A Guide To Picking The Right Sunscreen: Chemical Vs. Mineral

For the first time in over 20 years, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the new approval of a chemical commonly used in sunscreens outside of America: bemotrizinol. Just in time for summer.

Bemotrizinol blocks both ultraviolet A and B rays, which can cause wrinkles, sunburns, and skin cancer. This new ingredient will offer greater protection in your chemical sunscreens, but what about the effectiveness of mineral sunscreens? Do they work the same? This article explores the differences between the two.

Chemical sunscreen is a type of sunscreen that absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays through chemical ingredients. We may think that all chemicals are bad for the skin, but when it comes to sun protection, these chemical sunscreens are water-resistant, lightweight, and leave no white cast on the skin. They typically take up to 20 minutes to absorb into the skin and be effective. 

According to NPR, chemical sunscreens sold in the U.S generally rely on a chemical called avobenzone, which blocks ultraviolet A rays but not ultraviolet B rays. Bemotrizinol is a widely tested chemical across different countries and is considered safe. With this new ingredient, chemical sunscreens sold in the U.S can offer greater sun protection and may not need to be re-applied as often.

However, there are some concerns with the level of skin absorption of chemical sunscreens. Some chemical ingredients, like oxybenzone, have been found in blood, breast milk, and urine, and have even been banned in states like Hawaii and Florida due to environmental concerns. While not officially banned by the FDA, the good news is that its use has significantly decreased over the last 20 years, only appearing in 5 percent of non-mineral sunscreen’s ingredient list.

Mineral sunscreen, also known as organic or physical sunscreen, works as sun protection by containing ingredients that reflect UV rays, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients sit on top of the skin and won’t absorb, rather act as a physical barrier between your skin and the sun.

While mineral sunscreens work immediately compared to chemical sunscreen’s delay, they tend to leave a white cast and feel heavier on the skin. Because mineral sunscreen is a physical barrier, it can easily be removed by sweat or rubbing off on clothing, which may cause you to reapply more often. 

Chemical and mineral sunscreens both offer a great amount of protection, so you can’t go wrong with applying either. You may want to choose mineral sunscreen if you have sensitive skin, since chemical sunscreen can be slightly irritating (especially around the eyes!). Chemical sunscreen may be a good choice if you’re worried about the ashiness of mineral sunscreens.

“For most people, sunscreen is low risk,” said Julia Barabas, a medical esthetician at Bar Beauty Medical. “What I see day to day is minor, a chemical filter stinging the eyes or irritating reactive skin, the odd breakout from a heavy formula, or a real allergy in a small number of people, which is where mineral is the safer pick.”

Whatever you choose, wearing sunscreen daily and frequently is better than wearing none at all.