Chemical vs Mineral Sunscreen: What’s the Difference?

Julia Slaska

Have you ever wondered if you’re using your sunscreen correctly? If its type is appropriate for your needs and skin? As the summer is getting closer and closer and the sun getting is stronger, sunscreen becomes a must-have item in your everyday routine. But do you know how it actually works?

Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, better known as UV, is mainly composed of two different rays. UVB is a type of short-wave radiation affecting primarily the surface of your skin surface, while UVA is a type of long-wave radiation that penetrates deep into the skin, causing premature aging (e.g. wrinkles) and skin cancer. To protect us from the bad effects of sun radiation, we put on sunscreen. However, it’s important to know that not all products work the same way. The two main types of sunscreen we use are chemical and mineral sunscreen, and to understand the difference between them, we must dive headfirst into chemistry.

First, let’s take a look at chemical sunscreen is. The ingredients in this UV filter are mainly carbon-based organic compounds that act like a sponge absorbing UV radiation. The most common active ingredients in these sunscreens are Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, and Octisalate. When you put it on our skin and the UV light hits it, the electrons on the surface become excited and move to a state of higher energy. When they return to their previous state, energy is released in the form of heat. Because of that, very harmful UV radiation becomes a less damaging form of energy before it can even affect our skin cells. By absorbing high-energy photons that are found in UV radiation, chemical sunscreen protects our skin.

On the other hand, mineral sunscreen, often known as the physical sunscreen, works a bit differently. It sits on top of your skin, acting as a physical barrier that deflects the UV rays, preventing them from penetrating your skin. The main ingredients of these sunscreens are Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, which are small, inorganic compounds. Because these minerals stay on top of your skin, they might leave a visible, thin, white layer, especially if they contain some larger particles. To reduce this effect, and to make the product even easier to use some companies, like La Roche Possey or L’Oréal, use nano-minerals.

Now, as you know, the difference between the chemical and mineral sunscreen, you might be wondering which one you should be using. The answer to this question is quite easy as it mostly depends on your skin type. Both of these sunscreens are generally safe to use and are sold all around the world. Chemical sunscreens are usually lightweight, easy to spread on your skin, and invisible, but they can often cause irritation or some allergic reactions. Mineral sunscreen, on the other hand, is a better pick for children and people with sensitive skin, but because of its thicker texture, it often leaves a white residue on your skin. As you can see, both types have their advantages and disadvantages, and neither is generally better than the other. The best sunscreen is the one that you can use every day and is appropriate for your skin type.

When choosing what sunscreen to buy, it’s also important to check the Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, which measures how well the sunscreen protects you from UVB. For example, buying a UV filter that has SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, allowing only 3% to penetrate through the skin.

To sum up, the best sunscreen you can use is the one that fits your skin type, while also protecting from as much bad radiation as possible, but it doesn’t really matter if it’s a mineral or chemical one if it works great for you. Understanding how products like sunscreen work truly shows that chemistry really is all around us:).