Iron Oxide / Zinc Oxide / Titanium Dioxide

Mineral UV filters are the gold standard in clean, skin-safe sun protection — and the three most important are Iron Oxide, Zinc Oxide, and Titanium Dioxide. Unlike chemical sunscreen actives that absorb UV radiation and convert it to heat within the skin, mineral filters work by sitting on the skin's surface and physically deflecting UV rays before they can penetrate. This makes them exceptionally well-tolerated, even for sensitive, reactive, and post-treatment skin.

Each mineral filter has a distinct role and protection profile:

• Zinc Oxide — the most broad-spectrum mineral filter available, Zinc Oxide provides protection across both UVA and UVB wavelengths. It is also naturally anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, making it ideal for acne-prone and sensitive skin types. It is the only single ingredient that provides true broad-spectrum coverage on its own.
• Titanium Dioxide — highly effective against UVB and short-wave UVA radiation, Titanium Dioxide is lightweight and cosmetically elegant. It is often combined with Zinc Oxide to extend the protection range and improve the texture of mineral formulas.
• Iron Oxides — while not UV filters in the traditional sense, Iron Oxides provide critical protection against visible light (VL) and high-energy visible (HEV) light, including blue light from screens and indoor lighting. They are also the pigments responsible for tinted mineral sunscreens, which help neutralize the white cast associated with traditional mineral formulas while providing an additional layer of photoprotection.

Together, these three minerals form the foundation of comprehensive, clean photoprotection — defending against UVA, UVB, visible light, and blue light without synthetic chemical filters, hormone-disrupting compounds, or reef-damaging ingredients.

At PUR Botanicals, our mineral sun protection formulas are formulated with non-nano particles and skin-supportive botanicals to deliver effective, comfortable, and clean daily protection.

Shop skin concerns that feature Mineral Sun Protection:
Sun Protection / Over-Exposure