Rozy asks…Is Tinosorb sunscreen approved in US and Canada?
The Beauty Brains respond:
A lot of people are excited about Tinosorb as a new and improved UV protectant. But Tinosorb is not just one product, it’s Ciba’s brand name for a variety of of sunscreens.
Types of Tinosorb
- Tinosorb S is Bemotrizinol aka bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine.
- Tinosorb M is Bisoctrizole aka methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol.
- Tinosorb OMC is Octyl methoxycinnamate aka octinoxate.
- There are also Tinosorb FD and FR but these are for fabric applications and so they’re not available in skin products.
Tinosorb OMC is approved in the US and is used in quite a few products. Tinosorb S is the one that gets the most press because it’s a “next generation” sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB protection, is non-irritating, and is very photostable. That means it doesn’t break down with exposure to sunlight like other chemical sunscreens do. (That’s one of the reasons you have to reapply sunscreen so often.) It is approved in Canada, Australia, and the EU. It’s not approved in US yet because it’s lacking long term human safety data.
Hopefully the results of the safety testing will be favorable and we’ll see it here in the U.S. soon.
References:
http://www.futurederm.com/2008/07/22/introducing-the-best-sunscreen-yet-tinosorb/
http://blog.pharmacymix.com/anthelios-sunscreens-now-with-tinosorb-s
Image credit: http://www.seemsartless.com/
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m trying to find some sunscreen with Tinosorb S in Canada that doesnt have octocrylene also because I’m allergic to it.
I’m pretty sure that the antheolios with tinosorb has been discounted and replaced with Mexoryl.
http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/tinosorb-s
Paulas choice says the tinosorb is not approved in Canada…? wtf?
Hi Rozy,
I think the La Roche Posay Antheloiso Childrens formula has Tinosorb (not sure which version). I can buy it in NYC at some fancy pharmacies, and it’s also available via the website http://www.frenchcosmeticsforless.com. If it’s not listed in their brand product lineup, you can special order it. Usually takes about 3-4 weeks. I will probably get this version for summer. Bioderma sunscreens also have Tinsorb (again, don’t know which version).
Cheers.
@Wendolyn I am aware that Bioderma has Tinosorb in them I even found a place in Canada selling it but the problem is it also has an ingredient I am allergic to. (Octocrylene). Active ingredients of Anthelios XL: Active Ingredients: Octocrylene 10%, Titanium Dioxide 6.25%, Avobenzone 3%, Drometrizole Trisiloxane (Mexoryl XL) 2%.
Hi Rozy, The LRP Dermo-Pediatric sunscreen includes Tinosorb but doesn’t have octocrylene. Hope this works for you. It’s sold on the site I referenced in my original email, http://www.frenchcosmeticsforless.com. They have other LRP children’s sunscreens there. And no, I don’t work for this website or or LRP ; )
Here is a link to the sunscreen: http://www.frenchcosmeticsforless.com/proddetail.php?prod=1400062
Avene has a sunscreen that has tinasorb. Sold in Shoppers Drugmart. The software 20 and 40 in 50ml do not contain information parabens or benzones.
I went to LaRoche-Posay’s official website to read the details of baby products’ ingredients and you can also get the pediatric version that has titanium dioxide, and I think it’s the non-nano (safer by far) bec they seem to label it when it is nano- . If you need all the protection you can get, this version has Tinosorb S, avobenzone, ethylhexyltriazone (protects the product itself from UVB nm314 from my google search on that), Mexoryl XL & SX. No fragrance, no paraben,no octocrylene.
Thank You so very much to Wendolyn for posting your link! I would have never found it without your comment! Here’s that other version of the baby sunblock (bought for adults in our household) http://www.frenchcosmeticsforless.com/proddetail.php?prod=140074
http://www.frenchcosmeticsforless.com/proddetail.php?prod=42076
SO SORRY! I copied the wrong address into my comment. The above is correct. And no, I don’t work for any of these companies (or I’d be too busy to comment here, that’s for sure…)