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Discover Why OS-01 FACE SPF Outperforms the Rest

Discover Why OS-01 FACE SPF Outperforms the Rest

The science is clear: protecting your skin from sun damage is the single best way to prevent premature skin aging. But with thousands of sunscreens on the market, conflicting advice on social media, and ongoing ingredient controversies, it can be tricky to figure out which sunscreen will actually work for you.

Designed by longevity researchers to target skin aging from multiple angles, OS-01 FACE SPF outperforms other sunscreens by protecting against UV damage, preventing photodamage-related decline, and helping your skin perform at its best, every day.

OS-01 FACE SPF Protects Against UV-induced Skin Damage With Non-nano Zinc Oxide

Selecting the right UV filter is often where sunscreen decisions get complicated. With the variety of UV filters on the market, especially chemical filters, safety and toxicity concerns are just as important as efficacy. That’s why, unlike some mineral sunscreens that use both chemical and mineral UV filters, all of OneSkin's SPFs will always use only 100% non-nano zinc oxide.

We chose non-nano zinc oxide because it's the best of both worlds. Current data suggest that zinc oxide has the best safety profile and the broadest spectrum of protection compared to other chemical and mineral alternatives.[1,2] Plus, the non-nano form is non-comedogenic, safe on sensitive skin, and large enough to prevent it from entering the bloodstream.[3] 

Zinc Oxide is Gentler Than Common Chemical Filters

Unlike chemical UV filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone, zinc oxide starts working right away and is gentle on even the most sensitive skin, which means you don’t have to worry about irritation or redness. By creating a physical shield on the surface of the skin, mineral filters deflect some UV radiation from the skin and absorb the rest. We prefer this to chemical filters, which are small enough to absorb into the skin and convert UV radiation to heat.

Zinc Oxide Provides More Comprehensive Protection Than Titanium Dioxide

There are two primary mineral filters: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. While both offer some broad-spectrum sun protection, titanium dioxide may be less effective at blocking UVA.[1] While UVB is primarily responsible for sunburns and is partly blocked by melanin in the epidermis, UVA penetrates deeper layers of the skin and causes most long-term sun damage and photoaging. The zinc oxide in OS-01 FACE SPF provides comprehensive SPF 30+ protection by shielding your skin from both forms of UV rays. When compared to a dermatologist-recommended sunscreen, OS-01 FACE protected skin from erythema (sunburn) more effectively.

Shown in a clinical study performed by a third party research organization with 30 participants, measuring erythema levels on skin protected with OS-01 FACE SPF versus a top dermatologist recommended brand before and 24 hours after UV exposure.

Additionally, some studies have found that titanium dioxide, especially in the nanoparticle form, has high oxidation rates on skin, which produces free radicals that accelerate age-related decline.[1,4] It should be noted, however, that oxidation rates are dependent on particle size and overall formulation.

Zinc Oxide Prevents UV-Induced Pigmentation

When damaged by UV radiation, the skin kicks melanin-producing cells into action. This can cause your skin to tan, but also slowly develop areas of heightened melanin. By preventing the damage that triggers this excess melanin production in skin, OS-01 FACE SPF is clinically validated to prevent UV-induced pigmentation more effectively than another top dermatologist-recommended sunscreen.

Shown in a clinical study performed by a third party research organization with 30 participants, measuring pigmentation levels on skin protected with OS-01 FACE SPF versus a top dermatologist recommended brand before and 24 hours after UV exposure.

OS-01 FACE SPF Prevents Oxidative Damage With 5 Powerful Antioxidants

UV filters form your first line of defense against photodamage. Even using SPF 30+, you’re blocking up to 97% of UVB radiation. While this might help prevent the immediate visible signs of sun damage like sunburn, the oxidative stress generated from UV, blue light, and pollution can build up in your skin with repeated exposure. Antioxidants, molecules that defuse free radicals, can also protect your skin from the tissue-damaging effects of UV radiation. That’s why we included a blend of 5 super-antioxidants in OS-01 FACE SPF.

Antioxidants Neutralize Damaging Free Radicals

UV exposure can strip molecules of an electron, creating an unstable free radical. These molecules want to return to their stable state, so they will scavenge electrons from nearby molecules. As this process repeats, it kickstarts a cascade of oxidative damage, which alters cell membranes, proteins, lipids, and DNA.

Antioxidants, molecules with an extra electron, inhibit the oxidative process by donating their free electron to a free radical. When used with a UV filter, antioxidants help provide an extra layer of protection against the secondary damage caused by UV exposure.

OS-01 FACE SPF Neutralizes Free Radicals 4x Better Than Leading SPFs

So, how well does the OS-01 FACE SPF antioxidant profile neutralize free radicals? Our researchers put OS-01 FACE SPF to the test in the lab. Utilizing a chemical probe with a stable radical that changes color when that radical is neutralized, we found that OS-01 FACE SPF neutralizes free radicals at least 4x more effectively than leading anti-aging SPFs.[5]

Shown in lab studies utilizing a chemical probe with a stable radical that changes color when that radical is scavenged to measure the antioxidant capacity OS-01 FACE SPF versus a leading "anti-aging" antioxidant SPF moisturizer. OS-01 FACE SPF showed significantly higher antioxidant capacity. (**p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001)

How Does OS-01 FACE SPF Compete Against Leading Vitamin C Serums?

While not designed to function as an antioxidant serum, OS-01 FACE SPF has a similar or better antioxidant capacity when compared to vitamin C serums. Thanks to the high potency of the antioxidant profile and the specific formulas used, OS-01 FACE SPF is a multifunctional powerhouse that could replace your vitamin C serum in addition to being your daily SPF.

Shown in lab studies by measuring levels of free radical scavenging for common vitamin C serums (popular $90 and $50 vitamin C serums) and OS-01 FACE SPF using a DPPH assay. More information can be found here.

How OS-01 FACE SPF Helps “Undo” UV-Induced Aging

When we formulated OS-01 FACE SPF, we set out to create a new kind of SPF. One that prevents but also reduces the effects of photoaging.

UV damage causes more long-term damage than you might think. In fact, up to 80-90% of the signs of aging you see on your face are actually the result of sun exposure. That’s in part because, on the cellular level, UV exposure sends cells into a premature state of senescence. In this state, damage to cells' DNA prevents them from replicating or naturally ending their life cycle. Instead, senescent cells stick around and contribute to skin dysfunction by releasing inflammatory markers and collagen-degrading enzymes. This is why senescence is considered a central driver of skin aging.

While UV filters and antioxidants help prevent this damage from occurring in the first place, they can’t reduce past UV-induced aging. That’s where OS-01 comes in. Our breakthrough peptide has been scientifically proven to reverse the skin’s biological age.[5,6]

OS-01 Prevents Skin Cells From UVB-Induced Cellular Senescence

In addition to targeting the UV aging that’s already occurred, OS-01 prevents skin cells from falling into senescence when they are exposed to UVB radiation.

In lab studies, our scientists exposed in vitro human skin cells to UVB radiation, then immediately treated them with the OS-01 peptide. The treated skin showed 42.5% fewer UV-induced senescent cells than the untreated skin.[5,6]

In vitro human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) isolated from 30 yo donors were exposed to UVB radiation (0.1J/cm²) then immediately treated with the OS-01 peptide (12.5μM) and stained with senescence-associated beta galactosidase (SA-β-gal). Senescence levels were analyzed by counting the number of UVB-induced senescent cells. Data normalized to control. (Zonari, et al., npj Aging, 2023)

This data shows that the OS-01 peptide offers the skin yet another layer of protection against a direct source of UV-induced aging.

OS-01 FACE SPF Reduces Key Biomarkers of Aging

After testing the effects of the OS-01 peptide on skin's biological age, our researchers tested the effects of the full formula of OS-01 FACE SPF on biomarkers of aging. Skin samples treated with OS-01 FACE SPF significantly reduced the expression of pro-aging marker P16.

Shown in lab studies by measuring a key senescence biomarker (P16) and inflammation biomarker (IL-8) on ex vivo human skin samples treated with nothing or OS-01 FACE SPF. Skin treated with OS-01 FACE SPF displayed significantly lower levels of P16 and close to significant levels of IL-8 compared to skin with no treatment.

OS-01 Reduces Skin’s Biological Age

By reversing the senescent burden and lowering inflammation markers in skin, OS-01 effectively reverses the skin’s biological age.[5,6,7]

Using MolClock, OneSkin’s proprietary skin-specific biological clock, to quantify skin’s biological age, we saw a decrease of 2.6 biological years in ex vivo skin treated with the OS-01 peptide over 5 days.[5,6]

DNA methylation age of ex vivo human skin samples (79 yr) treated with 12.5μM peptide for 5 days calculated using the Skin-Specific DNA Methylation Clock, MolClock (Zonari, et al., npj Aging, 2023)

To confirm these results, we subjected OS-01 to a test with several other molecular clocks and measured its performance in a head-to-head comparison with another longevity molecule, rapamycin. Again, OS-01 not only reduced skin’s biological age but also outperformed rapamycin.[5,6]

Ex vivo skin samples (79 yo) maintained in basal media (NT), or treated with 100 nM Rapamycin (Rapa), or 12.5μM OS-01 peptide for 5 days. Predicted DNA age according to Horvath Clock (Clk 1), Hannum Clock (Clk 2), Lin Clock (Clk 3), Horvath Skin & Blood Clock (Clk 4), PhenoAge Clock (Clk 5) and OneSkin’s MolClock (Clk 6). (Zonari, et al., npj Aging, 2023)

This data shows that OS-01 effectively reduces cellular signs of aging that have already occurred, giving you the chance to potentially undo the effects of all those years of unprotected sun exposure.

Shield Against Blue Light Damage With Tinted Options

Blue light from sun exposure and screens can cause additional oxidative stress and induce hyperpigmentation, especially in darker skin tones. Iron oxides included in the tinted versions of OS-01 FACE SPF form a barrier against high-energy visible blue light.[8,9,10] This not only adds extra protection, but it also helps minimize the white cast often left behind from mineral-based sunscreens.

Give Your Skin The Best Protection With OS-01 FACE SPF

Unlike other sunscreens, OS-01 FACE SPF offers not just one, but three types of protection from UV aging in the form of zinc oxide, powerful antioxidants, and the OS-01 peptide. Plus, new tinted options help defend against daily blue light. This means that OS-01 FACE SPF works harder to keep your skin safe from the aging effects of sun exposure, helping your skin look, feel, and behave like younger skin for longer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Our new SPF, OS-01 FACE SPF, not only protects against UV rays with non-nano zinc oxide, but it can also reduce the effects of UV-induced aging that have already occurred.
  • OS-01 FACE SPF provides broad-spectrum UV protection that’s gentle enough for even sensitive skin.
  • Packed with a high concentration of antioxidants, OS-01 FACE SPF neutralizes UV-induced free radicals better than other leading sunscreens.
  • By targeting existing UV-induced skin aging, our proprietary OS-01 peptide reduces skin’s biological age and protects against new signs of UV aging.
  • With two new deeper tints of OS-01 FACE SPF, you get added protection against blue light.

References

Last Updated June 16, 2025

Reviewed by

Alessandra Zonari

Alessandra Zonari

PhD, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of OneSkin

Alessandra earned her Master’s degree in stem cell biology, and her PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in collaboration with the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal. Alessandra did a second post-doctoral at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is a co-inventor of three patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.