Mineral sunscreen: worth the hype?

The sun is out (finally!) and summer is officially ON. So, we're all running to the store to stock up on sunscreen. However, with mineral sunscreen on the rise, one question looms large: which sunscreen should we choose? With chemical sunscreens containing ingredients that harm our marine life, it's time to explore whether mineral sunscreens live up to the hype. 

Mineral vs. chemical sunscreens: the basics

Before diving into the benefits of mineral sunscreens, it is important to elaborate on the different mechanisms by which these two types of sunscreens work. Up until recently, almost everyone used chemical sunscreens to protect themselves against the sun. These sunscreens have ingredients that absorb UV rays, turn them into heat, and then release that heat from the skin. Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, use ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to create a physical barrier on the skin to block and reflect UV rays from the skin. In summary, chemical sunscreens use a chemical reaction to convert UV rays into heat, whereas mineral sunscreens block these rays at the surface. 

Benefits of mineral sunscreen

Fortunately, mineral sunscreen comes with many benefits, making it a great choice for sun protection. Some of the benefits of mineral sunscreen include: 

• Skin-friendly: whereas chemical sunscreen can cause irritation, mineral sunscreen is ideal for sensitive and acne-prone skin. 
• Broad-spectrum protection: mineral sunscreens protect against both UVA rays (the UV rays that penetrate deeply into the skin causing skin aging and wrinkles) and UVB rays (the UV rays that affect the outer layer of the skin, causing sunburn) 
• Eco-friendly: these sunscreens are reef-safe and do not harm marine life 

Disadvantages of mineral sunscreen

So why isn't everyone using mineral sunscreen yet? A common criticism of mineral sunscreens is that they tend to leave a white cast on the skin. This is due to the fact that these sunscreens are not absorbed by the skin and form a physical layer of protection. This might feel a bit heavier or greasier on the skin compared to chemical sunscreens. However, as mineral sunscreen becomes increasingly popular, recent formulas have significantly improved, making them lighter and almost indistinguishable from their chemical counterparts. 

All in all, as we are all becoming more aware of the impact of our choices on our health and the environment, we believe that this is the moment to switch to mineral sunscreen. It provides excellent protection to your skin and helps preserve our marine ecosystem.

At Uncovered. Cosmetics, we are always on the hunt for brands that align with our mission to add to our collection and help you make better cosmetic choices.Therefore, we want to know: what is your favorite mineral sunscreen and why? Keep an eye on our website, as it might be added and available soon!