We know wearing sunscreen on your face every day is very important, but it is often a skincare step that gets overlooked. All sunscreens are not created equal! You may or may not know you can select a chemical sunscreen or a mineral sunscreen. As beauty experts, we want to educate you on the differences and help you make a decision on what is best for you to help you stay healthy and beautiful!
Your skin is the biggest organ in your body and it’s important to pay attention to the products we use. Wearing sunscreen not only helps reduce signs of aging, but the type you select for your lifestyle is important. We know skin cancer, which is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States, so wearing sunscreen on your face is an important daily step.
Which Sunscreen is right for me?
There are two main types of sunscreen, chemical sunscreen, and mineral sunscreen. Both have their pros and cons. While they are both considered sunscreens, they block the UV rays from the sun in very different ways.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association chemical sunscreen works like a sponge absorbing the sun’s rays. They use chemicals of course like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, or octinoxate. Mineral sunscreen (also known as physical sunscreen) however actually reflects the sun’s rays using active ingredients like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or both.
Chemical vs. Mineral Sunscreen for Your Face
One is not necessarily better than the other. Choosing a daily sunscreen depends on your skin type and your daily activities.
Chemical sunscreens usually apply better to the skin and don’t leave as much residue behind, but they take 20-30 minutes to be fully absorbed into the skin. Mineral sunscreens provide less exposure to chemicals in the long run and they provide immediate protection. Even better is they can be worn under makeup and be invisible. A mineral sunscreen we love is Algenist Sublime Defense. It is ultra-lightweight and oil-free – great for under makeup!
Both types are considered safe by the FDA and an important barrier from the sun, but if you are planning to swim in the ocean it would be better to use mineral sunscreen.
Tips for Daily Use
If you are not used to wearing sunscreen every day, do your best to create a habit and add it to your morning routine. Leave your sunscreen out on the bathroom counter or somewhere you will see it while you are getting ready.
Typically when laying any serums and/or lotions you need to wait and let them absorb into your skin before applying sunscreen and makeup on top. If you don’t wait, this will make your makeup look cakey. Nobody wants that!
More and more natural sunscreen products are available that will be unseen under your makeup. Even better is if you can great concealer and a tinted moisturizer with SPF. This will do the trick beautifully. We love this tinted, oil-free sunscreen from EltaMD.
When Applying Sunscreen for Your Face Remember…
DO:
- Wait five minutes after applying lotions and serums before adding SPF on top
- Avoid layering SPF over heavy creams or oil-based products.
- Check the expiration date.
- Find serums and makeup with SPF
DON’T
- Don’t mix silicone and water-based formulas.
- Use sunscreens with dimethicone or homosalate.
Looking for more makeup and beauty tips. Check out our blog on Updating Your Makeup Look in a Post Mask World and find our daily content on Instagram!
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