Sunscreen is one of the best investments you can make towards healthy aging and protection for your skin. When it comes to picking a good sunscreen for your face there are a few options out there and it can be a little overwhelming. The biggest choice to make is what type of sunscreen. In fact, many people are unaware that there are two basic types of sunscreen: chemical and physical.
What’s the difference?
Chemical sunscreens contain organic compounds, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays as they attempt to enter the skin. On the other hand physical sunscreens contain active mineral ingredients, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which work by sitting on top of the skin to deflect damaging UV rays away from the skin.
So which one is better for the skin on your face?
Although both chemical and physical sunscreens will help protect your skin against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays, they each have their own set of pros and cons to consider.
Chemical Sunscreen
Pros:
- Less is needed to protect the skin because there is no risk of spaces between the sunscreen molecules after application.
- Can tend to be thinner and spreads more easily on the skin.
- Tend to be less expensive.
Cons:
- Usually requires about 20 minutes after application before it starts to work.
- Increased chance of irritation and stinging due to the multiple ingredients combined in order to achieve broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.
- The higher the SPF, the higher the risk of irritation for sensitive skin types.
- The protection it offers gets used up more quickly when in direct UV light, so re-application must be more frequent.
- May clog pores for oily skin types.
Physical Sunscreen
Pros:
- Offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays and is naturally broad-spectrum due to the ingredients.
- Protects from the sun as soon as it’s applied, no need to wait.
- Lasts longer when in direct UV light, but not when the skin gets wet with either swimming or sweating.
- Less likely to cause irritation or stinging on the skin.
- Less likely to clog pores, making it ideal for acne-prone skin.
- Has a longer shelf life.
Cons:
- Can rub off, sweat off and rinse off easily, meaning more frequent re-application especially when swimming or sweating.
- Can leave a white film on the skin, making some formulas incompatible for medium to dark skin tones.
- Can be less protective if not applied and re-applied generously and accurately since UV light can get between the sunscreen molecules and get into the skin.
- Can have a thicker feel on the skin.
Regardless of which type of sunscreen you choose for you skin, it is important to make it part of your daily skin care routine. Wearing sunscreen daily can stave off signs of aging such as wrinkles, sun spots, and pigmentation, but more importantly helps reduce your chances of certain skin cancers.
Personally I’m a physical sunscreen girl myself and typically go for zinc oxide. My skin is just too sensitive for chemical sunscreens. When it came to creating my own skincare line, I wanted a physical sunscreen that didn’t feel like your typical thick, greasy sunscreen that was hard rub in.
Our Daily Restore is a lightly tinted SPF 40 with Zinc Oxide, Ceramides, and powerful Antioxidants (Vitamins C and E). This silky sunscreen acts like a makeup primer making it an easy addition to your daily skincare regimen. Order Here
- Broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 40 protection
- Ceramides help reinforce skin’s natural lipid barrier
- Contains antioxidant vitamins C & E to combat free radical damage
- FREE of chemical sunscreen filters, dyes, fragrances, oils and preservatives
- Reef Friendly
- Ideal under makeup or alone
- 75 Fl. Oz./50 ml
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