Mineral and chemical UV filters in sunscreen

A UV filter is an ingredient that absorbs or reflects UV radiation. Sunscreens use mineral filters, chemical filters or both. This page says how regulators and DermNet NZ describe them.

What the FDA says

The FDA says every sunscreen has active ingredients, which are the ones protecting skin from UV rays, and inactive ingredients such as water or oil. Its list of commonly used active ingredients includes aminobenzoic acid, avobenzone, bemotrizinol, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ecamsule, homosalate, meradimate, octocrylene, octinoxate, octisalate, oxybenzone, padimate O, ensulizole, sulisobenzone, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Two 2026 changes are in the Federal Register. In a notice published 10 June 2026, the FDA announced a final order amending sunscreen monograph M020 to add bemotrizinol, at concentrations up to 6 percent, as a sunscreen active ingredient. In a notice published 11 September 2026, it announced a final order removing aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and trolamine salicylate from the monograph, and says a sunscreen containing either does not have GRASE status, so it cannot be sold under the monograph.

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide

In a 2021 proposed order, the FDA proposed that sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, at concentrations of up to 25 percent, fall in its top category, which it abbreviates GRASE. For 12 other filters, including oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate and octocrylene, it said more data was needed. The FDA calls the 2021 order a proposal. Other provisions will be addressed in later orders.

Mineral and chemical in DermNet’s words

DermNet says chemical sunscreens, also called organic filters or absorbers, often combine several ingredients for UVB and UVA protection. Its examples are aminobenzoic acid derivatives, benzophenones, cinnamates and salicylates. It says mineral, or physical, sunscreens most commonly contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

DermNet adds that studies have shown mineral filters, like chemical ones, protect primarily by absorbing UV radiation, rather than only reflecting it.

What EU rules say

The European Commission says colourants, preservatives and UV filters, including nanomaterials, must be explicitly authorised. It says nanomaterials are labelled in the ingredient list with the word nano in brackets. Its CosIng page says only the UV filters authorised in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 are listed in CosIng. CosIng is an information database. The Regulation and its annexes set the rules.

Filter allergy

DermNet says contact allergy or photocontact dermatitis to sunscreen chemicals can occur uncommonly, particularly to benzophenone or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane. For anyone with a past reaction, a doctor or pharmacist is the one to ask.

How Poliage flags filters

Poliage matches ingredient lists against CosIng INCI names. Organic filters named in Annex VI, such as BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, BENZOPHENONE-3, OCTOCRYLENE and HOMOSALATE, fall under the flag called Chemical sunscreen filters. A product page says Contains, then the filter, with the function UV filter. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are not in that flag category.

A flag states that an ingredient is listed. It is not a judgment, and it does not say whether a product suits anyone. The label on the pack comes first. Poliage gives product information, not medical advice.

Where this comes from

The active ingredient list and the 2021 proposal come from two FDA pages on sunscreen. The mineral and chemical descriptions come from the DermNet NZ pages on topical sunscreen agents and photosensitivity. The EU details come from European Commission pages on its cosmetics rules and the CosIng database. The text of Annex VI on EUR-Lex was not reachable when this page was checked, so it relies on the Commission’s own description of Annex VI. All were read on 2026-10-22.