Ingredient
Titanium Dioxide
Quick Summary
Titanium Dioxide is a mineral (also called physical) sunscreen filter and is one of only two filters US-marketed mineral sunscreens use (the other is Zinc Oxide). It is most strongly described in patient-facing dermatology references as a UVB-focused mineral filter with partial UVA-II coverage; for broad-spectrum mineral protection it is most often paired with Zinc Oxide. Titanium Dioxide is widely used in tinted mineral facial sunscreens and in mineral-based makeup with SPF, and is often described as a gentler-feeling option for sensitive skin.
What It Is
Titanium Dioxide is an inorganic compound (titanium plus oxygen) formulated as a fine powder dispersed in the cream, lotion, or fluid base of a sunscreen. In US-marketed sunscreens it appears in the "Drug Facts" Active Ingredients block as Titanium Dioxide along with the percentage by weight; daily-wear facial mineral and tinted mineral formulas commonly use it in the mid-single digits.
In leave-on cosmetic skincare, Titanium Dioxide is most often combined with Zinc Oxide so that the mineral-only sunscreen reaches a broad-spectrum label, and with iron oxides in tinted facial formulations so the cosmetic finish suits a wider range of skin tones.
Concerns helped
Mechanism
In FDA sunscreen documentation and patient-facing dermatology references, Titanium Dioxide is described as a mineral filter that sits on the skin surface and primarily scatters and absorbs UVB and UVA-II energy. Compared with Zinc Oxide, its UVA coverage is narrower; for that reason, broad-spectrum mineral facial sunscreens most often combine Titanium Dioxide with Zinc Oxide rather than relying on Titanium Dioxide alone.
The cosmetic-appearance practical implication: Titanium Dioxide is widely used in tinted mineral facial sunscreens and in mineral-based color cosmetics with SPF where the cosmetic finish — including coverage and an even-tone appearance — is part of the daily-wear value proposition.
Side effects
Products featuring it
Evidence
- FDA — Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun
- FDA — Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
- FDA — Q&A: New Requirements for OTC Sunscreen Products Marketed in the U.S.
- American Academy of Dermatology — Sunscreen FAQs
- Skin Cancer Foundation — Sunscreen
- Skin Cancer Foundation — Sun Protection
- CDC — Sun Safety Facts
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Structured page facts at a glance.
- Ingredient
- Titanium Dioxide
- Quick Summary
- Titanium Dioxide is a mineral (also called physical) sunscreen filter and is one of only two filters US-marketed mineral sunscreens use (the other is Zinc Oxide). It is most strongly described in patient-facing dermatology references as a UVB-focused mineral filter with partial UVA-II coverage; for broad-spectrum mineral protection it is most often paired with Zinc Oxide. Titanium Dioxide is widely used in tinted mineral facial sunscreens and in mineral-based makeup with SPF, and is often described as a gentler-feeling option for sensitive skin.
- What It Is
- Titanium Dioxide is an inorganic compound (titanium plus oxygen) formulated as a fine powder dispersed in the cream, lotion, or fluid base of a sunscreen. In US-marketed sunscreens it appears in the "Drug Facts" Active Ingredients block as Titanium Dioxide along with the percentage by weight; daily-wear facial mineral and tinted mineral formulas commonly use it in the mid-single digits.
- Concerns
- Mechanism
- In FDA sunscreen documentation and patient-facing dermatology references, Titanium Dioxide is described as a mineral filter that sits on the skin surface and primarily scatters and absorbs UVB and UVA-II energy. Compared with Zinc Oxide, its UVA coverage is narrower; for that reason, broad-spectrum mineral facial sunscreens most often combine Titanium Dioxide with Zinc Oxide rather than relying on Titanium Dioxide alone.
- Side Effects
- Evidence Sources
- FDA — Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun
- FDA — Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
- FDA — Q&A: New Requirements for OTC Sunscreen Products Marketed in the U.S.
- American Academy of Dermatology — Sunscreen FAQs
- Skin Cancer Foundation — Sunscreen
- Skin Cancer Foundation — Sun Protection
- CDC — Sun Safety Facts