Zinc Oxide 19.4%

TL;DR. At 19.4%, this ingredient functions as a mineral UV filter, helping provide broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. It can also add opacity and a thicker skin feel to formulas.

What does Zinc Oxide 19.4% do in a cosmetic formula?

At 19.4%, this ingredient functions as a mineral UV filter, helping provide broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. It can also add opacity and a thicker skin feel to formulas.

Is Zinc Oxide 19.4% clean?

Clean-beauty frameworks generally view it favorably for topical sunscreens because it is well tolerated and not a common sensitizer. The main scrutiny is particle size, inhalation exposure in powders or sprays, and whether the material is coated or nano-sized.

Is Zinc Oxide 19.4% sustainable?

This material is mineral-derived, so it is not renewable and depends on mining and high-temperature processing. It is inorganic rather than biodegradable, but it is not a persistent organic pollutant and is typically assessed through particle behavior in waterways.

Is Zinc Oxide 19.4% COSMOS-approved?

It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when it meets the standard’s purity, particle-size, and use-condition requirements. From a Green Chemistry view, it scores well on stability and low skin reactivity, but less well on renewability and energy-intensive mineral processing.

How does Zinc Oxide 19.4% work chemically?

This compound is an inorganic particulate solid with a crystalline lattice, used in sunscreens up to 25% in some markets, so 19.4% is a high active level. It is photostable, but particle coating and dispersion quality matter because aggregation, whitening, viscosity, and interactions with film formers strongly affect performance.

Last updated 2026-05-15