Sunlight, while beneficial, poses significant threats to the skin, which serves as a natural protective barrier. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UVR) radiation, a component of sunlight, can lead to phototoxicity, causing burns, accelerating photoaging, and increasing the risk of skin cancer. Natural plant-based substances, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and photosynthetic pigments, can protect the skin from these effects by acting as photoprotectors, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory agents. Plant-based formulations are gaining popularity as alternatives to synthetic filters. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have evaluated the photoprotective effects of natural plant products, focusing on their antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anti-immunosuppressive activities. This review compiles key data on the photoprotective efficacy of selected plant carotenoids from in vivo studies on animal models and humans, as well as in vitro experiments on fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines. Recent research on carotenoids associated with lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, liposomes, and micelles is also reviewed, highlighting the development of nanomaterials to enhance the bioavailability and stability of carotenoids as natural antioxidants with photoprotective activity.Sunlight, while beneficial, poses significant threats to the skin, which serves as a natural protective barrier. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UVR) radiation, a component of sunlight, can lead to phototoxicity, causing burns, accelerating photoaging, and increasing the risk of skin cancer. Natural plant-based substances, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and photosynthetic pigments, can protect the skin from these effects by acting as photoprotectors, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory agents. Plant-based formulations are gaining popularity as alternatives to synthetic filters. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have evaluated the photoprotective effects of natural plant products, focusing on their antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anti-immunosuppressive activities. This review compiles key data on the photoprotective efficacy of selected plant carotenoids from in vivo studies on animal models and humans, as well as in vitro experiments on fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines. Recent research on carotenoids associated with lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, liposomes, and micelles is also reviewed, highlighting the development of nanomaterials to enhance the bioavailability and stability of carotenoids as natural antioxidants with photoprotective activity.