UV filters in sunscreens: mineral vs organic, SPF and the UVA logo explained
How to recognise UV filters in an INCI list, what separates mineral from organic filters, and what SPF and the UVA logo on EU sunscreens actually promise.
Updated: 31 October 2026 · Reviewed by: Kamil Pyziak
What a UV filter is
A UV filter is an ingredient whose job is to reduce the amount of ultraviolet radiation that reaches the skin. In the EU, only substances listed in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 may be used as UV filters in cosmetic products, each with a maximum concentration and, for some, extra conditions of use. If a product claims sun protection, the protection must come from these listed filters.
On the label, UV filters appear under their INCI names like any other ingredient. Typical examples are Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone), Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone. Most modern sunscreens combine several filters, because no single filter covers the whole UVB and UVA range well on its own.
Mineral filters
Mineral (inorganic) filters are Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. They are insoluble particles that sit in the product and on the skin and reduce UV mainly by absorbing it, with some scattering and reflection. They are often chosen for “mineral” or “sensitive skin” products and for children’s ranges.
Their drawback is cosmetic: at effective levels they can leave a white or greyish cast, and formulas may feel thicker. Manufacturers reduce this with very small particles. When a filter is present as a nanomaterial, EU rules require the word “[nano]” after its name, for example “Titanium Dioxide [nano]”. Titanium dioxide in powder form also has restrictions related to inhalation, so it is handled differently in sprays and loose powders.
Organic filters
Organic (chemical) filters are carbon-based molecules that absorb UV energy. Each has its own absorption range: some work mostly in UVB, such as Ethylhexyl Salicylate or Ethylhexyl Triazone, others cover UVA, such as Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane or Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, and some newer broad-spectrum filters, such as Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, cover both.
Organic filters allow light, transparent textures that are easy to wear daily. The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) reviews filters periodically, and some limits have been updated in recent years; the current maximum concentrations are set in Annex VI. “Organic” here is a chemistry term and has nothing to do with organic farming.
Mineral or organic – which is better?
Neither group is automatically better. What matters is how well the finished product protects, which depends on the combination and amount of filters, the formula that carries them, and how much product is actually applied. Many effective sunscreens mix mineral and organic filters.
If you react to a particular filter, the INCI list lets you avoid it by name. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or are choosing protection for a baby, ask a doctor or pharmacist which type suits you.
What SPF means
SPF (sun protection factor) describes protection against UVB, the radiation mainly responsible for sunburn. It is measured in a laboratory with a standard amount of product, 2 mg per square centimetre of skin. In everyday use people usually apply much less, so real protection is lower than the number on the bottle.
EU recommendations group SPF into categories: low (6–10), medium (15–25), high (30–50) and very high (50+). SPF says little about UVA protection, which is why a separate UVA marking exists.
The UVA logo
In the EU, the letters “UVA” in a circle mean that the product’s UVA protection is at least one third of its labelled SPF, as recommended by the European Commission. It is a simple sign that the protection is reasonably balanced between UVB and UVA, which contributes to skin ageing and other damage.
The INCI list cannot replace this marking: you can see which UVA filters are present, but not how much of each, so you cannot calculate the level of protection yourself.
What the label does not tell you
The INCI list shows which filters a product contains, but not their concentrations, how stable they are in that formula, or how much protection you will get with your usual amount. Rely on the SPF value and the UVA logo, apply generously, reapply after swimming, sweating or towelling, and remember that sunscreen is one part of sun protection alongside shade and clothing.