Look online or in your local supermarket, and you’ll find a mesmerizing choice of sunscreen products, all designed – or a least claiming – to offer exceptional UV damage protection. As well as all the chemical brands that people have widely bought since commercial products began being manufactured, you’ve got a relative newcomer into the field – active mineral based sunscreen. 

Ok, so mineral sunscreens aren’t exactly new, as they’ve been around for almost as long, but in terms of widespread perception, many Americans can’t tell you how they differ. There’s quite a fuss being made out of them by those who sell them, so is it justified? Are they All That?

That’s what we look into now – detailing what these mineral sunscreens offer and how they differ from chemically-produced brands.

Mineral Sunscreens Save You Time

They say when using chemical sunscreens, you should wait anywhere between 15-30 minutes after applying it before you go out into the sun. That’s because they need to be absorbed into the skin to provide the protection they offer – which can be quite annoying if you’ve forgotten until the last minute.

However, if you use active mineral based sunscreen, there’s no need to wait even one minute, as there’s no absorption needed. The active ingredient – zinc oxide – sits on top of the skin, so you’re protected the moment it goes on. 

Zinc Oxide Is Actually Good For The Skin! 

Some chemical brands shout about the fact that their products are not harmful to the skin, but mineral sunscreens can go one better…zinc oxide is actually good for the skin. This is why the substance can be found in acne treatments and wound care products.

Also, zinc oxide is known to offer an antibacterial action, meaning your skin is actively supported while protecting against UV damage. Neat, right?

Mineral Sunscreen Won’t Block Your Pores 

Due to the fact that mineral sunscreen sits on top of the skin’s surface, it means that it won’t enter the pores and block them. This is a real bonus for anyone with sensitive skin, acne or eczema, as you don’t want time in the sun to come at the cost of your overall skin health. 

Many people with skin conditions find themselves unable to go out and enjoy the sun like everyone else, but active mineral based sunscreen changes all that.

Mineral Sunscreens Don’t Hurt The Planet

You may or may not be aware of the environmental tragedies that are occurring around the world as we speak, because of chemical sunscreens. The chemicals that so many of them contain – oxybenzone and octinoxate – are choking the life out of the precious habitats that are the coral reefs. 

Around 14,000 tonnes of the stuff enters the ocean on an annual basis and it’s causing a ‘bleaching’ that renders the reef uninhabitable. However, zinc oxide occurs normally in nature, meaning that by switching you are doing something meaningful to protect the planet for future generations. 

Think YOU Might Switch to Active Mineral Based Sunscreen?

What you buy with your money is absolutely your prerogative, but it’s hard to argue against the fact mineral sunscreens offer the better, more ecologically-conscious option.

If you’ve been used to chemical sunscreens all your life, you might need some convincing to switch, but we hope that the information given here is sufficiently compelling.