Foamable sunscreen formulation

1. A foamable sunscreen formulation consisting essentially of:

a) about 1 wt % to about 25 wt % zinc oxide particles having a primary particle size of about 10 nm to about 50 nm;

b) about 1 wt % to about 25 wt % titanium dioxide particles having a primary particle size of about 10 nm to about 50 nm;

c) about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % emulsion stabilizer;

d) about 0.1 wt % to about 25 wt % skin conditioner;

e) about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % emulsifier;

f) about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % suspending agent; and

g) the remainder water,

wherein the formulation produces a minimal residual whitening effect when applied to a skin surface.

2. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 , wherein the zinc oxide particles have a primary particle size of about 10 nm to about 30 nm.

3. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 2 , wherein the zinc oxide particles have a primary particle size of about 20 nm.

4. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 3 , wherein the zinc oxide particles have a primary particle size of about 10 nm.

5. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 , comprising about 10 wt % zinc oxide particles.

6. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 , wherein the titanium dioxide particles have a primary particle size of about 30 nm.

7. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 6 , wherein the titanium dioxide particles have a primary particle size of about 20 nm.

8. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 5 , comprising about 3 wt % titanium dioxide particles.

9. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose gum and combinations thereof.

10. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 , wherein the skin conditioner is selected from the group consisting of C 12-15 alkyl benzoate, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, butyl octyl salicylate, caprylyl glycol, glycerin and combinations thereof.

11. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 , wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of glyceryl stearate, ceteareth-20, polysorbate 80 and combinations thereof.

12. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 , wherein the suspending agent is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxystearic acid, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer and combinations thereof.

13. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 , further comprising about 0.5 wt % to about 3 wt % film former.

14. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 13 , wherein the film former is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane-2, polymethyl methacrylate, tricontanyl poly(vinyl pyrollidone) (PVP) and combinations thereof.

15. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 , further comprising about 0.01 wt % to about 1 wt % iron oxide particles having a primary particle size of about 10 nm to about 50 nm.

16. A foamable sunscreen formulation consisting essentially of:

a) about 9 wt % to about 11 wt % zinc oxide particles having a primary particle size of about 20 nm;

b) about 2 wt % to about 4 wt % titanium dioxide particles having a primary particle size of about 30 nm;

c) about 0.5 wt % to about 10.0 wt % emulsion stabilizer;

d) about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % skin conditioner;

e) about 2.5 wt % to about 4.5 wt % emulsifier;

f) about 3.5 wt % to about 5.5 wt % suspending agent;

g) about 1 wt % to about 2.5 wt % film former; and

h) the remainder water,

wherein the formulation produces a minimal residual whitening effect when applied to a skin surface.

17. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 16 , comprising about 10 wt % zinc oxide particles.

18. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 16 , comprising about 3 wt % titanium dioxide particles.

19. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 16 , comprising about 10 wt % zinc oxide particles and about 3 wt % titanium dioxide particles.

20. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 16 , wherein the emulsion stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose gum and combinations thereof.

21. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 16 , wherein the skin conditioner is selected from the group consisting of C 12-15 alkyl benzoate, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, butyl octyl salicylate, caprylyl glycol, glycerin and combinations thereof.

22. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 16 , wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of glyceryl stearate, ceteareth-20, polysorbate 80 and combinations thereof.

23. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 16 , wherein the suspending agent is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxystearic acid, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer and combinations thereof.

24. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 16 , wherein the film former is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane-2, polymethyl methacrylate, tricontanyl poly(vinyl pyrollidone) (PVP) and combinations thereof.

25. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 16 , further comprising about 0.05 wt % to about 0.5 wt % iron oxide particles having a primary particle size of about 10 nm to about 50 nm.

26. A foamable sunscreen formulation consisting essentially of:

a) about 10 wt % zinc oxide particles having a primary particle size of about 20 nm;

b) about 3 wt % titanium dioxide particles having a primary particle size of about 30 nm;

c) about 1 wt % microcrystalline cellulose and about 0.2 wt % cellulose gum;

d) about 16 wt % C 12-15 alkyl benzoate, about 1 wt % octyldodecyl neopentanoate, about 1 wt % butyl octyl salicylate;

e) about 1.2 wt % glyceryl stearate, about 0.5 wt % ceteareth-20, and about 2 wt % polysorbate 80;

f) about 1.8 wt % polyhydroxystearic acid and about 2.7 wt % methyl methacrylate crosspolymer;

g) about 0.8 wt % polyurethane-2, about 0.3 wt % polymethyl methacrylate and about 0.6 wt % tricontanyl PVP film; and

i) about 50 wt % to about 60 wt % water,

wherein the formulation produces a minimal residual whitening effect when applied to a skin surface.

27. The foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 26 , further comprising about 0.05 wt % to about 1.0 wt % iron oxide particles having a primary particle size of about 10 nm to about 50 nm.

28. A method of preventing sun damage to a patient's skin surface, comprising applying the foamable sunscreen formulation of claim 1 to the skin surface.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the foamable sunscreen formulation is applied at least once a day.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the foamable sunscreen formulation is applied to the arms, face, legs, chest, trunk or hands.