Scientists at UCLA have engineered zinc oxide, the active ingredient in mineral sunscreens, into microscopic four-armed structures that provide full broad-spectrum sun protection while dramatically reducing the chalky white or gray residue that has kept millions of people, particularly those with medium and dark skin tones, from using mineral sunscreen consistently. The research, published in ACS Materials Letters and highlighted by ScienceDaily on July 18-19, 2026, found that the new tetrapod-shaped particles achieved approximately SPF 30 in test formulations while appearing warmer and closer to natural skin tones in laboratory and controlled skin application tests, without using any added pigments or special coatings to disguise the whiteness.
"When I spread it on my own skin, I didn't get that white cast I usually see with zinc oxide," said the study's first researcher, according to the UCLA Health press release. "I was impressed."
