Provided are methods of screening antioxidants for skin protective capacity and antioxidant formulations which protect the skin from U radiation. The method of screening antioxidants for protecting the skin from UV radiation includes using the Briggs-Rauscher Oxidant Method (BROM) method to one or more antioxidants for predicting protection to the epidermal layer. One antioxidant formulation for us in sun screens and lip balms includes a mixture 1-4 parts arbutin and 4-1 parts BHT, and wherein the BROM value of the mixture is greater than the sum of the BROM values of the individual antioxidants. The measured BROM value of the resultant product is greater than or equal to 0.2 sec/pg. The antioxidant formulation may also optionally include hydroquinone, resveratrol, uric acid and/or atorvastatin.
