FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL SUNSCREEN CREAM CONTAINING NATURAL PHOTOPROTECTIVE AGENTS

Abstract Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the major causes of skin damage, leading to conditions such as erythema, premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer. Sunscreens are widely used as protective agents; however, synthetic sunscreen chemicals may cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, and environmental concerns. Consequently, herbal sunscreen formulations have gained significant attention due to their safety, antioxidant activity, and skin compatibility [1]. The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate herbal sunscreen creams using natural ingredients including Aloe vera, Coconut oil, Vitamin E, and Rose water. Four formulations (F1–F4) were prepared using an oil-in-water emulsion method and evaluated for physicochemical properties such as colour, odour, consistency, pH, spreadability, viscosity, washability, irritancy, phase separation, stability, and in-vitro Sun Protection Factor (SPF) [2]. All formulations showed acceptable physical characteristics and good cosmetic properties. Among the formulations, F3 containing Vitamin E demonstrated superior performance with the highest spreadability (6.7 ± 0.25 g·cm/sec), optimum viscosity (13,900 ± 195 cPs), and highest SPF value (19.1 ± 0.8). Stability studies indicated that the formulation remained stable without phase separation or significant changes in colour and consistency. The results indicate that herbal ingredients can be effectively incorporated into sunscreen formulations to provide natural photoprotection and improved skin compatibility. Keywords: Herbal sunscreen, Aloe vera, Vitamin E, Coconut oil, Photoprotection, Sun protection factor