Moisturizing Cream with Sunscreen Formulation

Creating a moisturizing cream with sunscreen involves combining ingredients that provide hydration and UV protection. Here are a couple of approaches:

Option 1: Using a Pre-Made Base

The simplest way is to use a pre-made cream base that already offers moisturizing properties and add suitable sunscreen ingredients. Some bases even come with built-in SPF:

• Moisturizing Cream (Compare to Cerave): This base provides moisturizing benefits. You would need to add UV filters to achieve the desired SPF level.
• Light Invisible Sunscreen (SPF50+, PA++++, Compare to Loreal UV Defender Invisible Fluid): This is a sunscreen serum base with high SPF/PA values and a light texture. It already contains UV filters and can be used as a base to which you can add more moisturizing ingredients if needed.

Option 2: Formulating from Scratch

To create a moisturizing cream with sunscreen from basic ingredients, you will need several key components:

1. UV Filters: These are essential for sun protection. You can use chemical filters like BEMT (Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine) or Bisoctrizole (MBBT), which offer broad-spectrum protection (UVA/UVB) and are stable. Alternatively, you can use a blend like SPF Protect Ultra™ III, which combines multiple filters for high SPF and broad protection. The choice and concentration depend on the target SPF/PA.
2. Moisturizers: Ingredients that hydrate the skin. Examples include MOIST72™ (Saccharide Isomerate) which provides long-lasting hydration, or Advanced Moisture Complex, a blend of moisturizing components like Sodium PCA and Hyaluronic Acid.
3. Emulsifiers: To combine the oil and water phases of the cream. Sucrose Cream Maker™ (Sucrose Polystearate, Cetyl Palmitate) is a natural-based option, and Lipomulse Luxe (Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceteareth-20) helps create stable emulsions with a pleasant texture.
4. Film Formers/SPF Boosters: Ingredients like UV35 (Polyurethane-35) can help make the sunscreen more water-resistant and boost the SPF value.

General Formulation Tips:

• Combine the oil-soluble UV filters and emulsifiers in the oil phase, and water-soluble moisturizers in the water phase.
• Heat both phases separately to the required temperature (check ingredient specifications, often around 70-80°C for oil phase with some emulsifiers/filters).
• Slowly add the oil phase to the water phase while stirring continuously to form an emulsion.
• Cool down the mixture while stirring.
• Add heat-sensitive ingredients like MOIST72™ and preservatives in the final cooling phase below 40°C.
• Adjust pH if necessary.

Formulating sunscreen requires careful consideration of ingredient compatibility, stability, and efficacy. It is highly recommended to perform stability testing and SPF/PA testing to ensure the final product meets the desired protection level and remains stable over time.