Zinc oxide, cinnamates, benzophenones, and anthrilates are all chemicals in the white or clear lotion spray we call sunscreen. Sunscreen came about in 1936. It was invented by a man named Eugene Schueller who eventually became the founder of L'Oreal. He also invented the first synthetic hair dye in 1907.







One big question about sunscreen is, "How does it work?" First of all, sunscreen uses several chemicals along with natural substances to reflect and/or absorb the harmful UV light waves emitted by the sun. Some of these, as mentioned above, are cinnamates, benzophenones, PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid), and anthrilates. Cinnamates and PABA absorb UVB rays, benzophenones absorb UVA, and anthrilates absorb both UVA and UVB rays.