An anhydrous, single-phase and skin-protecting photoprotective composition comprising: at least one photoactive agent selected from the group consisting of p-aminobenzoic acid, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, benzophenones, hydroxy-substituted benzophenones, methoxy-substituted benzophenones, benzophonone-1, benzophenone-2, benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), benzophenone-4, benzophenone-6, benzophenone-8, benzophenone-12, methoxycinnamate, ethyl dihydroxypropyl-p-aminobenzoate, glyceryl-p-aminobenzoate, homosalate, methyl anthranilate, octocrylene, octyl dimethyl-p-aminobenzoate, octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate (octisalate), 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulphonic acid, triethanolamine salicylate, 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-camphor, red petrolatum, 3-(4-methylbenzyldine)bornan-2-one(methylbenzindinecamphor), benzotriazole, phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutyl phenol, butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone), octocrylene, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, 4-isopropyl-dibenzoylmethane, metal oxides, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and any combinations thereof; at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of isohexadecane, isododecane, and combinations thereof; and at least one ester selected from the group consisting of octyldodecyl citrate cross polymer, cetearyl ethylhexanoate, ethylhexyl palmitate, isononyl isononanoate, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, isodecyl neopentanoate, decyl oleate, capric triglycerides, caprylic triglycerides, isopropyl myristate, and combinations thereof; wherein said photoprotective composition is free of preservatives, free of surfactants, free of alcohol, free of emulsifiers, and free of silicone; and wherein said photoprotective composition is non-whitening, is non-irritating, or both. at least one photoactive agent selected from the group consisting of p-aminobenzoic acid, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, benzophenones, hydroxy-substituted benzophenones, methoxy-substituted benzophenones, benzophonone-1, benzophenone-2, benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), benzophenone-4, benzophenone-6, benzophenone-8, benzophenone-12, methoxycinnamate, ethyl dihydroxypropyl-p-aminobenzoate, glyceryl-p-aminobenzoate, homosalate, methyl anthranilate, octocrylene, octyl dimethyl-p-aminobenzoate, octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate (octisalate), 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulphonic acid, triethanolamine salicylate, 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-camphor, red petrolatum, 3-(4-methylbenzyldine)bornan-2-one(methylbenzindinecamphor), benzotriazole, phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutyl phenol, butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone), octocrylene, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, 4-isopropyl-dibenzoylmethane, metal oxides, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and any combinations thereof; at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of isohexadecane, isododecane, and combinations thereof; and at least one ester selected from the group consisting of octyldodecyl citrate cross polymer, cetearyl ethylhexanoate, ethylhexyl palmitate, isononyl isononanoate, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, isodecyl neopentanoate, decyl oleate, capric triglycerides, caprylic triglycerides, isopropyl myristate, and combinations thereof; wherein said photoprotective composition is free of preservatives, free of surfactants, free of alcohol, free of emulsifiers, and free of silicone; and wherein said photoprotective composition is non-whitening, is non-irritating, or both.