You know how important it is to wear sun protection daily, but between physical or chemical sunscreens, how do you know which one is the best kind to use? Which sunscreen is least likely to cause breakouts or irritate sensitive skin? Which one will give your skin the most protection? There’s a big debate as to which type is the best so this post will explain the main differences so you can make an informed decision.
Physical sunscreens contain active mineral ingredients, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which mainly work by sitting on top of the skin to deflect and scatter damaging UVA rays away from the skin. They are often referred to as physical blockers.
Pros of physical sunscreens:
- Offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays and is naturally broad spectrum
- Protects from the sun as soon as it’s applied, no wait needed
- Lasts longer when in direct UV light (but NOT when doing physical activities that cause the skin to get wet or sweat)
- Less likely to cause a stinging irritation on the skin, making it better for sensitive skin
- Better for those with heat-activated skin (like those with rosacea and redness) since it deflects the heat and energy given off by the sun away from the skin
- Less likely to be pore-clogging, making it ideal for blemish-prone skin types
- Longer shelf life
Cons of physical sunscreens:
- Can rub off, sweat off and rinse off easily, meaning more frequent reapplication when outdoors is needed
- May leave a white-ish cast on the skin, making some formulas incompatible for deeper skin tones
- May be too chalky and opaque for daily use under makeup
- Can create an occlusive film, which results in increased perspiration during physical activities and, therefore, causes it to wear off more quickly
- Tend to be thicker, which will require more effort to rub in
- Can cause white drips to show on the skin when sweating
- Will be less protective if not applied generously and accurately since UV light can get penetrate through the sunscreen molecules
Chemical sunscreens contain organic (carbon-based) compounds, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone, which create a chemical reaction and work by changing UV rays into heat, then releasing that heat from the skin. They are often referred to as chemical or organic absorbers.
Pros of chemical sunscreens:
- Tends to be thinner and, therefore, spreads more easily on the skin, making it more wearable for daily use
- Less is needed to protect the skin because there is no risk of no spaces between the sunscreen molecules after application
- Formula is easier to add additional treatment ingredients, such as peptides and enzymes, which offer other skin benefits
Cons of chemical sunscreens:
- Can possibly cause an increase in existing brown spots and discoloration due to a higher internal skin temperature (Yes, over-heated skin can make brown spots worse.)
- Requires 10 minutes after application to dry and create a protective film over the skin
- Increased chance of irritation and stinging (especially for those who have dry skin with a damaged moisture barrier) due to the multiple ingredients combined in order to achieve broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection
- The higher the SPF (such as formulas of SPF 50 or greater), the higher the risk of irritation for sensitive skin types
- The protection it offers gets used up more quickly when in direct UV light, so reapplication must be more frequent
- Increased chance of redness for rosacea-prone skin types because it changes UV rays into heat which can exacerbate flushing
- The chemical ingredients oxybenzone and oxtinoxate have been banned in Hawaii for posing a risk of degrading coral reef when worn while swimming in the ocean. (This applies to water-resistant beach sunscreens only and not daily use sunscreens or makeup with sunscreen.) Pro tip: When at the beach, wear long-sleeve UV protecting swimwear to lessen sunscreen getting into ocean waters.
- Depending on the formula, could be pore-clogging
- Can cause stinging if it drips into the eyes from sweat
Chemical vs. physical sunscreens, which one is best?
The simple answer is… the one that feels the most comfortable on your skin. If you’re an oilier skin type like you’ll enjoy wearing one that is lightweight and not greasy. If you consider yourself sensitive and your skin gets red easily, you’ll want to find one that doesn’t sting the skin or make it feel irritated. If you have clogged pores and bumps, you’ll obviously want one that doesn’t cause that. If your skin color is deeper in tone, you’ll want a sunscreen that doesn’t look chalky on the skin. Both chemical and physical sunscreens do a great job at protecting your skin from the sun, just find one that feels good on the skin.
You’ll want to check for compatibility by doing a patch test before using any new sunscreen all over your face.
Which type of sunscreen offers the best UVA and UVB protection?
This is a huge debate among scientists. Currently, the FDA is taking steps to establish new standards of measuring the effectiveness of sunscreens more accurately in an effort to educate consumers on how best to prevent the detrimental effects of exposure to UV radiation. For now, however, both physical and chemical sunscreens will do a great job at protecting your skin, as long as you are applying them generously every morning and reapplying throughout the day. Mineral powders infused with sunscreen like titanium dioxide are really easy to dust on for reapplication.
These are the chemical and physical sunscreens I like to wear on my face.
For daily use under makeup
Weightless Protection SPF 30. This uses both physical and chemical sunscreen filters. The zinc oxide (physical) creates a lightweight finish with natural antimicrobial agents for my clogged pore-prone skin. The octinoxate and octisalate (chemical) that is used makes it spreadable and easy to apply so it is ideal for daily use under makeup. Because Weightless Protection SPF 30 is not a purely physical sunscreen, celebrities like Sofia Vergara and Demi Lovato, who both have medium skin tones, find that it doesn’t leave a white-ish cast on their skin. They both use it faithfully in their skincare routines every day. “Sun protection is so important. I love Weightless Protection SPF 30.” says Sofia Vergara.
To enhance the effects of sunscreen, I faithfully wear Vitamin C&E Treatment underneath my SPF. Not only does it protect my skin from damaging free radicals, but it helps make the sunscreen protect even more protective. Duke University Medical Center researchers determined that using a lotion or serum with both vitamins C and E under sunscreen actually provides four times the protection of sunscreen alone. You will not believe what happens when when you apply vitamin C and E serum to an apple!
Make sure you reapply throughout the day
I dust on an SPF-infused mineral powder every few hours throughout the day. Use any pressed or loose powder makeup that contains titanium dioxide. (Titanium dioxide is a physical sunscreen.)
For outdoor use when I’m sweating or swimming
Since Weightless Protection SPF 30 is meant for daily use and is not water-resistant, I’ll switch to something that will hold up better. This sunscreen uses zinc oxide exclusively, so it is a purely physical sunscreen. It rubs in fairly well but can leave a little white-ish cast on my face.
Which SPF number is the best to use?
Higher numbers on labels are more about marketing. In fact, the FDA is proposing to ban sunscreens that are labeled with an SPF number higher than 50, since there is no scientific evidence showing that they offer any more protection than lower numbers. I recommend a minimum SPF of 30 and a maximum of 50.
Sunscreens break me out, especially in summer. What can I do to prevent my pores from getting clogged?
Read my sweat-proof sunscreen tricks that WON’T clog your pores.
I hope this gives you some helpful insight into understanding the differences between physical and chemical sunscreens. Every skin type is different (I believe there are nine different skin types) so you just have to experiment with various formulas. There is one out there that is perfect for you and that is what my custom skin care package is all about. Ultimately, the best sun protection for preventing premature wrinkles and the risk of skin cancer comes from finding a sunscreen you enjoy wearing.
