Photoprotection compositions having improved efficiency

An oil-in-water sunscreen emulsion composition having improved efficiency for topical use and which provides an SPF of at least 8 comprising:

• (a) from about 1% to about 20% of ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate;
• (b) from about 0.025% to about 2.0% of a carboxylic copolymer comprising polymers of a monomeric mixture selected from the group consisting of acrylic, methacrylic and ethacrylic acids, about 1 to about 3.5 weight percent of an acrylate ester of the formula:
• ##STR6## wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing 10 to 30 carbon atoms and R.sup.1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, and 0.1 to 0.6 weight percent of a polymerizable cross-1 inking polyalkenyl polyether of a polyhydric alcohol containing more than one alkenyl ether group per molecule wherein the parent polyhydric alcohol contains at least 3 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups;
• (c) from about 0.1% to about 5.0% of a film-forming copolymer;
• (d) from about 0.1% to about 10% of a wax component having a required HLB of from about 1 to about 8 and a melting point greater than about 50.degree. C.;
• and
• (e) a safe and effective amount of a topical carrier;
• wherein said sunscreen emulsion, when diluted as a 10% (w/w) aqueous solution, has a surface tension greater than about 40 dynes/cm, wherein the oil phase has a required HLB between about 1 and about 8.