A stable, oil-in-water (O-W)
emulsion-based sunscreen composition having at least one water-insoluble, organic UV-absorber having a water-
solubility of much less than 0.1% by weight, contained in the
oil phase of the sunscreen
emulsion, comprising i)
zinc oxide (ZnO) particles having a surface free of any prior
coating of any
inorganic oxide and hydrophobic material, remaining dispersed in the water phase of the sunscreen
emulsion; ii) at least one non- or low-foaming, non-cationic, hydrophilic
polymer, capable of dispersing or deflocculating the ZnO particles but incapable of thickening an aqueous composition to a
viscosity of greater than 100 cps at 25° C., wherein the
viscosity is measured using a Brookfield
viscometer operated at 10 rpm for 15 seconds, when the
polymer is added at an amount of 1%, based on the total weight of the
polymer and water in the aqueous composition; iii) at least one phenolic polymer, capable of functioning as a dispersing or deflocculating agent for
particulate material(s), and adsorbing at an oil-water interface; and v) a
buffering agent for the water phase of the sunscreen emulsion.