Zinc Oxide for Acne (Acne Vulgaris)

A physical sunscreen that sits on top of your skin and blocks UV. Broad-spectrum and gentle enough for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin.

Why it works for Acne (Acne Vulgaris)

Protects skin from the sun without clogging pores, and calms inflammation a little. It is a mineral. People with acne are more likely to be low in zinc, and zinc taken by mouth has trial support for mild acne. As a sunscreen filter, zinc oxide matters because sun exposure darkens post-acne marks, and many acne treatments (retinoids, BHA, benzoyl peroxide) make your skin more sun-sensitive. It is the preferred sunscreen filter for acne-prone skin.

How Zinc Oxide works

Mineral UV filter that scatters and absorbs UVA and UVB across the full spectrum.

Evidence

4 citations from our ingredient database. Full citation list on the Zinc Oxide ingredient page.

journal2022

Kern C et al., Evaluation of an SPF50 Sunscreen Containing Photolyase and Antioxidants for its Anti-Photoaging Properties and Photoprotection, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 2022;21(5):517-520 — 10.7% zinc oxide SPF50 mineral sunscreen improved photoaging signs over 12 weeks

regulatory safety2020

MFDS Approved Functional Cosmetic Active — Zinc Oxide (UV protection / sunscreen). Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cosmetic Functional Active Ingredient List — inorganic UV filter approved under the Korean Functional Cosmetics Codex sunscreen category

regulatory safety2018

CIR Safety Assessment of Zinc Salts as Used in Cosmetics (Scott et al.), final report 2018 / re-review 2024 (covers zinc oxide among 27 zinc ingredients)

regulatory safety2014

SCCS Opinion on Zinc Oxide (nano form) as UV filter in sunscreens, SCCS/1518/13, revision of 22 April 2014

Products with Zinc Oxide in our catalog

These are the catalog products that list Zinc Oxide as a tracked ingredient.

La Roche-Posay

Anthelios Mineral Tinted SPF 50

$35 · SPF

EltaMD

UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46

$45 · SPF

EltaMD

UV Clear Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 46

$47 · SPF

EltaMD

UV Physical Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 41

$44 · SPF

Round Lab

Birch Juice Mild-Up Sun Cream SPF50+

$20 · SPF

Dr.G

Green Mild Up Defense Mineral Sunscreen SPF50

$22 · SPF

Full Zinc Oxide guide →Acne (Acne Vulgaris) overview →