Whilst working onboard cruise ships as a health and fitness professional, Andrea struggled to find a chemical-free sunscreen that did not leave her looking a different shade. The idea of creating a solution stayed with her for 30 years, until lockdown offered the time and space to bring it to life. That’s when Shades of Melanin was born. The brand holds even deeper meaning following the loss of Andrea’s best friend, Nova, to a rare melanoma in 2022, on the very day Andrea launched the business. Nova remains a driving force in Andrea’s mission to change the narrative around skincare and raise awareness of early diagnosis.