Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun remains the primary cause of skin photoaging and cancer. While sunscreen use is widely recommended for protecting the skin, empirical evidence regarding the unequivocal efficacy of current sunscreens is scarce. Consequently, it is crucial to re-evaluate the effectiveness of existing sunscreens in safeguarding against sun exposure. Moreover, regulatory scrutiny has intensified due to the demand for safe and efficient sunscreens. Notably, the effectiveness of current sunscreens against the UVA component of sunlight appears limited. UVA, with its dual damaging effects, interacts with intracellular chromophores, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS directly harm skin components, leading to photodamage and photoaging. Additionally, UVA-induced ROS triggers an immediate increase in reactive “free iron” within cells, exacerbating oxidative damage and further sensitising the skin cells to subsequent UVA exposure. This talk will provide an overview of novel strategies used in our laboratory to design bio-inspired multifunctional sunscreen ingredients and UVA photo-protectants with both antioxidant and/or iron chelating properties to tackle the dual damaging effects of UVA component sunlight against skin photodamage and photoaging.