The Difference Between Chemical And Mineral Sunscreen
Essential for keeping your skin safe year-round, sunscreens are available in a variety of formats and formulas, suiting specific skin types to keep them nourished, radiant, and protected on even the sunniest of days. With chemical sunscreens, mineral sunscreens, and reef-friendly sunscreens available, it can be tricky to know which one is best for your skin tone and type, so we’re breaking it down, explaining the differences, benefits, and what type of skin they're suitable for, sharing the SPFs we love to shield your sensitive, oily, ageing, and sun-damaged skin.
With facial sunscreens, body SPF, sprays, mists, and supplements available, deciding which one will keep your skin safe without causing reactions or flareups can be overwhelming…luckily, we’re on hand to help!
Did you know that typically there are two forms of sunscreen, mineral and chemical, each with different ingredients and properties to keep your skin safe?
What Is A Chemical Sunscreen?
Let's get technical, chemical sunscreens are formulated with oxybenzone and avobenzone, which absorb UV rays converting them into heat before releasing them from your skin. Protecting against UVA and UVB rays, mineral sunscreens are a great choice if you have oily or acne-prone skin.
Benefits Of Chemical Sunscreen
Non-comedogenic, lightweight, and easy to apply, chemical sunscreens are often enriched with skin-boosting ingredients that nurture specific skin conditions, minimising breakouts by reducing sebum production and minimising shine.
Leaving no white cast, chemical sunscreens are perfect for darker and uneven skin tones, offering high protection to shield your skin while being waterproof and sweatproof.
Another benefit of chemical sunscreens is that they can be combined with other skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and antioxidants to soothe your skin, replenishing moisture, and minimising fine lines and wrinkles.
Chemical Sunscreens We Love
La Roche Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Oil Control Fluid SPF50+ For Oily and Blemish-Prone Skin
Reducing wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and pigmentation, this powerful hyaluronic acid and niacinamide-enriched sunscreen protects from harmful UV rays leaving your skin radiant, youthful, and glowing.
Formulated for sensitive skin, this broad-spectrum SPF hydrates and plumps to boost your skin's elasticity, soothing and evening your skin while protecting against the damaging effects of the sun. Infused with anti-pollution and antioxidant technology, it shields your skin from infrared, minimising the visible signs of ageing.
Thank You Farmer Sun project Silky Calming Sun Stick SPF50+ PA++++
A handy, high-factor SPF, this Thank You Farmer sun stick is perfect for keeping your face, neck, scalp, and body protected against UV rays on the go. Gliding on easily and leaving no white cast, it soothes sensitive and irritated skin.
Enriched with calamine and centella asiatica, this calming SPF reduces skin irritation and inflammation, soothing as it protects with its non-greasy, water-resistant formula.
Coco & Eve Body Sunscreen SPF50+
High-protecting and fast-absorbing, this Coco & Eve Body Sunscreen nourishes your skin while keeping it protected from UVA and UVB rays. Enriched with vitamin E and aloe vera, this lightweight, non-greasy, and fragrance-free formula is perfect for nurturing sensitive skin, hydrating without stickiness to leave your skin soothed, radiant, and glowing.
What Is A Mineral Sunscreen?
A sensitive skin saviour, mineral, also known as physical sunscreens, harness natural minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect your skin from UV rays. Forming a physical barrier, mineral sunscreens sit on the surface of your skin, acting immediately to physically block and reflect UV rays, the active ingredients preventing sun damage and reducing the risk of skin cancer.
A gentler option for people with sensitive skin, babies, and children, physical sunscreen is less likely to cause irritation or reactions. Its non-comedogenic formula, keeping your pores clear and skin shielded.
Benefits Of Mineral Sunscreen
Offering broad spectrum protection, mineral sunscreens are gentle, non-comedogenic, long-lasting, and eco-friendly, preventing reactions on eczema, rosacea, and acne-prone skin while protecting marine life and the environment.
Mineral Sunscreens We Love
Heliocare 360 Mineral Tolerance Fluid SPF50
Reef-safe and high-protecting, this Heliocare sunscreen protects against UVA, UVB, HEV, and IR-A damage, shielding sensitive and intolerant skin from the sun.
Free from alcohol, parabens, and perfume, this dermatologically tested sunscreen is approved for sensitive skin, its powerful antioxidant-enriched formula nourishes and restores, accelerating your skin health to leave your skin rejuvenated and glowing.
Infused with ferulic, caffeic, and vanillic acids as well as vitamins C and E, and green tea extract, this soothing mineral sunscreen is waterproof, lightweight and perfect for everyday use.
Ultrasun Body Mineral SPF50
Designed to protect your entire body, this Ultrasun 360 mineral Tolerance Fluid is fast-absorbing, lightweight and non-sticky, its InfraGuard-infused formula shielding sensitive skin against infrared and high-energy visible light.
Enriched with ectoin, a natural enzyme that protects your skin from UVA-induced damage, this high-factor sunscreen prevents premature photo ageing, keeping your skin youthful while it protects.
Hello Sunday The One For Your Eyes SPF50
Brimming with proteins and peptides, this mineral eye cream with SPF tightens and rejuvenates your eye area, the micro-biome-friendly prebiotics illuminating, hydrating and soothing your skin.
Refreshing your appearance, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and neutralising free radicals, this high-factor eye-cream plumps and firms your skin while keeping you safe from the sun, year-round.
Reef Friendly SPF
Free from ingredients that can be harmful to marine life and coral reefs, reef-friendly SPFs omit oxybenzone and avobenzone from their formulas, preventing coral bleaching and damage to marine ecosystems to keep our oceans colourful, thriving, and full of life.
An environmentally conscious sunscreen choice, reef-friendly SPF is essential if you're holidaying by the sea, minimising your impact on the planet while keeping your skin safe from the sun.
Reef-Friendly Sunscreens To Keep The Oceans Safe
Avène Intense Protect SPF50+ Sun Cream For Very Sensitive Skin
Tested to the max at high altitude, tropical climates, and high humidity, this Avène Intense Protect sunscreen absorbs and reflects UVA and high energy visible blue light, keeping delicate skin safe with its mineral, thermal spring water-enriched formula.
Suitable for sensitive, dehydrated, oily, blemish-prone, dull, ageing, and dry skin, this sunscreen is infused with only four non-ecotoxic sun filters, keeping marine biodiversity safe and thriving.
Bondi Sands Lip Balm SPF50+ Juicy Watermelon
Protecting your lips, this watermelon-scented, high-factor, SPF50+ lip balm is enriched with shea butter and vitamin E, nourishing and hydrating with its cruelty-free, vegan, and reef-friendly formula.
Sun Bum Original SPF30 Lotion
Highly protecting and deliciously smelling, this Sun Bum Original SP30 Lotion protects your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays, deeply nourishing your skin with its vitamin E-enriched formula. Cruelty-free, vegan, and reef-friendly, this sunscreen cares for you, your skin, and the environment.
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Formulated with 100% physical filters, this unique sunscreen is suitable for sensitive or intolerant skin types and protects against UVA, UVB, HEV and IR-A damage.
Protect the entire body with a 100% mineral sun protection in a fast-absorbing, non-greasy and non-sticky formula with additional protection against Infrared and High Energy Visible light with innovative ingredient InfraGuard.
Surprised by our sunscreen know-how? Discover more about taking care of your skin with our Top 5 Natural Ingredients To Add To Your Skincare Routine blog post, a guide to sustainable skincare.
