uv absorber uv-p: invisible guardian in cosmetic formula
in today’s era of pursuing beauty, cosmetics have long become a necessity in people’s daily lives. from foundation to sunscreen, from eye sha to lipstick, behind each product is a complex formula designed by scientists. among these many ingredients, there is a low-key but crucial existence-the ultraviolet absorber uv-p (2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid). it is like an unknown hero behind the scenes, building a solid barrier for the skin to resist uv rays where we cannot see it.
what is uv absorber uv-p?
uv absorber uv-p is a highly efficient, broad-spectrum chemical sunscreen with a chemical name of 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, referred to as pbsa or uv-p for short). as a water-soluble sunscreen, uv-p is known for its excellent uv absorption capability and can effectively protect against uv radiation in the uva and uvb bands. its molecular structure is unique, including benzimidazole rings and sulfonic acid groups, which makes it not only have strong uv absorption properties, but also has good light stability and safety.
uv-p was first developed by a german company and was applied to the cosmetics field in the 1970s. with its outstanding performance, uv-p has quickly become one of the widely used sunscreen active ingredients worldwide. at present, it has been included in the authoritative regulatory systems such as the eu, the us fda and china’s “catalogue of used cosmetics raw materials” and has become one of the core components of sunscreen product formula design.
basic characteristics of uv-p
in order to better understand the mechanism of action of uv-p in cosmetics, we need to first understand its basic physicochemical properties:
| parameter name |
data value |
remarks |
| chemical formula |
c14h10n2o3s |
– |
| molecular weight |
294.3 g/mol |
– |
| solution |
easy soluble in water, slightly soluble in |
– |
| melting point |
>300°c |
decomposition temperature |
| ph range |
5.0-7.0 |
recommended usage conditions |
these parameters show that uv-p is a highly stable compound that can maintain activity over a wide ph range while having good water solubility, making it easy to mix with other cosmetic ingredients to form a uniform and stable formula system.
uv-p’s unique contribution: why is it a star ingredient in cosmetic formulas?
in the field of sun protection cosmetics, uv-p is popular mainly because it has the following unique advantages:
-
broad spectrum protection: uv-p can absorb ultraviolet rays in the uva and uvb bands at the same time, providing a comprehensive ultraviolet protection effect. compared to some sunscreens that only target a single band, the broad spectrum properties of uv-p make it ideal for sunscreen formulations.
-
high stability: uv-p has excellent light stability and is not easy to decompose and fail under sunlight, ensuring long-term and effective sun protection. in addition, it can synergize with other sunscreens to further improve the overall sunscreen effect.
-
low irritation: as a long-proven safety ingredient, uv-p has extremely low irritation to the skin and is suitable for all skin types, including people with sensitive skin. this makes it one of the core ingredients of many high-end sunscreen products.
-
water solubility advantages: since uv-p itself is water-soluble, it can be easily incorporated into lotions, gels and even spray-type sunscreen products, giving the product a better user experience. at the same time, this characteristic also facilitates the adjustment of product texture by adding thickeners and other methods to meet the needs of different consumers.
-
environmentally friendly: compared with certain oil-soluble sunscreens, uv-p is considered to have a smaller potential impact on marine ecosystems due to its low bioaccumulativeness and degradability, which is in line with the current trend of green and environmental protection.
to sum up, uv absorber uv-p has become an indispensable key ingredient in modern sunscreen cosmetics with its excellent performance. next, we will explore the specific application of uv-p in cosmetic formulas and the scientific principles behind it.
the mechanism of action of uv-p: how to block ultraviolet rays?
to understand the actual effects of uv-p in cosmetics, we first need to understand the harm of ultraviolet rays to human skin and how uv-p plays its sun protection role.
the hazards of ultraviolet rays: not onlyit’s as simple as tanning
ultraviolet rays can be divided into three main bands according to their wavelength: uva (320-400nm), uvb (290-320nm) and uvc (<290nm). among them, uvc is almost completely absorbed by the atmosphere and has little impact on our daily lives; while uva and uvb are the main culprits of skin damage.
- uva: it has strong penetration and can penetrate deep into the dermis, causing skin aging, pigmentation and other problems, commonly known as “sunny”.
- uvb: high energy, mainly acts on the epidermis, causing acute reactions such as redness, swelling, burns, etc., which are the so-called “sunburn”.
long-term exposure to ultraviolet light will not only cause the skin to look worse, but may also increase the risk of skin cancer. therefore, choosing the right sunscreen product is crucial.
the working principle of uv-p: “light absorption war” at the molecular level
uv-p, as a chemical sunscreen, acts by absorbing the energy of ultraviolet rays and converting them into heat energy to release them, thereby avoiding the direct effect of ultraviolet rays on skin tissue. specifically, when ultraviolet rays irradiate on sunscreen products containing uv-p, the benzimidazole ring in the uv-p molecule absorbs ultraviolet photons of a specific wavelength and enters the excited state. subsequently, the energy in this excited state is dissipated in a non-radiative form (such as thermal energy) and finally returns to the ground state, completing a “ultraviolet capture” process.
this process can be expressed by simple chemical equations:
[
text{uv-p (ground state)} + hnu rightarrow text{uv-p (excited state)}
]
[
text{uv-p (excited state)} rightarrow text{uv-p (ground state)} + text{heat}
]
it is worth noting that uv-p does not undergo permanent chemical changes throughout the process, so it can repeatedly absorb ultraviolet rays and provide a lasting protection effect.
absorption spectrum analysis of uv-p
to visually demonstrate the absorption characteristics of uv-p, we can refer to its ultraviolet absorption curve:
| wavelength range (nm) |
absorption strength (relative value) |
main protection objects |
| 280-320 |
high |
uvb |
| 320-400 |
in |
uva |
from the above table, it can be seen that uv-p has higher absorption efficiency for uvb, but it also covers some uva bands, showing its broad-spectrum protection characteristics.
practical application of uv-p in cosmetic formula
in actual formula design, uv-p is usually used in conjunction with other sunscreens to achieve optimal protective effects. the following are several common uv-p applications and their characteristics:
1. use alone: a simple and efficient entry-level solution
for basic sunscreen products, uv-p can be added as an active ingredient alone, suitable for brands that pursue cost-effectiveness. for example, a transparent sunscreen spray uses a pure aqueous system, dissolves uv-p in deionized water, supplemented with a small amount of thickener and moisturizer, to achieve a light and breathable experience.
2. combination and use: multi-dimensional optimization of protection performance
to further enhance the sun protection effect, uv-p is often combined with oil-soluble sunscreens (such as avobenzone, octooxybenzone) or physical sunscreens (such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide). this combination not only broadens the absorption band, but also improves the product’s water resistance and comfort. for example, a high-end sunscreen lotion formula is as follows:
| ingredient category |
specific ingredients |
function |
| main sunscreen |
uv-p |
absorb uva/uvb |
| auxiliary sunscreen |
avobenzone |
enhanced uvb absorption |
| physical masking agent |
titanium dioxide |
reflected uv rays |
| thickener |
karpom |
improving stability |
| moisturizer |
glycerin |
providing moisturizing |
3. innovative application: exploring new sun protection technologies
with the advancement of technology, the application of uv-p is also constantly expanding. in recent years, researchers have tried to encapsulate uv-p in nanocarriers to improve its dispersion and stability. this approach not only reduces the amount of uv-p used in the formula, but also reduces its potential irritation risk to the skin. in addition, combined with smart responsive materials (such as ph-sensitive polymers), can also realize the on-demand release function, further improving the sun protection effect.
progress in domestic and foreign research: new trends in uv-p
the research on uv-p is always active, and the following are several representative results:
-
improving photo stability: a german research team found that introducing additional electron donor groups into uv-p molecules can significantly improve their light stability and extend the effective time of sunscreen products.
-
environmental impact assessment: japanese scientists have shown through research on coral reef ecosystems that uv-p is less toxic to marine organisms and is more environmentally friendly than some traditional oil-soluble sunscreens.
-
new combination strategy: a cosmetics company in the united states has developed a composite sun protection system based on uv-p and plant extracts, which not only retains the strong protection ability of uv-p, but also adds antioxidant and repair functions.
conclusion: future outlook of uv-p
as an important member of the cosmetics field, uv-p, the ultraviolet absorber, has won wide recognition in the global market due to its advantages such as broad spectrum protection, high stability and low irritation. however, as consumers’ requirements for safety and environmental protection are increasing, uv-p research and development still needs to be continuously innovated and improved. we have reason to believe that in the near future, this “invisible guardian” will continue to bring a more excellent sun protection experience to mankind!
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