j. Cosmet. Sci., 54, 85-111 (January/February 2003) Papers Presented at the 2002 Annual Scientific Meeting and Technology Showcase (Thursday's Program) December 5-6, 2002 New York Hilton New York, NY 85

86 JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE SUNCREENS: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Ken Klein Cosmetech Laboratories, Inc., Fairfield, NJ Use of sunscreens has spanned practically every skincare (and haircare) product category. Consumers now expect to find sunscreens in products not just designed for use at the beach. However, while cosmetic chemists frequently incorporate them, do they really understand the regulations, chemistry and formulating parameters to use them most effectively (and legally)? This presentation will cover the basics of UV and the Sunscreen chemistry/formulating principles that will permit cosmetic chemists to better understand how to optimize sunscreen products to achieve water resistancy and the high SPFs that consumers now expect. Additionally, we will try to make some sense out of the sunscreen regulatory "situation." Lastly, we will review ingredient lists and claims of several commercial sunscreen products to try to understand the strategies employed by companies/formulating chemists.