Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen: What's Actually Different?
Not all sunscreens work the same way, even though the end goal, protecting your skin from UV damage, is the same. The real difference comes down to how each type of filter gets the job done, and that difference matters more than most people realize, especially if you’re searching for a natural tinted face cream with SPF or a full body cream. TL; DR Mineral and chemical sunscreens protect skin from UV rays through two entirely different mechanisms. Chemical filters absorb UV rays and convert them into heat, while mineral filters sit on the skin's surface and deflect them instead. Sensitive skin tends to respond better to mineral formulas, since they don't require a chemical reaction to start working. Sunscreen is only one piece of a bigger, ingredient-conscious routine. How Chemical Sunscreen Actually Works Chemical sunscreens rely on carbon-based chemical compounds, such as oxybenzone or avobenzone, that absorb UV radiation before it reaches deeper layers of the skin. These...