Water-Based Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Emulsion for Smooth SPF 50+ Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sunscreens with high SPF ratings struggle to achieve 50+ without organic UV filters or non-mineral UV filters, particularly in formulations that include water, and often have difficulty applying evenly on hairy skin due to thick consistency.
Innovation Solution
A sunscreen composition comprising 20-25% zinc oxide and 24-31% water, free from organic UV filters, in an emulsion form with an aqueous and oil phase, using high shear mixing to break up zinc oxide aggregates into smaller particles, achieving an SPF rating of 50 or greater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mineral sunscreen products use silicone film forming ingredients and a mixture of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to achieve high SPF rating, then the SPF rating can reach 50+, but the product has thick consistency that is difficult to apply to hairy skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes silicone film forming ingredients from the formulation while maintaining high SPF rating through optimized mineral UV filters (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) without requiring these additives, thereby reducing thickness and improving application ease
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the ratios and particle sizes of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to achieve high SPF rating without relying on silicone film formers, changing the physical parameters of the mineral filter mixture to reduce viscosity and improve applicability on hairy skin
2Adaptability or versatility
If sunscreen products are made anhydrous (containing no water) to be all natural and free from silicones, then they can be classified as all natural products, but they have very thick consistency that requires extended period of rubbing to apply evenly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates water into the formulation to reduce thickness and improve application characteristics while maintaining the all-natural classification by avoiding synthetic additives, changing the physical state from anhydrous to aqueous emulsion
3Adaptability or versatility
If sunscreen compositions include water but exclude organic UV filters or non-mineral UV filters, then they can be all natural and free from silicones, but they have difficulty in meeting testing requirements to achieve an SPF rating of 50+
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite mineral UV filter system combining zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with specific particle size distributions and ratios, achieving synergistic effect that enables SPF 50+ rating while maintaining all-natural formulation without organic filters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration, particle size, and surface area of mineral UV filters to maximize UV protection while maintaining compatibility with water-based, silicone-free, all-natural formulation requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition effectively achieves an SPF rating of 50 or greater without organic UV filters, providing a smooth application on hairy skin and overcoming the limitations of existing thick, difficult-to-apply sunscreens.
Implementation Method 1
Many sunscreens include components such as organic chemical compounds that absorb UV light... inorganic compounds that absorb or reflect UV light (such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide)
Implementation Method 2
sunscreens have become very widely used. Sunscreens are applied to the skin and desirably reflect and/or block UVA and UVB rays to prevent sunburn and skin damage
Implementation Method 3
the sunscreen composition being in the form of an emulsion containing an aqueous phase and an oil phase
Data Source
AI summary
A sunscreen composition comprising from 20 to 25 wt % zinc oxide that is not surface treated and from 24 to 25 wt % water, the sunscreen composition being in the form of an emulsion having an aqueous phase and an oil phase, the sunscreen composition being free from organic UV filters or organic UV absorbers, the sunscreen composition having an SPF rating of 50 or more, the sunscreen composition being free from silicone materials and the sunscreen composition being free of titanium dioxide.