What is a Sunscreen made of?
What is a Sunscreen made of?
UV filters — mineral, chemical or both — suspended in an emulsion whose job is to hold them in an even film.
Sunscreen is regulated as an over-the-counter drug in the US and as a cosmetic in the EU, Japan and Australia, and that single administrative difference is why European and Asian sunscreens have access to modern broad-spectrum filters that have been waiting for US approval for two decades. SPF measures protection against UVB and sunburn only; UVA protection is shown separately by a PA rating or a circled UVA mark. Real-world protection is usually far below the labelled figure because almost nobody applies the 2 mg/cm² used in testing — about a teaspoon for the face and neck — so reapplying every two hours matters more than chasing a higher SPF number.
Component by component
| Part | Material | Why that material |
|---|---|---|
| mineral filters | zinc oxide and titanium dioxide | They absorb and scatter across the UV range, are photostable, and are the only filters generally recognised as safe and effective by the US FDA. |
| organic filters | avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and outside the US, Tinosorb and Uvinul filters | They absorb specific UV wavelengths and feel far lighter on the skin than mineral filters at the same protection level. |
| stabiliser | octocrylene or a dedicated photostabiliser paired with avobenzone | Avobenzone is the main UVA filter available in the US and degrades in sunlight within an hour unless it is stabilised. |
| emulsion base | water, oils, emulsifiers and thickeners | Protection depends on an even, thick film; the base decides whether it spreads evenly and stays put in sweat and water. |
| film formers | polymers that resist water and rub-off | Water resistance is tested for 40 or 80 minutes; nothing is waterproof, and the label is not allowed to say so. |
Other around the house objects
- Banknote Cotton and linen rag paper, or polymer film — never wood pulp, which is why notes survive the wash.
- Lego brick ABS plastic moulded to a tolerance of about ten micrometres — the tightness of the fit is the whole product.
- Soap Fats reacted with lye to make fatty acid salts — and most modern "beauty bars" are not soap at all.
- Toothpaste Mostly abrasive and humectant, with a detergent for foam — the active ingredient is about 0.15% fluoride.
- Coin Base-metal alloys chosen for wear and cost — most modern "silver" coins are copper-nickel and most "copper" ones are plated steel or zinc.
- Credit card Laminated PVC sheets 0.76 mm thick, carrying a silicon chip in epoxy and a copper antenna coil.
- Candle Wax that is really a fuel, and a braided cotton wick that acts as a pump rather than as the thing burning.
- Lipstick Castor oil carrying pigment, set into a stick with waxes — the oil is the workhorse, not the colour.
- Shampoo Three-quarters water, a primary detergent, a milder secondary one, salt to thicken, and silicone to make hair feel smooth.
- Balloon Party balloons are dipped natural rubber latex; foil balloons are metallised plastic film and are not rubber at all.
- Deodorant Deodorant kills the bacteria that cause the smell; antiperspirant uses aluminium salts to plug the sweat duct. Different products.
- Toothbrush Nylon filaments stapled into a polypropylene handle with a wire — three plastics that cannot be separated for recycling.
Common questions
- What is a Sunscreen made of?
- UV filters — mineral, chemical or both — suspended in an emulsion whose job is to hold them in an even film.
- What is the mineral filters of a Sunscreen made of?
- Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They absorb and scatter across the UV range, are photostable, and are the only filters generally recognised as safe and effective by the US FDA.
- What is the organic filters of a Sunscreen made of?
- Avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and outside the US, Tinosorb and Uvinul filters. They absorb specific UV wavelengths and feel far lighter on the skin than mineral filters at the same protection level.
Related pages
- Banknote Cotton and linen rag paper, or polymer film — never wood pulp, which is why notes survive the wash.
- Lego brick ABS plastic moulded to a tolerance of about ten micrometres — the tightness of the fit is the whole product.
- Soap Fats reacted with lye to make fatty acid salts — and most modern "beauty bars" are not soap at all.
- Toothpaste Mostly abrasive and humectant, with a detergent for foam — the active ingredient is about 0.15% fluoride.
- Coin Base-metal alloys chosen for wear and cost — most modern "silver" coins are copper-nickel and most "copper" ones are plated steel or zinc.
- Credit card Laminated PVC sheets 0.76 mm thick, carrying a silicon chip in epoxy and a copper antenna coil.
- Candle Wax that is really a fuel, and a braided cotton wick that acts as a pump rather than as the thing burning.
- Lipstick Castor oil carrying pigment, set into a stick with waxes — the oil is the workhorse, not the colour.
- Pencil Stationery and paper
- Tennis ball Sport and games
- Golf ball Sport and games
- Paper Stationery and paper
- Glass Building materials
- Soccer ball Sport and games
Sources
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place