WHAT IS AVOBENZONE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Avobenzone is the best UVA filter available. It, along with zinc and titanium dioxide, are the only compounds which are FDA approved for protection against UVA rays. Consumers often say that zinc and titanium dioxide formulations feel “heavy.” Avobenzone formulations by comparison are light and cosmetically elegant. The highest critical wavelengths(CW) are also achieved in formulations using stabilized avobenzone. LUCA with a CW of 383nm, has the highest critical wavelength of any product on the market. WHAT DOES “STABILIZED” AVOBENZONE MEAN? Although Avobenzone is a superior UVA absorber, it is a photounstable compound, meaning that it breaks down quickly in sunlight. It is necessary for formulations using avobenzone to be stabilized. LUCA uses Polycrylene® (CPH Innovations) to stabilize avobenzone. Manufactures not only need to provide a critical wavelength to rate UVA protection, but this measurement should be performed on specimens which have been irradiated to simulate 4-6 hours i
