zinc oxide

noun

Definition of zinc oxide

: an infusible white solid ZnO used especially as a pigment, in compounding rubber, and in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations (such as ointments and sunblocks)

Examples of zinc oxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Clear Out mask was developed, tested, and approved by Dr. Lee, who created a formula rich in sulfur, salicylic acid, and zinc oxide to gently exfoliate and eliminate acne-causing bacteria without over-drying the skin. — Sarah Midkiff, refinery29.com, "Dr. Pimple Popper Just Launched Her First-Ever Face Mask To Fight Acne," 25 Feb. 2021 Nevertheless, there are still plenty of reef-safe sunscreens out there that provide all the same UV protection with physical blockers like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. — Sarah Kinonen, Allure, "Hawaii Bans Chemical Sunscreen to Save Its Coral Reefs [Updated]," 4 Jan. 2021 Mineral sunscreens achieve their SPF with physical blockers, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. — Julie Ricevuto, Allure, "The Science of Beauty: The Complete Guide to Sunscreen," 15 Oct. 2020 Paired with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, this mineral SPF protects and replenishes skin. — Lisa Desantis, Health.com, "What Are Ceramides, and How Do They Work?," 12 Oct. 2020 Active ingredients in physical sunscreen include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. — Sian Babish, chicagotribune.com, "The best body sunscreen," 9 Sep. 2020 This sunscreen is made with the sole active ingredient of zinc oxide. — Kai Burkhardt, CNN Underscored, "The best sunscreens of 2020," 28 Aug. 2020 Ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do some of (but not all) the necessary blocking, while antioxidants like vitamin C and variations of green tea keep free radicals from wreaking havoc. — Nykia Spradley, Allure, "The Best Skin-Care Products to Protect Against Blue Light Damage," 27 Aug. 2020 Physical or mineral sunscreens have ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that sit atop the surface of the skin and physically block out and reflect UV rays. — Jordan Blok, Popular Science, "A guide to sun protection for people with darker skin," 14 Aug. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'zinc oxide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

12 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Zinc oxide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zinc%20oxide. Accessed 13 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for zinc oxide

zinc oxide

noun

Medical Definition of zinc oxide

: a white solid ZnO used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations (as ointments and powders)

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