Why your sunscreen might not be working like it says
Sunscreen Safety and Efficacy for the Prevention of Cutaneous Neoplasm
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Titanium dioxide outperforms zinc oxide in real-world UVA protection, despite zinc oxide being marketed as the superior mineral option.
Most ‘clean beauty’ brands promote zinc oxide as the best mineral filter — but this review shows TiO2 provides more balanced, accurate broad-spectrum coverage, especially against aging UVA rays.
Practical Takeaways
Choose a sunscreen with titanium dioxide (not just zinc oxide) and reapply every 2 hours — using a full shot glass for your body.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Titanium dioxide outperforms zinc oxide in real-world UVA protection, despite zinc oxide being marketed as the superior mineral option.
Most ‘clean beauty’ brands promote zinc oxide as the best mineral filter — but this review shows TiO2 provides more balanced, accurate broad-spectrum coverage, especially against aging UVA rays.
Practical Takeaways
Choose a sunscreen with titanium dioxide (not just zinc oxide) and reapply every 2 hours — using a full shot glass for your body.
Publication
Journal
Cureus
Year
2024
Authors
Jonathan R Raymond-Lezman, Suzanne I Riskin
Related Content
Claims (4)
Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sit on top of your skin and don’t get absorbed into your body, making them safer than chemical sunscreens that can enter your bloodstream.
When you put sunscreen on your skin, a chemical called oxybenzone can get into your bloodstream, and some lab and small human studies suggest it might mess with your hormones, affect baby weight depending on whether it's a boy or girl, and harm brain cells in test tubes.
Octocrylene, a common ingredient in sunscreens, doesn’t mess with your hormones, barely gets into your bloodstream, and experts say it’s safe to use in amounts up to 10%.
Sunscreens with titanium dioxide do a better job of matching their labeled sun protection numbers and blocking harmful UVA rays than those with only zinc oxide, so they’re more reliable in real life.