Research shows that not all daily moisturising creams that contain UV filters and claim to provide broad spectrum UV protection provide UVA protection. Day moisturisers are an established part of our skincare routine and skincare manufacturers are increasingly adding UV filters to skin care products as the link between UV radiation and photo-ageing progresses has been proven.
A review of the ingredients of the 29 top selling day creams with claims of broad spectrum UV (using sales volumes from the US website Amazon) assessed the level of UVA protection that could be expected from the product, looking for the presence of the UVA filters – avobenzone, octocrylene, ecamsule (L’Oreal patented Mexoryl SX) and zinc oxide.
- 6 of these 29 products contained no active ingredients that provide UVA protection.
- 7 of the remaining 23 contained zinc oxide but only 3 contained levels greater than 5 % required to provide ‘adequate’ UVA protection.
- 16 products contained avobenzone but only 3 had adequate concentrations of octocrylene necessary to stabilise the avobenzone, notoriously unstable on contact with UV rays.
Although the study notes that further research is needed to investigate the actual UVA protection provided by the products, the researchers conclude that many day creams do not offer long wave UVA protection.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21242349