Glossary

A

All Particle
Sunscreen contains only particulate UV filter, inorganic or organic
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B

Blue Light PF
Average Protection Factor PF-BL (PF=1/Transmittance) in blue light range (400-500nm)
Blue Light T
Average transmittance in blue light range (400-500nm)
Boots ratio
Normalized ratio UVA/UVB range of extinction curve
Boots stars
Rating according to BOOTS, 3-5 stars depending on Boots ratio
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C

C value
C value from the ISO 24443 method for the determination of the in vitro UVA-PF
CW (ISO)
The Critical Wavelenght is determined as described in the ISO 24443 method using a power function to fit "cuvette spectra" to "roughned PMMA plate spectra".
CW (USA)
The Critical Wavelenght is determined as described in the ISO 24443 method using a power function to fit "cuvette spectra" to "roughned PMMA plate spectra".
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D

Day-Light-UV SPF
SPF determined with sunlight rather than solar simulated light (still no visible light considered)
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E

Efficacy
SPF / % UV Filter (total)
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F

FDA rating
CW ≥ 370nm, broad-spectrum claim
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J

JCIA rating
Rating according to Japan Cosmetic Industry Association, UVA-PF 2 = PA+, 4=PA++, 8=PA+++, 16=PA++++
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M

Minimal Oil Load
Sum of required extra solvents and filters, which are formulated into the oil phase. This value is a good indication how much formulation freedom remains in the oil phase, which is important to address for instance sensory aspects.
mPF
The mPF is the monochromatic protection factor, i.e. the protection factor at any given wavelength. It is the reciprocal value of the transmission mPF = 1/T. The mPF curve shows how uniform or non-uniform the protection is over the UVB, UVA and (optionally) Blue-light range. E.g. the mPF curve shows a bias towards UVB protection.
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N

Nano
Sunscreen has to be declared "Nano" in Europe
NTUV Dose
Normalized transmitted UV Dose at 1 MED Total amount of UV radiation transmitted through the sunscreen divided by the corresponding amount of UV radiation transmitted through a uniform spectrum (flat, "ideal") when the skin has just received one minimal erythema dose (1 MED, 5.9 Joule/cm2)
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P

Protection
EU Commission Recommendation of 22 September 2006 on the efficacy of sunscreen products and the claims made relating thereto. Official Journal of the European Union L 265/39, UVA requirement: UVA-PF/SPF ≥ 1/3
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S

Solvent Total
Estimation of extra solvent requirement
SPF
The in vivo SPF (ISO 24444) simulation is based on UV filter absorbance/extinction and on a rough surface model described in: Simulation of Sunscreen Performance, B. Herzog et al., Pure Appl. Chem. 2015, 87(9-10), 937-951 The photo instabilities are taken in consideration using a model described in: In vitro measruements of sunscreen protection, J. Stanfield et al., Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2010, 9, 489-494 The synergy of water and oil soluble UV filters is considered using a model described in: Simulation of Sunscreen Performance, B. Herzog et al., Pure Appl. Chem. 2015, 87(9-10), 937-951
SPF Rating
EU Commission Recommendation of 22 September 2006 on the efficacy of sunscreen products and the claims made relating thereto. Official Journal of the European Union L 265/39
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T

Total (%)
Sum of all UV filters
Transparent
Transparent sunscreen possible with this UV filter combination
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U

UV T Total
Total UV dose transmitted by sunscreen at 1 MED (J/cm2). Amount of UV radiation in J/cm2 that is transmitted through the sunscreen film onto the skin at the moment when one minimal erythema dose (1 MED) is reached. UVB-biased sunscreens transmit large amounts of UVA radiation before 1 MED is reached.
UVA-PF in vitro
The in vitro UVA-PF calculation is based on the ISO 24443 method using a power function to fit "cuvette spectra" to "roughned PMMA plate spectra". The in vitro SPF is calculated from the obtained simulated spectrum and fitted to the simulated in vivo SPF via the C value. The UVA-PF0 value is calculated from the resulting adjusted spectrum and multiplied by 1.2 to retrieve the pre-irradiation dose in J/cm2. The final in vitro UVA-PF value is caluclated from the spectrum obtained after the an irradiation simulation.
UVA-PF in vivo
UVA Protection factor after ISO 24442 (analoguous to SPF in vivo determination)
UVA-PF/SPF
Ratio between UVA protection factors and SPF. According to the EU Commission Recommendation of 22 September 2006 on the efficacy of sunscreen products and the claims this value should be equal or greater than 0.33. Official Journal of the European Union L 265/39
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