Remember, your skin goes through changes with time and weather. And so do the ingredients and products you need to maintain a healthy and radiant skin complexion. Amongst all, one product that must always be included in your skincare routine is sunscreen. It is an essential product to protect against UV damage, premature skin aging, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer on sunny and cloudy days. However, it may be difficult to decide which sunscreen to choose when there are so many options, like mineral and chemical sunscreens available. Although they provide the same level of UV protection for your skin, there are notable differences in how they work and how they affect your particular skin type.
So, read this guide to understand the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens and make informed decisions.
What Are Chemical and Mineral Sunscreens?
As the name implies, mineral sunscreens create a barrier over the skin that keeps UV rays from penetrating and harming your complexion by using natural UV-filtering minerals, mostly zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They act as a shield on the skin's surface, reflecting and dispersing both UVA and UVB rays.
Whereas to shield the skin from UV rays, chemical sunscreens employ active chemicals such as avobenzone, octocrylene, etc. These ingredients absorb UV rays, transform them into heat, and then release that heat from the skin. The majority of chemical sunscreens combine all of them to provide broad-spectrum protection because they absorb UV rays at slightly different wavelengths.
Difference Between Mineral and Chemical Sunscreens
Although protecting your skin from sun damage is a shared goal of both mineral and chemical sunscreens, their approaches to this goal are very different.
Mineral sunscreens lie on the skin's surface and reflect UV rays away from your skin. They are usually made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Similar to little umbrellas that shield your skin from damaging sunlight.
Mineral sunscreens can occasionally create a white cast since the skin cannot absorb them, especially on darker skin tones. Fortunately, a number of more recent formulations have addressed this and allowed mineral sunscreens to be thinner and almost undetectable on the skin.
On the other hand, chemical sunscreens absorb UV photons, transform them into heat, and then release and dissipate that heat from the skin. Ingredients, including avobenzone, oxybenzone, etc., are used in these sunscreens. They are perfect for wearing with makeup because they are typically lighter and, when applied and absorbed correctly, leave no trace.
Chemical sunscreens need some preparation for this conversion process, in contrast to mineral sunscreens, which usually start working immediately after application. In order to gain the most protection from the sun, it is recommended to wait a few minutes before going outside, as chemical sunscreens take around 15 to 30 minutes to activate after application.
However, this doesn’t prove that one’s better than the other one. According to dermatologists, it depends on every individual’s skin type and lifestyle. For instance, sensitive skin that is prone to rosacea or redness may be better suited for mineral sunscreens.
Benefits of Mineral Sunscreens
Here are some benefits of using mineral sunscreens.
Skin-friendly: Mineral sunscreens are best for sensitive skin that is prone to rosacea or acne. They are less prone to aggravating reactive skin, have relaxing effects, and are non-comedogenic.
Broad-spectrum defense: Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide offer total defense against UVA and UVB radiation.
Instantaneous: There's no need to wait fifteen minutes before going outside because pure mineral sunscreen solutions start working as soon as they're applied.
Benefits of Chemical Sunscreens
Here are some benefits of chemical sunscreens.
Sheer and light: Chemical sunscreens usually absorb quickly and don't leave a thick residue or white tint.
Layers easily: Works well as a primer beneath makeup and blends nicely with other skincare products.
Resistant to water and sweat: Better for outdoor activities and sports.
Which Sunscreen Lasts Longer?
Because different sunscreen formulations differ, and some outdoor activities necessitate more frequent reapplications, it can be challenging to determine which one lasts longer. Water-resistant chemical sunscreens need to be reapplied every 40 or 80 minutes or after towel drying, but they won't wash off as quickly as mineral sunscreens after swimming. Furthermore, some chemical sunscreen formulations might deteriorate more quickly in the presence of sunshine. It's crucial to keep in mind, though, that both mineral and chemical sunscreens typically offer the same level of protection for the same length of time and need to be reapplied at least every two hours in order to remain effective, regardless of type or SPF value.
Therefore, when it comes to chemical and mineral sunscreens, one isn’t always better than the other. Instead, your skin type, lifestyle, and personal preferences will decide the best sunscreen for you!