The internet pretty much knows what kind of thing we’re all interested in. Search online for sun protection, and it won’t be long until you see ads for mineral based sunscreen in your emails, next to articles you read, and almost everywhere you look.
Now, if you aren’t currently using these zinc oxide based products, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. Once you have your favourite brand, you stick with it, right? Well, who knows? To help clarify things, we’re now going to look at some of the pros and cons of switching.
First though, a little explanation.
What Is Mineral Based Sunscreen?
Most often, you’ll see mineral (a.k.a. Physical) sunscreens that use zinc oxide as the active ingredient, although some do also use titanium dioxide. They’re a bit more viscose than regular chemical types because of this and they sit on the skin’s surface, rather than being absorbed.
Forming a barrier that deflects UV rays away from the skin, mineral sunscreens are increasingly popular around the world. Let’s find out why by looking at the advantages of using a product like this.
The Pros of Mineral Sunscreen
The increasing popularity of mineral based sunscreen is no accident, as it offers a number of benefits to the user that include:
- The skin is allowed to breathe & doesn’t heat up as it does with chemical brands
- It works immediately, rather than having to wait ½ hour after application to go into the sun
- It’s gentler for the skin, meaning it’s better for people with sensitivity issues
- It’s suitable for pretty much every skin type
- It’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t lead to zits appearing afterwards
The Cons of Mineral Sunscreen
Dispelling the myth that there is such a thing as a perfect product of any kind, here are some cons raised by people who have used mineral sunscreens:
- Being on the surface of the skin means that it can get washed off more easily than chemical sunscreens that are absorbed.
- Some brands do leave behind a white cast, making you look a bit like a ghost.
- For those used to chemical brands, it can be a bit tricky to apply, as it’s much thicker. A bit of practice though is all that’s usually needed.
In Summary
Clearly, there are more pros than cons when it comes to using mineral based sunscreen, so it’s not hard to see why so many have chosen to switch to a mineral product.
It’s gentler, often more effective and works from the moment you apply it. And that’s even before we start to touch upon the ecological damage that’s being caused by the chemicals in regular sunscreen. We recommend that you read up on octinoxate and oxybenzone and look at what it’s doing to our reefs.
What you use is obviously your decision, but don’t dismiss the option until you’ve done a bit of research into the advantages of switching from chemical sunscreens.
The biggest barrier people tend to have with getting used to physical sunscreens is that they don’t spread across the skin as easily. There is a technique to it and it just takes a little adjustment.
We’ll end by recommending that you try it. Honestly, what have you got to lose?
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