The effect of packaging materials on the stability of sunscreen emulsions

The purpose of this research was to study the stability of a emulsion containing UVA, UVB and infrared sunscreens after storage in different types of packaging materials (glass and plastic flasks; plastic and metallic tubes). The samples, emulsions containing benzophenone-3 (B-3), octyl methoxycinnamate (OM) and Phycocorail®, were stored at 10, 25, 35 and 45 °C and representative samples were analyzed after 2, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days period. The stability studies were conducted by analyzing samples at pre-determined intervals by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) along with periodic rheological measurements.