Ingredient decoder

Zinc oxide: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Zinc Oxide

Acne verdict Fine

Not a known pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic1 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen that also soothes skin.

  • Sunscreen
  • Bulking
  • Skin protecting
  • UV absorber

Zinc oxide in plain English

Zinc oxide is a white mineral that protects skin from both UVA and UVB rays, making it one of the most complete single sunscreen filters. It is also soothing and skin protecting, which is why it is the main ingredient in many diaper rash creams. It is very gentle and a good pick for sensitive or acne-prone skin, and sun protection can help post-acne marks fade.

Is zinc oxide bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Zinc oxide is not a known pore-clogger: it scored 1 out of 5 in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test of the raw ingredient. Our checker rates it as fine for acne-prone skin, so judge by how your own skin reacts.

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Also called

  • Zinc Oxide
  • Ci 77947
  • ZNO
  • Nano zinc oxide
  • Zinc oxide (nano)
  • Zinc white

Related ingredients

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Frequently asked questions

Is zinc oxide comedogenic?

Zinc oxide scored 1 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does zinc oxide do in skincare?

In short: broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen that also soothes skin. In formulas it is used for bulking, skin protecting and UV absorber.

What else is zinc oxide called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, zinc oxide can also appear as Ci 77947, ZNO, Nano zinc oxide or Zinc oxide (nano).

Sources