Composite particles useful for absorbing in the UV-A and UV-B regions contain a zinc oxide matrix and cerium oxide domains, wherein the domains are located in and on the matrix, wherein a fraction of zinc oxide is 80 to 98% by weight and a fraction of cerium oxide is 2 to 20% by weight, in each case based on the composite particles, and wherein a BET surface area of said composite particles is from 5 to 100 m.sup.2/g.