A cosmetic composition is provided including a water-insoluble UV-A sunscreen agent having a &lambda；max at 330-380 nm, a water-insoluble UV-B sunscreen agent having a &lambda；max between 280 and 320 nm, and a water-soluble sunscreen agent having a &lambda；max between 280 and 400 nm, in combination with a photo protective enhancing agent which is a stearyl alkanolamide of structure R1C(O)NR2&mdash；R3OH wherein R1 is a C17 radical, R2 is hydrogen or a C1-C6 radical, and R3 is a C2-C8 radical, in a cosmetically acceptable carrier.
