Sun cream - what is titanium dioxide?
  • Clean beauty
  • Sun & travel

What is Titanium Dioxide?

Looking for a mineral SPF? Here, we explain Titanium Dioxide, how it works in sunscreen, and introduce some natural and organic sun creams with Titanium Dioxide.

By Hannah Mepham

4 Minute read

What is Titanium Dioxide sunscreen? How does it work? Lots of people have questions about mineral sunscreen filters. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about one of our favourite sun filters, Titanium Dioxide.

What is Titanium Dioxide?

Titanium Dioxide is a naturally occurring earth mineral. It effectively reflects UV radiation, is chemically stable and is rated as having low reactivity.

Titanium Dioxide is especially effective at blocking UVB rays and often needs to be combined with a UVA filter to achieve the right ratio of UVA/UVB needed for broad-spectrum sun protection.

Titanium Dioxide is one of the filters we use to provide broad-spectrum UV defence in some of our best-selling natural and organic sun creams, such as our Edelweiss Sun Cream SPF15 with Tan Accelerator.

green people scent free sun cream

How does Titanium Dioxide sunscreen work?

Unlike chemical UV filters that absorb UV radiation, Titanium Dioxide sunscreen is a physical mineral filter that primarily reflects UV radiation to protect your cells from sun damage.

how titanium dioxide works by reflecting rays

Suitable for all skin types, Titanium Dioxide’s reflective properties make it a good choice for sensitive skin. Its ability to shield against sun damage without absorbing heat makes it a more suitable SPF choice for rosacea-prone skin, which tends to flush more during sun exposure.

We use Titanium Dioxide in combination with other safe UV filters and antioxidants so that our sunscreens provide multi-faceted, effective, broad-spectrum sun defence. 

Is Titanium Dioxide safe?

Titanium Dioxide is considered very safe and is even an approved food ingredient in the UK. In the US, the FDA rates it as “generally recognised as safe and effective.”

There’s no need to worry about it being absorbed by the skin. We only use micronised non-nano Titanium Dioxide, which has a large molecular size that can't penetrate the skin.

Titanium Dioxide sun creams from Green People

Featuring a blend of Titanium Dioxide and other UV filters, our natural and organic sunscreens protect skin whilst also nourishing it with skin-friendly organic plant extracts and oils. Our sun care products are non-whitening and non-greasy.

They’ve been dermatologically tested and clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin. They're also free from Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, so they're safe for our seas.

We also fortify our SPF products with antioxidants from ingredients such as Edelweiss, Rosemary, Green Tea, Chamomile, Tocopherol, and Sequoia Sempervirens Leaf Cell Extract to give the skin an extra layer of defence against sun damage. Read about the power of antioxidants in sunscreen.

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide

Alongside using Titanium Dioxide in some of our sunscreens, we also use the mineral Zinc Oxide as a UV filter.

Our 100% mineral sun creams are excellent for those with oily, combination or blemish-prone skin as Zinc Oxide is non-comedogenic and won’t clog your pores.

We hope that you have found this information helpful. Browse our full collection of natural and organic sunscreens or use our quick and easy SPF quiz to find the best SPF for your skin. Alternatively, our UK customer care team is happy to help and can be contacted on 01403 740350 or on social at @GreenPeopleUK

This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.

Disclaimer: The contents of this blog post should be treated as information only. Please consult a medical professional if you have any health-related concerns or symptoms.

If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to "What is Titanium Dioxide?" Please do not use an affiliate link.

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