the Government of India for their sunscreen formulation, known as ‘Broad Spectrum Sun Protective Topical Formulation.’ Dr Sanju explained about the sunscreen product. She said, “The sunscreen product is all natural and does not have any skin whitening effect. It has such a color which not only matches the skin color but also has a smooth texture. The formulation consists of safranal, a component of saffron (kesar). The product is recommendable for men and women as it has anti-ageing benefits, too”.
According to Kumud, who is currently employed as an Associate Professor at the Lloyd Institute of Management and Technology in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, the research was inspired by her exploration of natural herbs with skin advantages. She spoke about the sun-screening habits of Indian consumers. She added, “Before the study, a survey was carried out in small geographical locations to ascertain sun-screening habits of Indian consumers who were exposed to sun for long hours during work. Results were surprising as the majority of people use sunscreen products without knowing much about their properties”.
Kumud noted that most sunscreen products sold in the market contain harmful chemicals such as cinnamates and benzoates, which can harm the skin when used excessively or for a longer time. As a result, she planned to make a chemical-free product that could safeguard the skin from a wide range of issues such as photoaging, immune suppression, and photocarcinogenesis.
The research scholar spoke about the natural product ingredients. He said, “Our product also contains natural ingredients like aloe vera gel, hen egg oil, almond oil, etc., besides natural minerals like pearl powder and zinc oxide. Nanotechnology has been applied on natural ingredients for better efficacy of the product. The research took over four years to complete. The product was tested for Sun Protection Factor (SPF), Boot star rating and PA factor and was found very appropriate for Indian-type skin”.
