Physical VS Chemical Sunscreen

HI!!!! It has been a damn MINUTE since I have done a blog post. I was thinking of what I should write about , and then it came to be that I haven’t talked about the difference between physical and chemical sunscreen! So naturally, that is todays topic haha.

OKAY SOOOO. There are two types of sunscreens out there- physical and chemical. Physical sunscreen creates a physical barrier on the skin which deflects UV rays away from the skin, preventing sunburn, skin cancer, premature aging, etc. The two main ingredients you want to look for in physical sunscreens are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Now chemical sunscreens on the other hand contain chemical compounds that absorb into the skin and filer out the UV rays through heat created by our body.

Pros and Cons of Each

Lets start with Physical Sunscreen:

Pros:

• Provides immediate protection as soon as it is applied to the skin, so you don’t have to wait to go into the sun
• Safe for babies and pregnancy
• Less likely to irritate the skin (awesome if you have rosacea)
• Provides safe protection from UVA and UVB rays

Cons:

• Can sweat off, rinse, or rub off easily
• Takes longer to rub into the skin

Chemical Sunscreen:

Pros:

• Much thinner and spreads easier
• Easier to use with makeup

Cons:

• You have to wait 20 min to allow it to sink in before going into the sun (SUPER ANNOYING)
• Can cause clogged pores and has been known to cause acne
• A-lot of people get irritated from chemical sunscreen and can cause a warm sensation due to our bodies absorbing the UV rays.
• Can irritate eyes

I always recommend a physical sunscreen to my clients because I think it is the safer options for skin types, and I love that as soon as it is applied to the skin, you are instantly protected. There is nothing worse than going to the beach and applying your chemical sunscreen once you get there, chemical sunscreens take 20 min to sink in, so that is 20 min of unprotected skin. A few of my fave physical sunscreens are:

• iS Clinical Eclipse SPF, and the Extreme Protect SPF which both come in tinted and non tinted options.
• TIZO SPF
• Colourscience Sunforgettable SPF (this is a powder so its sooo easy to reapply!)

I hope this helps to clear up any confusion about SPF’s, I know it can be an overwhelming topic.

Until Next Time,

Your fave local estie ❤

PS: Wear your damn spf! (hehe)