Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are gentle mineral filters commonly used in UK sunscreens, tinted moisturisers and mineral makeup. They sit on the skin’s surface to reflect and scatter UV rays, offering broad-spectrum protection without the sting or irritation sometimes linked to chemical filters. Ideal for sensitive and reactive skin, they also help give a soft-focus finish in primers and foundations.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide function as physical UV filters, forming a protective barrier on the skin that reflects both UVA and UVB rays away from the surface. They are prized for their low reactivity and are frequently chosen in mineral sunscreens, BB creams, concealers and setting powders for their ability to provide sun protection while doubling as gentle mattifying and brightening agents. Their fine particle sizes (often micronised) allow for a more natural finish with reduced white cast, making them a staple in clean-beauty and sensitive-skin formulations across the UK.
Key benefits
- Provides broad-spectrum UV protection
- Calms and soothes sensitive skin
- Offers a natural soft-focus finish
- Helps minimise the appearance of redness
- Non-comedogenic and suitable for blemish-prone skin
- Works as a mild mattifying agent in makeup
Best for
sensitive skin, reactive skin, acne-prone skin, rosacea-prone skin, fair skin, children's skin
Where it comes from
Both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are naturally occurring mineral compounds. Zinc oxide is derived from the mineral zincite, while titanium dioxide comes from minerals such as rutile and anatase; they are mined, purified and processed for use in cosmetics.