Author(s)

Hanxuan Kong ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Shanghai Shangde Experimental School, Shanghai, China

Corresponding Author

Hanxuan Kong

ABSTRACT

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a recognized carcinogen, with UVA (320–400 nm) and UVB (290–320 nm) contributing to photoaging, skin damage, and cancer. Sunscreens mitigate these risks, but there are discrepancies between labeled and actual Sun Protection Factor (SPF) values. This study employed UV–Vis spectrophotometry to assess SPF accuracy and photostability of commercial formulations under dark storage and natural sunlight over three weeks. Most products showed measured SPF values consistent with labels, though SkinBoard and L’Oréal were significantly lower, and Vaseline Brightening Skin Isolation fell within an acceptable deviation. SPF values declined across all samples, with slower reductions under dark storage. Dabao Watery Multi-action displayed the highest photostability, while SkinBoard declined most rapidly. These results prove UV–Vis spectrophotometry as a reliable, ethical alternative to in vivo testing and emphasize the need for improved quality control and photostability in sunscreen development.

KEYWORDS

Ultraviolet Radiation, Sunscreen, SPF, UV–Vis Spectrophotometry, Photostability, Labeling Accuracy

CITE THIS PAPER

Hanxuan Kong, Comparative Evaluation of UV Spectrophotometry for Sun Protection Factor (SPF) Determination in a Reproducible in Vitro Method. Analytical Chemistry: A Journal (2025) Vol. 4: 40-46. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/analc.2025.040106.

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