Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen
You already know how important using sunscreen is to the health and beauty of your skin.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, daily use of sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15 reduces the risk of squamous cell carcinoma by approximately 40% and melanoma by 50%.
Additionally, sunscreen also reduces the risk of bad sunburns and premature aging.
While choosing either a mineral or chemical sunscreen is a personal preference, the most important thing is to choose one you’ll use every day.
Daily Skincare Routine
If it’s not already, sunscreen should be an important part of your morning skincare routine.
The difference between a mineral and chemical sunscreen is in how each protect skin from the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays.
As part of a morning skincare routine, there is a major difference in the order of application for the sunscreen to be effective.
Mineral Sunscreen
A mineral (sometimes called “physical”) sunscreen works by sitting on top of the skin, providing a protective barrier to block out UV rays.
You can identify mineral sunscreens by the ingredients, which typically use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Mineral sunscreens are typically heavier than chemical versions and take a bit more work to rub in completely. They are the ones that leave that white, creamy residue on the skin if not rubbed in completely.
In a daily skincare routine, after washing your face and applying moisturizer, apply mineral sunscreen as a last step to provide that protective UV barrier.
A mineral sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes prior to sun exposure.
For daily use, choose a mineral sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15. If you’ll be spending more time outdoors, up the SPF to 30 or higher.
Chemical Sunscreen
Instead of sitting on top of and blocking UV rays, a chemical sunscreen works by soaking into the skin. Once absorbed, the chemicals convert UV rays into heat, which is then released from your skin.
You’ll recognize chemical sunscreen by specific ingredients such as avobenzone, oxybenzone or octinoxate which are the active ingredients that convert those sun rays into heat.
Chemical sunscreen is lighter and absorbs quickly, so there’s less rubbing into the skin. There is no white residue left behind because the consistency is more like a lotion than a cream. The lighter consistency works well for those involved in outdoor sports.
Because these chemicals need to be absorbed by the skin, you’ll need to apply it right after washing your face. Apply your moisturizer after the sunscreen as a last step.
Due to its chemical composition, it may cause skin irritation. It may not work well for those with dry or acne-prone skin.
For effective results, chemical sunscreens should be applied at least 20 minutes before sun exposure.
Sunscreen Tips
- Whether mineral or chemical, reapply sunscreen generously. The FDA recommends reapplication every two hours, but depending how long you’re out in the sun, consider reapplying every 90 minutes.
- Reapply more often if swimming, sweating or on long road trips as the sun beats through car windows.
- Peak UV times fall between 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM even on cloudy days, so keep plenty of sunscreen on hand.
- Remember to apply sunscreen to often-overlooked areas such as tops of feet, back of hands, back of neck, your nose and ears, in addition to using an SPF-infused lip balm.
Wrap Up
By using either a mineral or chemical broad spectrum sunscreen every day and reapplying often, you’ll protect yourself from the risks of skin cancer and damage both now and in the future.
If your skin is showing the effects of past sun damage, schedule an appointment with the skincare experts at Laura Skincare in Petaluma for repair and restoration of your skin.
