An inorganic particulate ingredient used in suitable sunscreens and skin-protectant products.
Sources: 1, 2, 3ZnO, CI 77947
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Not assessed
Zinc Oxide
What it does
Contributes UV protection in a tested sunscreen; a separate appropriately labeled protectant may serve a different purpose. Its presence in any cosmetic does not establish an SPF.
Sources: 1, 2, 3Good for
- UV protection in tested sunscreens
- Skin protection in appropriately labeled products
How to use it
Follow the actual sunscreen or protectant label, including application and reapplication instructions. A barrier cream is not automatically an adequate sunscreen.
Sources: 1, 2, 3Who should be careful
Avoid inhaling loose powder or aerosol. Dermal sunscreen suitability does not establish safety of inhalation, and individual finished products can still irritate.
Sources: 1, 2, 3Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
Particles attenuate UV through absorption and scattering. Zinc oxide and zinc PCA have different chemistry and are not interchangeable skincare ingredients.
Sources: 1, 2, 3Potential adverse effects
Some users experience irritation, contact allergy or eye stinging; select a tolerated finished sunscreen rather than abandoning sun protection.
Sources: 1, 2, 3Formulation considerations
Particle size, coating, dispersion and film formation affect sunscreen performance. White cast and feel depend on the whole product, not just the name mineral.
Sources: 1, 2, 3Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
Clinical evidence and research
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitNot assessed
The cited references support identity, formulation role or safety context. No standalone clinical efficacy rating has been completed for the main benefit in this draft.
Sources: 1, 2, 3Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
Names on ingredient lists
zinc oxide
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
No single structure to show yet
A reviewed, unambiguous PubChem compound identifier is needed before a molecular diagram can be displayed.
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| material scope | An extended inorganic solid. A generic Zn-O bond drawing would not describe the particle size, coating or crystal structure of the sunscreen grade. | FDA: Questions and answers on over-the-counter sunscreen regulation |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (3)
Scientific sources
- FDA: Questions and answers on over-the-counter sunscreen regulationregulatory guidance
- FDA: Sunscreen use, labeling and protectionregulatory guidance
- US eCFR: Skin protectant active ingredients, 21 CFR 347.10regulatory context
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