Safer Sunscreens: Investigation of Naturally Derived UV Absorbers for Potential Use in Consumer Products

Topical
sunscreens are widely used to prevent sunburns and long-term
skin damage including cancer. Recently, conventional chemical UV absorbers
have been criticized and in some cases banned for adverse human and
environmental health impacts. In this investigation, we evaluated
naturally derived UV absorbers including vitamins, polyphenols, carotenoids,
and amino acids to determine safety and efficacy profiles. Human and
ecological hazards were evaluated, as well as the in vitro sun protection factor and critical wavelength. These attributes
were compared to commercial UV absorbers such as octinoxate and oxybenzone
to determine viability in personal care products. We found that resveratrol,
ferulic acid, and ethyl ferulate demonstrate significant UV-absorbing
capacity and lower hazard levels compared to current-use sunscreen
active ingredients.