ABSTRACT
The majority of sunscreens both organic and inorganic are used in the oil phase of a formulation. Sun protection products are heavily regulated worldwide. Sunscreens are not applied directly to the skin and in fact most regions of the world are governed by regulations which limit percentage inclusion levels of sunscreens in products. For inorganic/reflector sunscreens the requirement is for the particles to remain dispersed evenly throughout the formulation and not agglomerate as the product ages. Products for sensitive skin or for use with babies and children frequently utilize the inorganic sunscreens, which are perceived as natural and more gentle. A very useful resource is provided by BASF in the form of its BASF Sunscreen Simulator. This is an online tool which enables combinations of sunscreen materials to be added into a calculator which gives predicted results for Sun protection factor, ultraviolet radiation-A, and Boots star rating other useful information.
