Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen

Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen

Warmer temps are here, and summer is just around the corner. Meaning, we will all be spending more time by the pool, on the lake, at the ocean, and soaking in some much needed Vitamin D. UVA and UVB rays are out in full force and you will need to make sure you are properly protecting your skin from sunburn, skin cancer, and early aging. But how do you know what type of sunscreen is best? With a myriad of sunscreen options available, we are here to help you make the right selection for you and your family’s needs.

There are two types of sunscreens available today: chemical and mineral. Both types will protect your skin from UVA & UVB rays, but they are very different in how they are formulated and how they work.

Chemical-Based Sunscreen

Chemical sunscreens are made up of active ingredients like oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, and avobenzone. Chemical sunscreens work by allowing UV light into the skin and transforming it into something not harmful. Since chemical sunscreens need to be absorbed into your skin, it can take up to 30 minutes for the sunscreen to become effective.

These chemicals have also been linked to coral reef damage. As such they have recently become banned in Hawaii with other states in various stages of potentially adopting similar measures. These chemicals may also disrupt hormones and cause allergic reactions.

Mineral-Based Sunscreen

Mineral sunscreens are made up of minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as the active ingredients. These sunscreens work by sitting on top of your skin and bouncing UV light away, preventing UVA & UVB rays from penetrating the skin. Because mineral sunscreens sit on top of the skin rather than being absorbed, they become effective almost immediately. These minerals are natural ingredients which are ideal for sensitive skin.

At Thinkbaby and Thinksport we only formulate mineral-based sunscreen solutions made of non-nano zinc oxide particles.

Mineral Sunscreen for the Whole Family

Thinkbaby and Thinksport make a mineral sunscreen to suit every age and every activity. Our line of baby, kid, and adult mineral sunscreens are top rated by the EWG and have been selected for numerous awards such as “Allure Best of Beauty”.

Formulated with 20% non-nano zinc oxide and our scientific expertise in creating safer products, our sunscreen line is reef friendly and achieved the highest level of biodegradability testing. All of our sunscreens are enriched with vitamins and antioxidants to help moisturize and nourish the skin. Our baby and kid lines smell of fruity papaya and our adult line smells subtly of fresh currant & grapefruit. Thinksport also makes a tinted version that is perfect alone or as a base layer under make-up.

At Thinkbaby and Thinksport, regardless of which formula you decide to go with, rest assured you are using a safe sunscreen solution that is both safe for you and safe for our environment. If you would like to learn more about ingredient safety in sunscreen, we encourage you to check out the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database.


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published