Visible Light Protection in Hybrid Sunscreens

Regarding whether hybrid sunscreens can protect against visible light, it's a nuanced topic.

Physical sunscreen ingredients, primarily Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, are the components in sunscreens that have the potential to block visible light. However, their effectiveness against visible light depends significantly on their particle size:

• Larger particle sizes (like those found in some traditional physical sunscreens or makeup-grade Titanium Dioxide such as Titanium Dioxide 400nm WaterProof™ (Super Coverage)) are generally more effective at blocking the longer wavelengths of visible light. The trade-off is that they tend to leave a noticeable white cast on the skin.
• Smaller, nanoparticle sizes (like Titanium Dioxide 15nm Liquid (Gloss) or Zinc Oxide 35nm Liquid) are optimized for blocking UV rays (UVA and UVB) and reducing the white cast, but they are less effective against the longer wavelengths of visible light. Products like Titanium Dioxide 200nm EasyDisperse™ and Zinc Oxide 200nm EasyDisperse™ also aim for lower whiteness.

Hybrid sunscreens contain a combination of both physical and chemical UV filters. While the physical filters within a hybrid formula can block some portion of the visible light spectrum, they typically do not block the entire range. The degree of protection depends on the specific physical filters used and their particle sizes.

It's also important to note that there is currently no standardized testing method to measure visible light protection in sunscreen products. Therefore, claims about visible light protection are often based on the properties of the ingredients rather than a universally recognized standard, unlike SPF and PA ratings for UV protection.

In summary, while hybrid sunscreens containing physical blockers like Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide offer some protection against visible light, it's not a complete block across the entire spectrum, and the level of protection varies depending on the formulation.