Development of Emulsion Gel Sunscreen Containing Olive Oil and Clove Oil

Sunlight contributes to the healing of multiple health conditions, including in respiratory diseases such as Covid-19, by boosting the immune system. Nevertheless, too much sun exposure can cause sunburn and lead to skin cancer. To minimize the harms of excessive sun exposure, the skin needs to be strictly shielded with the use of sunscreen. This study aimed to develop an olive oil and clove oil emulsion gel preparation and determine its sun protective factor (SPF) value. Olive oil was formulated into an emulsion gel with varying concentrations of 2%, 4%, and 6%, and then 5% of clove oil was added. Physicochemical properties such as organoleptic, homogeneity, pH values, viscosity, and spreadability were tested. Further, UV protection was examined based on determining the SPF value, and the stability of preparation was evaluated using real-time and freeze-thaw methods. The results showed that the preparation had a good physicochemicality, while the SPF value was 20.91 ± 0.29, 22.52 ± 0.52, and 23.39 ± 0.45, respectively. However, the results of the stability test showed a significant change in the pH and SPF value after storage. It can be concluded that the emulsion gel of olive oil and clove oil preparation could be considered to have a medium level of protection of sunscreen.