CosmeticBet
UV filters

Zinc oxide

INCI: ZINC OXIDE

A mineral UV filter that the FDA proposes as safe and effective.

drag to turn
OZn81.40 g/mol
zincoxygen
2D drawing from PubChem 14806 (hydrogens hidden)

How common

All products0.97%
In sunscreens6.3%
In deodorants1.7%
In body lotions1%

143 of 14,784 products with a full ingredient list in Open Beauty Facts; No. 268 of all the names found on their labels.

What it is

  • A compound of zinc and oxygen (ZnO). It occurs in nature as the mineral zincite, but most of it is made synthetically.

    2 sourcesHide
    Zincite is a mineral with formula of Zn2+O or ZnO.[1] PubChem (US National Library of Medicine) · open source
    It occurs naturally as the mineral zincite, but most zinc oxide is produced synthetically.[1] PubChem (US National Library of Medicine) · open source

Why it is in products

  • As a UV filter in sunscreens, and in skin protectants such as nappy-rash creams, calamine and antiseptic ointments.

    2 sourcesHide
    FDA’s review of publicly available evidence has found sufficient safety data on both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to support a proposal that sunscreen products containing these ingredients (at concentrations of up to 25%) are GRASE.[2] US Food and Drug Administration · open source
    products such as baby powder and barrier creams to treat diaper rashes, calamine cream, anti-dandruff shampoos, and antiseptic ointments[1] PubChem (US National Library of Medicine) · open source

Downsides and safety

  • The FDA found enough safety data to propose it as safe and effective in sunscreens at up to 25%, one of only two filters with that status.

    Well established2 sourcesHide
    FDA’s review of publicly available evidence has found sufficient safety data on both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to support a proposal that sunscreen products containing these ingredients (at concentrations of up to 25%) are GRASE.[2] US Food and Drug Administration · open source
    Because the public record did not currently contain sufficient data to support positive GRASE determinations for cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, padimate O, sulisobenzone, oxybenzone or avobenzone, we proposed that these ingredients are not GRASE because they require additional data.[2] US Food and Drug Administration · open source

Where it works

SurfaceOuter layer(stratum corneum)Living layer(epidermis)Dermis

On the skin, in the layer of sunscreen, where filters protect it from UV rays.

SourceHide
In the case of sunscreen, active ingredients are the ones that are protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.[3] US Food and Drug Administration · open source

Rules

European Union

  • As a UV filter up to 25%, but not in products that could make users breathe it in. Nano zinc oxide is allowed only within strict specifications.

    3 sourcesHide
    30 Zinc oxide Zinc Oxide 1314-13-2 215-222-5 25 % ( 3 ) Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user's lungs by inhalation.[4] EU law · 2026 · open source
    30a Zinc oxide Zinc Oxide (nano)[4] EU law · 2026 · open source
    Only nanomaterials having the following characteristics are allowed[4] EU law · 2026 · open source

United States

  • A sunscreen ingredient the FDA proposes as safe and effective up to 25%; also an over-the-counter skin protectant at 1 to 25%.

    2 sourcesHide
    FDA’s review of publicly available evidence has found sufficient safety data on both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to support a proposal that sunscreen products containing these ingredients (at concentrations of up to 25%) are GRASE.[2] US Food and Drug Administration · open source
    (u) Zinc oxide, 1 to 25 percent.[5] US federal regulation · 2024 · open source

Sources

  1. PubChem: Zinc oxide (CID 14806), record description PubChem (US National Library of Medicine)PubChem (US National Library of Medicine)
  2. Questions and Answers: FDA’s regulatory actions on over-the-counter sunscreen | FDA US Food and Drug Administration
  3. Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun | FDA US Food and Drug Administration
  4. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated text of 18 May 2026 Publications Office of the European Union (EUR-Lex/Cellar), 2026EU law
  5. 21 CFR Part 347: Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use (2024 edition) US Government Publishing Office (govinfo), Code of Federal Regulations, 2024US federal regulation

Checked against these sources on 4 November 2026. Spot a mistake? Tell us.