--- title: Titanium Dioxide entity_type: Ingredient canonical_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/ingredients/titanium-dioxide date_modified: 2026-05-09 date_reviewed: 2026-05-09 mcp_eligible: true evidence_sources: - title: FDA — Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/fda-sunscreen-how-to-protect-skin original_source_url: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-help-protect-your-skin-sun source_type: regulatory - title: FDA — Sun Protection Factor (SPF) canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/fda-sun-protection-factor original_source_url: https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/center-drug-evaluation-and-research-cder/sun-protection-factor-spf source_type: regulatory - title: FDA — Q&A: New Requirements for OTC Sunscreen Products Marketed in the U.S. canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/fda-otc-sunscreen-qa original_source_url: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/questions-and-answers-fda-announces-new-requirements-over-counter-otc-sunscreen-products-marketed-us source_type: regulatory - title: American Academy of Dermatology — Sunscreen FAQs canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/aad-sunscreen-faqs original_source_url: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen-patients/sunscreen-faqs source_type: medical_reference - title: Skin Cancer Foundation — Sunscreen canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/skin-cancer-foundation-sunscreen original_source_url: https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/ source_type: medical_reference - title: Skin Cancer Foundation — Sun Protection canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/skin-cancer-foundation-sun-protection original_source_url: https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/ source_type: medical_reference - title: CDC — Sun Safety Facts canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/cdc-sun-safety-facts original_source_url: https://www.cdc.gov/skin-cancer/sun-safety/index.html source_type: regulatory product_fact_sources: [] --- # 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. ## 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. ## Related Entities - [FDA — Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/fda-sunscreen-how-to-protect-skin) - [FDA — Sun Protection Factor (SPF)](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/fda-sun-protection-factor) - [FDA — Q&A: New Requirements for OTC Sunscreen Products Marketed in the U.S.](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/fda-otc-sunscreen-qa) - [American Academy of Dermatology — Sunscreen FAQs](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/aad-sunscreen-faqs) - [Skin Cancer Foundation — Sunscreen](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/skin-cancer-foundation-sunscreen) - [Skin Cancer Foundation — Sun Protection](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/skin-cancer-foundation-sun-protection) - [CDC — Sun Safety Facts](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/cdc-sun-safety-facts) - [Sun Damage](https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/sun-damage) - [Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion](https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/blue-lizard-sensitive-mineral-sunscreen-lotion-spf-50) - [Mineral Filter White Cast](https://skinknowledgebase.com/side-effects/mineral-filter-white-cast)