Range Max

Active Function Comments

* %

Zinc Oxide Photostable; Less likely

Absorbs and
(ZnO) to cause irritation;
blocks UVA
Responsible for a
and UVB
UVB, sunscreens white
rays and
Other Names: UVA1, 25% cast; FDA approved.
therefore is
- CI 77947 UVA2
considered
- Nogenol For information about
broad-
- Pigment white 4 zinc oxide nanoparticles,
spectrum
- Zinc gelatin check here.
PHYSICA
L
FILTERS

(Inorganic Photostable; Less likely

Sunscreen Titanium Reflects and to cause irritation but
Filters) Dioxide (TiO2)
blocks UVA may cause breakouts for
and UVB some people;
rays, Responsible for a
Other Names:
UVB, however, it sunscreens white
- CI Pigment 25%
UVA2 doesnt cast; FDA approved.
white 6
protect
- Titanium
against the For more information
peroxide
whole range about titanium dioxide
- CI 77891
of UVA rays. nanoparticles,
- Pigment white 6
check here.

Very photounstable;
Degrades in light; Oil-
Avobenzone soluble; Tends to be
unstable when there is
octinoxate; Can be
stabilized by
Other Names: octocrylene, 4-MBC,
- Butyl methoxy- Absorbs full Tinosorb, Meroxyl SX,
dibenzoyl- UVA1 3% spectrum and other UV filters or
methane UVA rays photo-stabilizers; Not
- Parsol 1789 irritating to skin; FDA
- Eusolex 9020 approved
- Escalol 517
CHEMICA - BMBM Micro-
L - BMDBM encapsulatedavobenzo
FILTERS ne could minimize its
degradation in sunlight.
(Organic
Sunscreen
Filters)

Tinosorb S UVB, 10% Absorbs both Very photostable; Oil-

 UVA and
Other Names:
UVB rays;
- Bis-ethyl- soluble; Minimal skin
Helps
hexyloxyphenol penetration; Not
prevent
methoxyphenyl UVA1, approved by the FDA;
photo-
triazine UVA2 Available in Europe,
destabilizatio
- BEMT Australia, and other
n of other
- Bemotrizinol countries.
actives like
- Anisotriazine
avobenzone
- Escalol S
- Tinosorb S Aqua

Shows little
Absorbs both
photodegradation, so
Tinosorb M UVA and
it's pretty photostable;
UVB rays,
Dissolves poorly in both
reflects and
oil and water; Minimally
Other Names: scatters
UVB, absorbed by skin; Tends
- Methylene bis- some of
UVA1, 10% to be non-irritating to
benzotriazolyl them too;
UVA2 skin; Produced as
tetramethylbutyl- Helps
microfine particles,
phenol stabilize
similar
- MBBT other UV
to nanoparticles in
- Bisoctrizole filters (esp
sunscreen; Not
octinoxate)
available in the US.

Photostable; Water-
Mexoryl SX
soluble; Doesnt protect
Absorbs UV against the entire UV
rays, then spectrum, so has to be
releases the combined with other
Other Names:
UVA1, UV rays as filters for good
- 3%
UVA2 thermal protection; FDA-
Terephthalylidene
energy; No approved so there are
dicamphor
skin now sunscreens with
sulfonic acid
penetration Mexoryl in the US;
- TDSA
Patent held by L'Oral
- Ecamsule
and its brands.

Mexoryl XL UVA2 3% Absorbs UV Photostable; Oil-soluble;

rays, then Used synergistically with
releases the Meroxyl SX; Not yet
Other Names: UV rays as approved by the FDA.
- Drometrizole thermal
trisiloxane energy; No
 skin
- Ecamsule
penetration

Helioplex is basically a
name for avobenzone +
oxybenzone, a
combination that offers
UVB, Absorbs UV
Helioplex broad spectrum
UVA1 rays
protection and stability;
Not water proof; Held
by Neutrogena; FDA
approved

Octinoxate

Water-insoluble;
Other Names:
Degrades overtime
- Octyl methoxy-
when exposed to
cinnamate
sunlight, therefore not
- OMC
the most photostable;
- Ethylhexyl 7.5 Absorbs UVB
UVB Can be stabilized by
methoxycinnamat % rays
other UV filters such as
e
Tinosorb M; Absorbed
- EHMC
by skin so there are
- Escalol 557
some safety concerns;
- Parsol MCX
FDA approved
- Eusolex 2292
- Tinosorb OMC
- Uvinul MC80

Octocrylene UVB, 10% Absorbs UV Photostable; Helps

UVA2 rays stabilize other UV filters;
Oil-soluble; Absorbed by
Other Names: skin; In 2006,
- Uvinul N539T astudy found that
- OCR octocrylene can increase
- Eusolex OCR skins photosensitivity to
the sun, increasing free
radicals. To what extent
is unknown, so its use in
sunscreen is
questionable at the
most. More information
is needed; FDA
approved
 Photostable; Helps
stabilize other UV filters;
Oxybenzone Absorbed by skin; In
2006, astudy showed
that oxybenzone was
Other Names: photo-carcinogenic, or
- Benzophenone- UVB, Absorbs UVA in other words, had a
6%
3 UVA2 rays destructive effect on
- BP3 DNA whenever it was
- Uvinul M40 exposed to light. Its use
- Eusolex 4360 in sunscreen is
- Escalol 567 questionable. More
information is needed;
FDA approved

Octisalate
Undergoes some
degradation in sunlight;
Other Names: Has emollient and
Absorbs UV
- Octyl salicylate UVB 5% water-resistant
rays
- Ethylhexyl properties; Oil-soluble;
salicylate A little greasy; FDA
- EHS approved
- Escalol 587

Homosalate
Undergoes some
degradation in sunlight;
Absorbs UV Oil-soluble; Found in
Other Names: UVB 15%
rays many Coppertone
- Homomethyl
sunscreens; FDA
salicylate
approved
- HMS

Uvinul T 150 UVB 5% Absorbs UV Insoluble in water;

rays Water resistant and long
lasting; Not approved by
Other Names: FDA
- Octyltriazone
- Ethylhexyl
triazone
- EHT
Cinoxate

Other Names: Slightly yellow;

- 2-Ethoxyethyl Insoluble in water; FDA
Absorbs UV
p- UVB 3% approved, though no
rays
methoxycinnamat longer commonly used
e in sunscreens
- Phiasol
- Give Tan
- Sundare

One of the first active

ingredients in
Aminobenzoic sunscreen; Causes
acid allergies; Causes
Absorbs UVB clothing discoloration;
UVB 15%
rays Increased risk of cellular
Other Names: UV damage; Not used in
- PABA sunscreens anymore;
Banned from sale in
Europe

Padimate O

Water-insoluble PABA
Other Names:
derivative; Controversial
- OD-PABA
Absorbs UVB active because after
- Octyldimethyl UVB 8%
rays absorbing UVB rays, the
PABA
active may produce
- Ethylhexyl
indirect DNA damage
dimethyl PABA
- EHDP
- Escalol 507

Ensulizole UVB, 4% Absorbs UVB Does not degrade much

UVA2 rays in sunlight, but more
needs to be studied
Other Names: about its stability; Feels
- lighter on skin; Used in
Phenylbenzimiazo sunscreens with less
le sulfonic acid greasy finish; FDA
- PBSA approved
- Eusolex 232
- Parsol HS
Dioxybenzone
Absorbs UVB Derivative of
UVB, rays and benzophenone;
3%
Other Names: UVA2 short-wave Insoluble in water; FDA
- Benzophenone- UVA rays approved
8

Meradimate

Absorbs UVA
UVA2 5% FDA approved
Other Names: rays
- Menthyl
anthranilate

Sulisobenzone
Photostable; Helps
stabilize other UV filters;
Other Names: Absorbed by skin so its
UVB, Absorbs UV
- Benzophenone- 5% safety use in sunscreen
UVA2 rays
4 is questionable. More
- BP4 information is needed;
- Uvinul MS40 FDA approved
- Escalol 577

Trolamine
salicylate
Odorless; Absorption
Absorbs UV into skin in unknown
UVB 12%
rays and needs further
Other Names:
review; FDA approved
- Triethanolamine
salicylate

Enzacamene UVB 4% Absorbs UV May have estrogenic

rays effect when used, but
warrants further study;
Other Names: Helps to stabilize
- 4- avobenzone; Approved
Methylbenzyliden for use in Europe and
e Camphor Canada; Not approved
- MBC by the FDA or allowed in
- 4-MBC Japan
- Parsol 5000
- Eusolex 6300

Bisdisulizole
Disodium

Other Names:
Photostable; Water-
- Neo Heliopan
Absorbs UV soluble; Approved for
AP UVA1 10%
rays use in Europe; Not
- Disodium
approved by the FDA
phenyl
dibenzimidazole
tetrasulfonate
- Bisimidazylate
- DPDT

Uvinul A Plus
Photostable; Compatible
with other UV filters;
Other Names: Absorbs UVA May provide some
UVA2 10%
- Diethylamino rays protection against free
hydroxybenzoyl radicals; Approved for
hexyl benzoate use in Europe and Asia
- DHHB

Uvasorb HEB

Other Names: Approved for use in

UVB, Absorbs UV
- Diethylhexyl 10% Europe and Asia; Not
UVA1 rays
butamido approved by the FDA
triazone
- DBT
- Iscotrizinol

Parsol SLX UVB 10% Absorbs UVB Approved for use in

rays Europe and Asia; Not
approved by the FDA
Other Names:
- Dimethico-
diethylbenzal-
malonate
- Polysilicone-15
- PS15

Amiloxate

Other Names:
Approved for use in
- Isoamyl p- Absorbs UVB
UVB 10% Europe and Asia; Not
Methoxy- rays
approved by the FDA
cinnamate
- IMC
- Neo Heliopan
E1000