Avene Sunscreen Spray SPF 20 has three active ingredients and 22 inactive ones, including water and fragrance. It is a product used to reflect the sun's rays and protect skin from sun damage, including both mineral and chemical sunscreens. Avene sunscreen works against UVA and UVB rays. The higher the sun protection factor, or SPF, number, the longer the protection.
Active Ingredients
The active ingredients that make up Avene Sunscreen Spray 20 are octoxynol, octinoxate and titanium dioxide. All are sunscreens. Octoxynol is in a 10 percent solution, octinoxate is in a 7.5 percent concentration, and there is 3.8 percent titanium dioxide, according to the label. Titanium dioxide can also be a lubricating agent and a thickener, according to Cosmetics Cop, a database compiled by skin care expert Paula Begoun.
Preservatives
Preservatives keep a compound from spoiling due to mold, fungi and bacteria. The preservatives in Avene sunscreen are methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, phenoxyethanol, disodium EDTA and O Cymen 5 OL. The parabens are widely used due to their less irritating nature, according to Cosmetics Cop. They do not give off fo1rmaldehyde like some preservatives do. Phenoxyethanol has a rose-like aroma and prevents microbial growth, according to Cosmetics Info. Disodium EDTA can be a preservative in the way that it prevents rancidity and helps maintain clarity by binding to metal ions, according to Cosmetics Info.
Thickeners
Thickeners are those additives that will keep a compound from getting too thin in consistency. The thickening agents in this sunscreen are zinc oxide and xanthan gum. Zinc oxide also is a lubricator that has sunscreen properties as well according to Cosmetics Cop, adding to the benefit of the product.
Surfactant
A surfactant is an agent that helps a product glide easily over the surface area making for a smoother coverage. The surfactant in this sunscreen is lauryl glucoside, according to Skin Deep.
Humectant
Humectants pull moisture from the atmosphere and keep it locked in the skin. The humectant agent in Avene sunscreen is glycerin. Glycerin can be natural or synthetic and works well because it is naturally found in skin, according to Cosmetics Cop.
Binders
Binding agents help chemicals and ingredients in the formula bind together and hold for a compound. The binders in this sunscreen are triethoxy caprylylsilane and trimethoxycaprylylsilane, according to Skin Deep.
Skin Conditioners
Skin conditioners help moisturize and improve the skin's appearance and health. The skin conditioning agents in Avene sunscreen are cyclomethicone, dimethicone, polydecene, tocopheryl acetate and polyglyceryl 2 dipolyhydroxystearate. Cyclomethicone and dimethicone are silicone based, with dimethicone also being able to be an antifoaming agent and a skin protectant, according to Cosmetics Info. Polydecene may be a fragrance also.
Anticaking Agent
Magnesium aluminum silicate is the anticaking agent in this sunscreen, according to Cosmetics Info. It works by not letting the compound flake or cake up. It is based on silicates and works also as an absorbent and viscosity increasing agent.
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