Zinc Oxide

Zinc Oxide at a Glance

• Broad spectrum mineral UV filter
• Proven gentle enough for sensitive skin
• Serves multiple functions in cosmetics

Zinc Oxide Description

Zinc oxide is an inert earth mineral used as a thickening, lubricating, and sunscreen active ingredient in cosmetics. Along with titanium dioxide (another mineral sunscreen active ingredient), zinc oxide is considered to have no risk of skin sensitization.

Zinc oxide is so gentle and non-irritating that it’s used as a skin protectant, particularly in diaper rash creams for infants. As a sunscreen ingredient, it is effective in providing protection against sun’s UVA rays in addition to UVB rays. In fact, zinc oxide is the broadest spectrum UVA and UVB reflectors approved for use as a sunscreen by the United States Food and Drug Administration and is allowed in sunscreens in concentrations up to 25%. As a skin protectant, its maximum usage level is also 25%.

Zinc oxide is also sometimes used in makeup to impart opacity to products like foundations, particularly powder-based makeup.

In recent years, there have been concerns about the use of nano-sized zinc oxide in sunscreen formulations. Nanotechnology is about taking a material and making it much smaller than its original size. In the case of zinc oxide, nanotechnology is used to make it more aesthetically pleasing, as well as enhance its SPF. Nano-sized zinc oxide is not believed to be a safety concern for skin; a study published in Investigative Dermatology found that zinc oxide nanoparticles don’t penetrate the skin or damage it on a cellular level - even with repeated applications. Additional studies have found that nanosized zinc oxide is non-irritating in a manner similar to non-nano zinc oxide.

Zinc Oxide References