Mineral Versus Chemical Sunscreen: What To Know About SPF + Pros & Cons

Well, if that last point stumped you, you've come to the right place. Let us explain the world of mineral and chemical sunscreens, how they work, and the various pros and cons.

But as author and chemist George Zaidan explains, mineral sunscreens also do some absorbing—like like their chemical counterparts. Essentially, they work in two ways: First by blocking some rays, and second by absorbing the rays and deflecting their damage by turning it into heat.

Chemical sunscreens—like those with active ingredients like oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone—work by absorbing the UV rays, triggering a chemical reaction, which then transforms the UV into heat. Chemical sunscreens come in more variety, and so they tend to show up in more products.

Let's weigh our options, shall we? We'll start with mineral:

For the non-nano part, be weary of micronized zinc as these are able to be ingested by marine life, and potentially causing harm.

Many brands are, we should note, getting better at masking the white cast and making it blend in easier. So it may take some testing around, but you may just find the right option for you. (We also did the work and found options for any skin tone that you can check out here.)

"Zinc oxide is arguably the most skin-calming of all the active sunscreen ingredients," says Ciraldo, which can help with sensitive and acne-prone skin. It's also noncomedogenic, so it won't clog pores and cause acne.

Now, let's go through the advantages and drawbacks of chemical formulas.

There's a reason some countries and even U.S. states have banned oxybenzone and octinoxate: They have been shown to cause coral bleaching (or lightening of the coral's usual vivid colors) as well as pose a significant danger to marine life.

These ingredients are usually thinner, spread easier, and formulate better with other skin care ingredients. Because of this, they are very commercially popular in traditional sunscreens.

Experts agree: "Try to avoid the sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate. They are significant skin allergens and have been shown to have some estrogen-mimicking effects on the body2," physician Sarah Villafranco, M.D., writes about ingredients to avoid.

We should caveat: It's also OK to have a sunscreen wardrobe. Let's say you want a sheer face lotion for day-to-day (understandable), that doesn't mean you can't also have a mineral body option to slather on when you're at the beach. This isn't an all-or-nothing scenario.

There are two main categories of SPF, mineral and chemical. For environmental and skin health reasons, we tend to recommend mineral when possible. However, given that they can be quite thick, we understand that many people don't find them sensorially or visually appealing. So ultimately, we think people should buy whatever sunscreen they will actually wear. For more intel, check out our guide to smart sun care and our favorite natural sunscreens and moisturizers with SPF.