot hit the spot—and it only takes a few minutes. Trust me, try it! (If you need me, I’ll be checking out all the other fun stuff on the What’s In My Jar site.)