20/04/2023
Physical Sunscreen ☀️
Why a physical sunscreen? Is a Physical sunscreen better than a chemical sunscreen?
In my opinion, in one simple word - YES!
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (which are the 2 main ingredients in physical sunscreen) these are both Broad Spectrum. That means that they cover both UVA & UVB rays. That’s important because when you look at any sunscreen and it tells you its SPF30 for example, this actually only tells you its protecting from UVB rays, the burning rays, not the UVA aging rays.
The UVA rays can lead to fine lines & wrinkles, breaking down of collagen, loss of elasticity & pigmentation. So, it is very important to have a broad-spectrum sunscreen and physical/mineral sunscreen does that.
I like physical sunscreen because it sits on the skin like a shield, so the moment you put it on, it starts protecting immediately, and when the rays hit your skin, they just bounce back off.
Chemical sunscreens must be applied at least 20 minutes before you go out, before they start protecting your skin.
Physical sunscreen doesn’t enter the bloodstream into urine or breast milk.
Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide are anti-inflammatory so very good for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, sensitive skins or skins that suffer with rashes, it’s also best for people with melasma conditions as it doesn’t cause any heat & inflammation in the skin. Physical sunscreen does not clog the pores, so it’s also a good choice for acne/blemish prone skin.
Chemical sunscreen sinks into the skin like a sponge, they absorb the UV rays before the rays can do any harm in the skin, bit this takes energy & the energy causes heat in the skin.
Physical sunscreens are difficult to find over the counter because Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide are expensive ingredients to manufacture, so the big companies use Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Octinoxate & Octisalate (as a few examples) because they are much cheaper & easier to manufacture.
Unlike the ‘old days’ where physical sunscreens were sticky, smelly, thick, & left a white cast on the skin, nowadays they are so advanced, the formulas blend so well, & can have secondary cosmetic benefits such as being tinted, sheer, blur imperfections, hydrating, mattifying, or have added skincare benefits such as hyaluronic acid, or vitamin C.
There truly is a formula for everyone!
Personally I am a fan of physical/Mineral Sunscreen & I use one every single day.
But having said all the above, the best sunscreen is the one wear & reach for, regardless of if it’s better for you, or whether its physical or chemical. The most important thing is that you are protecting your skin from those harmful UVA & UVB rays!