Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide is a cosmetic ingredient used as an antimicrobial, bulking agent. It appears in about 3% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 12,611 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | ZINC OXIDE |
| Function | ANTIMICROBIAL, BULKING, COLORANT, ORAL CARE |
| CAS number | 1314-13-2 |
| EC number | 215-222-5 |
| Prevalence | 3,148 products (3.39% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 12,611 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 27,100 |
Used in
Sunscreens 60.5%BB, CC, Tinted Moisturizers 6%Foundations 5.4%Facial Treatments 3.8%Wash Off Masks 2.5%General Moisturizers 2.4%
Frequently asked
- What does Zinc Oxide do in skincare?
- Zinc Oxide functions as an antimicrobial, bulking agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Zinc Oxide allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Zinc Oxide?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially sunscreens (60.5% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Zinc Oxide
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.