Zinc oxide and / or zinc carbonate coated particles, methods of coating particles with zinc oxide and / or zinc carbonate, and various applications of such coated particles, including applications in cosmetics, rubber, and other polymer materials, are disclosed. As compared to rubber formulations with zinc oxide and core materials added separately, formulations including the present coated particles may have a higher transparency, lower Mooney viscosity and lower minimum torque, improved dispersability, a higher modulus at 100% and / or at 300% elongation, a higher tensile strength, better aging resistance, better abrasion resistance, lower density, and / or lower heat build up. Thus, products containing the present coated particles may enjoy similar or better properties than comparative products that include a conventional filler and / or zinc oxide per se, and the present coated particles may result in cost savings for the corresponding product formulations.