— § 01
What zinc oxide actually is.
Zinc oxide is an inorganic mineral that, in micron and nanoparticle dispersions, reflects, scatters, and absorbs UV across the entire UVA and UVB range. It is the most broadly-protective single sunscreen active available and the only filter you can use on a six-month-old infant. Its long-standing weakness — visible white cast — has been substantially addressed by non-nano dispersion technology and iron-oxide-tinted formulations.
It is also stubbornly itself: zinc oxide will never have the invisible cosmetic finish of a modern organic filter on darker skin tones. That is a real trade-off. Tinted formulations are now the answer for skin of colour; untinted for those who can wear them.