Every Sunscreen Product Needs Reliable Effectiveness Testing

Sunlight (or UV rays) can boost positive emotions and even be addictive. Sun exposure not only increases vitamin D, but also makes you feel good. But it must be mentioned that ultraviolet rays are potentially harmful. It ages people prematurely, a notable example being some truck drivers who have more wrinkles on the left side of their face (window exposed) than on the right. Beyond that, UV rays can be deadly, and some little sunburns can lead to skin cancer, and some cancers can even be traced back to childhood sunburns. Therefore, for us, applying sunscreen in time and correctly before exposure to the sun or in daily life is helpful to our health.

Sunscreen products are an indispensable thing in people's life, and they are also popular products in cosmetics and personal care products, which are strictly regulated in various countries. As a product that acts directly on the skin, it must be thoroughly tested before being marketed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates sunscreens as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, so all sunscreen products need to be tested according to strict FDA guidelines. For manufacturers, verifying your product's sun protection claims under laboratory conditions can build credibility for your brand and ultimately gain a loyal following.

How to conduct sunscreen effectiveness testing?

The exact details of the agreement will vary depending on the product claims that the manufacturer wants to certify. In general, objective information needs to be collected on the effect of the product on the skin's response to UV light, which involves multiple factors such as the UV intensity, the exposure time, the application process, and others. In the laboratory, professional testing equipment and techniques are usually used, such as the controllable generation of artificial sunlight by single- or multi-port solar simulators. There are several tests:

• SPF Testing

Sun Protection Factor, also known as "static" testing. Measures how well a product protects the skin from UVB rays. SPF claims on product packaging need to be proven to be true by research.

• Broad-spectrum Testing

Measures how a product protects the skin against both UVB and UVA rays. While many of the ingredients available are good at filtering out UVB, few are good at filtering out UVA. In order to achieve a higher SPF value, some manufacturers must add ingredients that can filter UVB, but this also leads to an imbalance of UVA and UVB protection. UVA/UVB in vitro testing is used to determine the combined protection level of sunscreen products against UVA/UVB.

• Water- resistance Testing

Measures product effectiveness stands up to water. Depending on the test results, manufacturers can label their products as water-resistant for 40 minutes or 80 minutes.

As an experienced cosmetic testing expert, Creative BioMart provides high quality efficacy testing for all sunscreen products. For the convenience of manufacturers, we have formed a professional technical team to prove your sunscreen product claims with efficient testing solutions of international standards, including SPF testing, broad-spectrum testing, and water-resistant testing. In addition, our powerful technical platform also supports us in the design and development of new products to broaden your business areas.
Welcome to contact us for project quotations and more detailed information.