Does avobenzone work as well as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide?
Avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789 and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane) is capable of screening UVA radiation up to 400 nanometers, which is enough to protect skin from up to 98% of UVA rays. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can screen up to 700 nanometers, but this amount of radiation does not affect us, so in the end, all three come out as effective active ingredients. All of Paula’s Choice sunscreens with avobenzone are formulated to ensure its stability; however, as with all sunscreens, routine reapplication is advised when you’ll be spending more than a couple of hours in direct sunlight. In the U.S., only four sunscreen ingredients have been widely approved as effective against UVA radiation. They are titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789 and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane). The FDA approved Mexoryl SX (also called ecamsule) in July 2006 for use in one sunscreen product sold in the U.S., Anthelios SX SPF 15 by L’Oreal-owned La Roche-Posay (though it s
