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Mineral sunscreens have a heavier texture to create a physical barrier, while chemical sunscreens are lighter and use a chemical reaction to prevent UV damage
Getting ready for summer adventures means having your beach bag or backpack stocked and ready. Sun hat? Check! Water bottle? Check! Sunscreen? Of course! But wait — should you go for mineral or chemical sunscreen?
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Chances are, you’ve asked yourself this question while browsing the sunscreen aisle.
And while these two types of sunscreens achieve the same goal, they differ in their active ingredients and how they work to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Dermatologist Taylor Bullock, MD, explains the main differences between mineral and chemical sunscreens and how to pick the right one for you.
First things first. There’s no question that you should be applying some sort of sun protection (thoroughly!) when you’re out in the sun. Doing this helps you avoid nasty sunburns or sun poisoning and can reduce your risk of skin cancers like melanoma.
Mineral sunscreen and chemical sunscreen are the two main types of sunscreen you’ll see on the market — you can usually see which one is which by how they’re labeled on the front, as well as the listed ingredients on the back.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s in chemical and mineral sunscreens, and how well both work.
Also known as organic or physical sunscreen, mineral sunscreen is known for having a heavier, thicker texture than chemical sunscreens. “Mineral sunscreens are composed of minerals and protect the skin by reflecting ultraviolet light from the sun,” explains Dr. Bullock.
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On the back of a mineral sunscreen bottle, you’ll find active ingredients like:
Mineral sunscreen ingredients work as a shield against the sun’s rays. This is because the sunscreen actually sits on your skin's surface, reflecting and scattering the UV rays away from your skin. Mineral sunscreens are usually opaque (not see-through) when applied and start working immediately upon application.
Chemical sunscreen contains (you guessed it) chemical ingredients. But what does that actually mean? “Chemical sunscreens provide sun protection by absorbing the sun’s rays and preventing them from reaching the skin,” Dr. Bullock explains.
Chemical sunscreen contains chemical compounds like:
The chemical compounds in chemical sunscreen work as a sort of sponge to absorb the UV rays and then convert them into heat, which is released from your skin. This type of sunscreen is typically transparent (see-through) when applied and needs some time to be absorbed into your skin before becoming effective.
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Overall, you may have heard that mineral sunscreen is the better option — but a big part of it comes down to preference.
“Both mineral and chemical sunscreens are advantageous in their own ways, but in the end, the best sunscreen for you is the sunscreen that you are willing to use,” emphasizes Dr. Bullock.
Mineral sunscreen has become a preferred choice in recent years after studies pointed out concerns over certain ingredients in chemical sunscreens such as oxybenzone and avobenzone.
According to a 2019 study, there was evidence that the active-ingredient chemicals in sunscreens may be absorbed into the bloodstream and cause side effects such as rashes.
Meanwhile, two of the main ingredients in mineral sunscreen were regarded as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019.
Certainly, either a mineral or chemical sunscreen can be better than no sunscreen at all! But if you’re wondering how certain ingredients may affect you, talk to a healthcare provider or dermatologist.
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