An inorganic broad-spectrum mineral UV filter that reflects and scatters UVA and UVB radiation and is reported to be well tolerated on reactive, rosacea-prone, and acne-prone skin, with low allergenic potential relative to organic UV filters.
Also calledZinc Oxide Non-Nano · CI 77947 · Physical Sunscreen Active
Early-stage page
This ingredient page is still early. We're actively researching before it's ready to stand fully on its own — check back as more sections are verified.
The short answer
Four lines, each compressed from the section it links to. Every line carries the sources of the claim it compresses.
What it does
Broad-Spectrum Physical Protection Against UVA and UVB Radiation
Everything the record says about suitability, consolidated. Pause-first comes first.
Before you start
Non-nano mineral powder is reported gentle on sensitive or compromised skin barriers; high concentrations in non-micronized forms may leave a temporary white cast if not well dispersed. Nanoparticle (<100 nm) zinc oxide formulations are a distinct category from non-nano forms -- inhalation of nanoparticle spray sunscreens is a separate safety consideration, and this record's cited acne benefit specifically comes from a nanoparticle formulation, not non-nano zinc oxide (see gaps).
Best match
all skin types
sensitive or reactive skin · rosacea-prone skin · acne-prone skin
Routine
final morning skincare step
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not medical advice · ask your own clinician
Pregnancy.A 2011 dermatology review of skin-care product safety in pregnancy names hydroquinone (high systemic absorption) and tretinoin (evidence controversial) as the actives of concern, and states that most other topical skin-care products act locally and produce minimal systemic absorption; zinc oxide is not named among the flagged concerns 5. Non-nano zinc oxide's own real, well-documented lack of percutaneous absorption is separately confirmed in S001. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor before use.
Breastfeeding.Topical application is applied locally with minimal expected systemic absorption; no ingredient-specific breastfeeding safety trial was located. As a general precaution common to topical actives, avoid applying directly to the breast or nipple area, since incidental transfer to a nursing infant has not been studied for this ingredient. If you are breastfeeding, ask your doctor before use.
Expected versus unacceptable reactions
Common, and it usually settles
a temporary white cast in non-micronized, high-concentration formulations if not well dispersed
The acne-lesion-reduction finding above comes from a zinc oxide NANOPARTICLE formulation study, not from non-nano zinc oxide -- the two are chemically identical but physically distinct categories with different safety considerations (see the identity section's own caution).
Requires thorough, even application as the final step in morning skincare and regular reapplication after sweating or swimming for its UV-protective benefit to hold.
Does not chemically alter or repair the skin barrier -- its barrier-supporting role is limited to blocking further UV-induced disruption, alongside its own moisturizing/occlusive vehicle.
The evidence
One card per claim. Concentration, form, population and limitation sit with it, always visible.
Grade legend
Indicative
Limited
Moderate
Strong
Broad-Spectrum Physical Protection Against UVA and UVB Radiation
Indicative
Zinc oxide has a broad UVA-UVB absorption curve, reflecting and scattering ultraviolet radiation without the chemical degradation organic filters can undergo.1
Which form
Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
Population and duration
Not applicable -- a review of the established photoprotective mechanism and safety literature for zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
Limitation
A review, not a single dedicated clinical trial of one formulation. Requires thorough, even application and regular reapplication after sweating or swimming.
Skin Barrier Support Alongside UV Protection
Indicative
UV radiation is associated with increased transepidermal water loss and disrupted skin barrier function; topical sunscreens are reported to have direct and indirect protective effects on the barrier by blocking UV and through moisturizing or occlusive effects.2,3
Which form
Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
Population and duration
Not applicable -- a review of UV-induced barrier disruption and general sunscreen protective mechanisms
Limitation
This is a general sunscreen-class mechanism, not a zinc-oxide-specific clinical measurement of tight-junction proteins (claudin-1, occludin) as the packet's own claim asserted -- no admissible source this cycle measures that specifically for zinc oxide (see gaps). Physically protects the barrier externally; works best when paired with lipid-replenishing humectants and ceramides.
Anti-Inflammatory Redness Reduction and Acne Lesion Soothing
Indicative
Inorganic mineral filters like zinc oxide sit inertly on the skin and are associated with reduced UV-induced flushing in reactive and rosacea-prone skin. Separately, a systematic review of NANOPARTICLE zinc oxide formulations (not non-nano zinc oxide) found that a twice-daily hyaluronic-acid-coated zinc oxide nanogel reduced inflammatory acne lesion counts without triggering facial erythema in an early-phase human trial.2,4
Which form
Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
Population and duration
General reactive/rosacea-prone cohorts (review-level) and one early-phase human nanogel trial
Limitation
The acne-lesion finding is specific to a zinc oxide NANOPARTICLE (20-50 nm) formulation, not the non-nano zinc oxide this record's own identity describes -- disclosed rather than presented as a non-nano finding. The same source found that high-dose sunscreen-grade zinc oxide (20 nm) delayed wound closure in an animal model, a dose-dependent caution not carried by the packet's own claim text (see gaps).
○Open
A source cited for zinc oxide's own UV-filter mechanism turned out, on independent check, to be a real but unrelated market-survey paper about natural/marine ingredients across 444 commercial sunscreen products -- it does not discuss zinc oxide's own mechanism at all.
○Open
A source cited for a skin-barrier tight-junction-protein claim turned out to be brand marketing content published on a skincare company's own blog, not a primary clinical trial as the packet's own claim framed it -- it synthesizes other research to promote a specific branded cream, without reporting original measurements.
○Open
The one real, verified acne-lesion-reduction finding (58% reduction) comes from a systematic review specifically of zinc oxide NANOPARTICLE formulations, not non-nano zinc oxide as this record's own identity describes. The same real source also found that a high-dose, sunscreen-grade 20 nm zinc oxide formulation delayed wound closure by 38% in an animal model -- a dose-dependent caution the packet's own claim text omitted.
○Open
A source claimed for photoprotection-and-moisturization guidance in acne-prone skin is a real, live PDF file, but its content could not be extracted and read this cycle.
○Open
No specific FDA OTC Monograph citation id was resolved this cycle for zinc oxide's regulatory status, though zinc oxide's inclusion among the FDA's recognized sunscreen actives is well-documented general public record.
The clinical recordHow it works · Forms · Manufacturing · Regulations · Study ledger · Gaps · Sources+
How it works
Zinc oxide is reported to have a broad UVA-UVB absorption curve, reflecting and scattering ultraviolet radiation at the skin surface. Its inertness and low allergenic potential are reported to make it well suited to reactive and rosacea-prone skin.
Broad-Spectrum UV Reflection and Scattering
Reflects and scatters both UVA and UVB radiation at the skin surface without chemical degradation.
The standard mineral sunscreen active; reported broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with low systemic absorption.
Official INCI
ZINC OXIDE
Where it comes from
Mined zinc ore, refined and calcined to zinc oxide
How it is made
Refined and micronized (non-nanoparticle, >100 nm particle size) for cosmetic sunscreen use.
How it is actually made
Zinc ore is refined and calcined to produce zinc oxide, which is then micronized to a non-nanoparticle (>100 nm) particle size for cosmetic sunscreen formulations.
Where the ceiling is set
United States
The rule
FDA OTC Monograph (Sunscreen Drug Products)
What it allows
Zinc oxide is one of the FDA's own recognized GRASE (Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective) sunscreen active ingredients. Unsourced -- no specific FDA monograph citation id confirmed this cycle.
Zinc oxide has a broad UVA-UVB absorption curve; used as nanoparticles (<100 nm) in sunscreens for cosmetic acceptability, with extremely low human health risk given a lack of percutaneous absorption, though inhalation risk motivates recommendations against nanoparticle spray sunscreens specifically.
Where it falls shortA review, not a single dedicated clinical trial; discusses both nano and non-nano forms.
Inorganic sunscreens like zinc oxide reflect UV radiation energy rather than generating heat, avoiding a rosacea flushing trigger, and have lower allergenic potential than organic filters, making them preferred for sensitive skin conditions.
Where it falls shortNot indexed in PubMed -- verified by direct access to the live journal page rather than a PubMed record.
UV radiation at erythemal doses increases transepidermal water loss and reduces tight-junction function; topical sunscreens have direct (UV-blocking) and indirect (moisturizing/occlusive) protective effects on the barrier.
Where it falls shortA general review of sunscreens as a class, not a zinc-oxide-specific clinical measurement of tight-junction proteins.
Twice-daily 0.5% hyaluronic-acid-coated zinc oxide nanogel cut inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four and lowered transepidermal water loss without erythema in human subjects. Separately, high-dose sunscreen-grade zinc oxide (20 nm) delayed rat wound closure by 38%, a dose-dependent caution.
Where it falls shortFindings are specific to nanoparticle zinc oxide formulations (20-50 nm), not non-nano zinc oxide. The human evidence is from one small, exploratory early-phase trial.
A real, live PDF exists at the cited URL, but its content could not be extracted and read this cycle.
Where it falls shortNot used for any specific claim this cycle; content unreadable.
What is still missing
A source cited for zinc oxide's own UV-filter mechanism turned out, on independent check, to be a real but unrelated market-survey paper about natural/marine ingredients across 444 commercial sunscreen products -- it does not discuss zinc oxide's own mechanism at all.
Replaced with a genuine, verified dermatology review of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as inorganic UV filters, which directly confirms the broad UVA-UVB absorption mechanism.
NeedsNone -- corrected directly this cycle.
A source cited for a skin-barrier tight-junction-protein claim turned out to be brand marketing content published on a skincare company's own blog, not a primary clinical trial as the packet's own claim framed it -- it synthesizes other research to promote a specific branded cream, without reporting original measurements.
Dropped as a primary source. The skin-barrier claim is reframed around a genuine, general dermatology review of UV-induced barrier disruption rather than a zinc-oxide-specific tight-junction finding.
NeedsA genuine, zinc-oxide-specific clinical trial measuring tight-junction protein expression (claudin-1, occludin) or TEWL under zinc oxide sunscreen use.
The one real, verified acne-lesion-reduction finding (58% reduction) comes from a systematic review specifically of zinc oxide NANOPARTICLE formulations, not non-nano zinc oxide as this record's own identity describes. The same real source also found that a high-dose, sunscreen-grade 20 nm zinc oxide formulation delayed wound closure by 38% in an animal model -- a dose-dependent caution the packet's own claim text omitted.
The acne claim explicitly discloses that its finding is nanoparticle-specific, and the wound-healing caution is named in this record's own boundaries and caution text rather than left out.
NeedsA dedicated clinical trial of non-nano zinc oxide specifically for inflammatory acne, if one exists.
A source claimed for photoprotection-and-moisturization guidance in acne-prone skin is a real, live PDF file, but its content could not be extracted and read this cycle.
Not used for any specific claim; the general, well-documented practice of pairing sunscreen with moisturizer in acne care is not asserted as resting on this specific, unread source.
NeedsA readable copy of the source PDF.
No specific FDA OTC Monograph citation id was resolved this cycle for zinc oxide's regulatory status, though zinc oxide's inclusion among the FDA's recognized sunscreen actives is well-documented general public record.
The US regulatory row records the general fact without a specific document id.
NeedsThe specific FDA OTC Monograph citation (21 CFR 352) for zinc oxide.