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Today's impression of healthy skin doesn't necessarily translate to a strong, dark tan. We all know sun exposure has been linked to premature wrinkles, skin cancer, and other skin conditions. However, while protective clothes such as helmets, trousers, and long-sleeved shirts provide decent barriers against these harmful rays, sunscreen lotions offer the most effective skin protection.
What we now have today is a target market for sunscreens that is very specialized. Sunscreen products are continually being redesigned to satisfy the evolving needs of individual consumers. This is why there's the need to continuously search for the latest and most ideal sunscreen ingredients to produce the best sunscreen.
Sunscreen Ingredients
A single sunscreen may contain several synthetic and natural combinations of ingredients. A formulation is typically designed to meet the needs of a specific SPF rating or consumer niche. Avobenzone, also known as Parsol 1789, is a well-known synthetic substance used in sunscreens to protect against UVA radiation and is found in many products around the world.
Other synthetic ingredients like oxybenzone and benzophenone provide broad-spectrum protection by absorbing UV rays. PABA (paraaminobenzoic acid) was also a prominent UV-absorbing sunscreen component. However, it often causes skin irritation in certain people and has now been replaced by Padimate-O, a PABA derivative. Other broad-spectrum synthetic ingredients also include menthyl anthranilate and octyl methoxycinnamate.
Titanium dioxide is a natural ingredient that is often used in broad-spectrum sunscreens. Titanium dioxide functions by dispersing UV radiation rather than absorbing it. Although it is not as opaque as zinc oxide, the higher SPF values provide a similar whitening effect.
Antioxidants are also commonly mixed with titanium dioxide to inhibit the oxidation of oils and, as a result, postpone the degradation of the lotion. Natural antioxidants include vitamins C and E, rice bran oil, and sesame seed oil. Green tea is another famous antioxidant in the organic category. Many contemporary sunscreens feature skin-soothing and hydrating ingredients like aloe and chamomile.
The Manufacturing Process
Sunscreen lotions can be manufactured, packaged, and transported from a single location, or parts of this operation may be performed by a third party. Some of both approaches employed in the manufacturing process are described below.
Formulating the lotion
- The oil phase ingredients, including stearyl alcohol, paraffin oil, vaseline, preservatives, and stearic acid, are poured into the oil kettle.
- The water phase ingredients, propylene glycol, titanium pigment, triethanolamine, carbopol emulsifiers, and stabilizers, are mixed separately before being added to the water tank.
- After that, the two solutions are combined to produce an emulsion. Simultaneously, the ingredients will be cooked to temperatures ranging from 110 to 185°F (45 to 80°C).
- Absorbers and UV filters are available as dry powders or pre-dispersed in oil or aqueous bases. Once the emulsion has been created, these "micronized oxides" are combined with water or incorporated into the product based on the formulation requirements or raw material type.
- The mixing will continue until the solution is homogenized.
Filling the containers
- The filling is done in a dedicated, sterile room using a conveyor system with numerous incoming tracks.
Capping the containers
- The majority of containers are automatically capped along the production line. Some containers incorporate tops with pumps for easy sunscreen dispensing. As the containers exit the fill phase, these pump caps must be manually assembled by operators and packed for shipping.
If you are ready to begin formulating, follow the manufacturing process to the letter, and you will be producing one of the best sunscreens ideal for protecting the skin from sun rays.