Mineral Sunscreen vs Chemical Sunscreen: Understanding the Difference
The best way to protect against skin cancer, as well as premature wrinkles, sunscreen is an important step in any daily skin care routine, no matter your skin tone or type. When you choose mineral sunscreens, you’re ignoring known and suspected carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and skin irritants commonly found in chemical sunscreen active ingredients. And the technology in mineral (aka physical) sunscreens has advanced to the point where today’s best formulations can easily dissolve into any skin tone.
No chemical sunscreen meets top standards for cleanliness, but many mineral sunscreens do. The two work very differently: Physical mineral sunscreens block and reflect UVA and UVB rays, while chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays. The SPF ratings for both mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens only reflect protection from UVB rays.
You can easily tell if a sunscreen is a chemical or a mineral: Look at the box of active ingredients; if any of the ingredients are listed Besides zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (or both), are chemical and not clean by goop standards. (Goop leads from the Environmental Working Group, which recommends using only mineral sunscreens and avoiding chemical sunscreens altogether.)
Isn’t mineral sunscreen harder to rub off?
No more. Our favorites can now easily dissolve into any skin tone without the need for the whites of previous iterations, and they feel silky and luxurious on skin. your skin. Some of the ways we’re most excited about work almost like makeup, incorporating skin-perfecting technology to smooth the appearance of pores, even tone, and fade blemishes. Others are fortified with skin-boosting antioxidants to further protect and improve skin.
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Realistic poreless finish
Saint Jane
Luxury Ritual Pore Smoothing SPF 30
goop, $38SHOP NOW -
Sheer Tint for even skin tone
Beautycounter
Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer
goop, $50SHOP NOW -
All but Invisible Tint Ice Cream
Run away
Mineral-colored face sunscreen
goop, $29SHOP NOW
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Moisturizing with a translucent finish
Saie
Sunvisor
goop, $37SHOP NOW -
Vitamin C and SPF Serum Tint
ILIA
C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40
goop, $64SHOP NOW
What about discomfort and flare-ups?
While common chemical sunscreen ingredients are known to cause skin irritation (octinoxate or octyl methoxycinnamate, homosalate and octisalate have all been shown to be skin and eye irritants) and there could be a number of reasons for the name Sunscreens have a bad reputation for causing breakouts, but the very mild zinc oxide is a key ingredient in baby lotions. Look for formulas that contain all zinc if your skin is sensitive or acne-prone.
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The ultimate skin-soothing sunscreen
Clark’s Botanicals
Invisible Hero SPF 30
goop, $75SHOP NOW
What are the problems with chemical sunscreens?
Some of the most common active ingredients in chemical sunscreens — oxybenzone, avobenzone, and homosalate — have been flagged as hormone disruptors by the EWG. The organization’s recent sunscreen report cites four separate studies from 2020 that suggest oxybenzone may act as an endocrine disruptor and may increase the risk of breast cancer and endometriosis. bow. A study in JAMA found that four chemical sunscreen ingredients — avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule — could be absorbed into the bloodstream. This is especially worrisome because these chemicals can cause problems even in small amounts — there is no known safe dose for using them. In the United States, the only ingredients for sunscreens generally recognized as safe and effective are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, as proposed by the FDA in May 2019 to reevaluate the safety of these ingredients. ingredients used in chemical sunscreens.
Chemical sunscreens can also impact the environment. In 2021, Hawaii banned the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, both of which have been shown to harm corals and other marine life.
The Formulators Had (Beautiful) Creative
New ways of packaging and blending ingredients have changed the way mineral sunscreens look and feel on your skin. The new ultra-light serum formulas are one of our favorite new ways to protect skin from the sun (they soak into skin like magic), and the gentle yet powerful eye cream with SPF 40 that Supergoop has produced is amazing.
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Sparkling ending
MARA
Algae + Zinc Sea Kale Sunscreen Serum
goop, $52SHOP NOW -
Semimatte is over!
EleVen
Unparalleled Sunscreen Essence SPF 35
goop, $50SHOP NOW -
For eyes only
Supergoop
Bright-Eyed 100% Mineral Eye Cream SPF 40
goop, $38SHOP NOW
Mineral sunscreens for the body have also changed
Improvements in blendability and texture also show up in body products — even at SPF 50.
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Smooth and moisturizing
Run away
Full moisturizing body lotion SPF 30
goop, $32SHOP NOW -
Sinks-Right-In SPF 50
Organic pharmacy
SPF 50 Cell Protection Sunscreen
goop, $69SHOP NOW -
Waterproof
Beautycounter
Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
goop, $43SHOP NOW
Choose Creams and Lotions for Maximum Safety
(and Sunscreen)
The EWG has advised against sprays and powders for a decade because inhaling sunscreen ingredients (even minerals) can send them deep into the lungs; It is also difficult to get proper coverage when you use spray or powder form. Aerosols are particularly problematic, and the FDA is currently considering banning the entire category. These ice cream recipes are some of our favorites.
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Moisturizing (however dry to a matte finish)
The alchemist has grown up
Natural moisturizing sunscreen SPF 30
goop, $39SHOP NOW -
Easy (and Gentle) SPF 50
Babo Botanicals
Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
goop, $17SHOP NOW
SHOP ALL CLEAN SUN ONLY
