The present invention relates to photostable compositions that provide protection from ultraviolet radiation ("UVR"). The invention particularly relates to the sunscreens avobenzone, octocrylene and oxybenzone, forming a triplet combination. Compositions of the present invention are free of diesters or polyesters of naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and also are substantially free of substantial amounts of other sunscreens and substantial amounts of optimizing agents. Sunscreens of the invention may be essentially free of, or free of, lower monohydric alcohol and/or acrylates/C.sub.12-22 alkylmethacrylate copolymer in an effective non-pilling amount used to gel a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohol. The triplet combination surprisingly provides and substantially maintains the initial SPF value of the sunscreen composition throughout the period of UVR exposure. Compositions of the invention are photostable such that each of sunscreen active in the triplet combination does not appreciably photodegrade. The present invention accurately communicates the amount of UVR photoprotection actually provided in natural sunlight.