If you’ve yet to do any kind of research into mineral sunscreen, you may not know anything about what it offers. Differing in many ways from the regular chemical brands we’re all so familiar with, what’s also known as physical sunscreen offers a range of benefits. However, there’s a lot to take in, so we’ve put together the following answers to the most commonly asked questions on the subject.
So, if you’re ready to learn something new, we’ll jump right in.
Q: What’s the main difference between regular and mineral sunscreen?
The primary difference is that mineral sunscreens are manufactured using the active ingredient that is zinc oxide which sits on top of the skin rather than being absorbed into it. It reflects UV rays away from the surface of your skin instead of it being sucked into your skin to do its best work.
Q: Is it applied any differently than chemical sunscreen?
Mineral sunscreen has a much thicker consistency than chemical products, which means they do need to be applied in a different way. Rather than slapping it on, you need to squeeze dime-sized spots of the stuff all over your skin before rubbing it in. If you try and use it like regular sunscreen, you’ll apply too much and end up in a sticky mess.
Q: Are mineral-based sun protection products ok for sensitive skin?
Actually, yes, mineral sunscreen is much better for the skin, largely because it’s not having to be absorbed. Zinc oxide is also a non-comedogenic product, which essentially means that it’s designed not to block your pores. Most good sensitive sunscreen options on the market use zinc oxide for this very reason. So, if you suffer from breakouts, it’s easily the best choice.
Q: I’ve heard chemical sunscreens are bad for the planet. Is that true?
There’s something of an ecological disaster happening at the moment, and it’s focused on our beautiful coral reefs. The octinoxate and oxybenzone that are found in most chemical sunscreen brands are known to ‘bleach’ the reefs, leaving them uninhabitable to marine life. The damage done is permanent, too, so once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.
Q: Is it cheaper to use mineral brands than chemical varieties of sunscreen?
Interestingly, when applying sunscreen that uses zinc oxide as the active ingredient, you need much less of the product to cover your skin. A nice side effect of this fact is that it last much longer than regular chemical sun creams, and at a time when everything’s seemingly getting more expensive by the day, anything that saves your cash has to be a good thing.
Now You Know Mineral Sunscreen That Little Bit Better
Mineral-based sunscreens are increasing in popularity all the time, and it’s not happening by accident. You see, the word is spreading of all the benefits these products offer, and the need to protect the planet is as great now as it’s ever been. It’s simply the best option if you’re an eco-conscious person who wants the best possible protection for yourself and your family.
