A guide to mineral sunscreen
- Alysia
- Jul 20, 2021
- 4 min read
What is it? How good is it? What's the point of it? The answers are all here.
We all want to enjoy the sun, and we don’t want to get burned. The solution? Cover up, find shade, and wear sunscreen.
And even though most sunscreens available are chemical based, mineral protection is the natural, and safest option for us and the planet.
Below is a handy guide filled with everything you need to know about mineral sunscreens to help you stay safe this summer.
What minerals are used in mineral sunscreens?
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Both offer protection in the same way, but zinc oxide is the most popular for a number of reasons, including research on the mineral and its safety for use on humans, as well as it offering the best UVA protection out of the two.
Generally, you won’t find a sunscreen that only uses titanium dioxide, but zinc oxide is perfectly capable of protecting us from the sun on its own, which is why many mineral sunscreens decide to keep it simple by only using zinc oxide as the active ingredient.
Are mineral sunscreens natural?
Yes and no. Both zinc oxide (found in the mineral zincite) and titanium dioxide are inorganic compounds found in the Earth, but are hard to come by, so companies manufacture their own to keep up with demand.
Even though the minerals are made synthetically for use in products, the term 'synthetic sunscreens' only refers to creams which use chemical active ingredients like oxybenzone, octocrylene and avobenzone, which are synthetic organic compounds.
How do mineral sunscreens work?
Like a mirror! When you apply a mineral sunscreen, it sits on top of your skin, reflecting and scattering UVA and UVB rays from the surface, which is why mineral creams feel thicker than your standard sunscreens and generally leave a white cast.
But if you can bear looking a little pale then it is worth it, as you’re good to go as soon as the product is applied. Chemical sunscreens need to sink into the skin first as they protect you by absorbing UV rays and turning them into heat, so can take around 10 to 15 minutes before they work.
When you say white cast..
Don’t worry, mineral sunscreens are no longer the thick, white paste they used to be - although you can still buy these and are often used by sportsmen for their water resistance and long-lasting sun protection.
Generally mineral sunscreens will rub in, but leave a subtle white cast on your skin, although nowadays many companies use iron oxides - another mineral - to tint products. Mineral foundations use iron oxides as pigment to create a range of shades, while mineral sunscreens may have a slight tint so the white cast is no longer visible.
Something to look out for though is the use of nano-particles. Many companies have started using nano zinc oxide and nano titanium dioxide in sunscreens to prevent the white cast, which involves breaking down the minerals to a size that can be absorbed by the skin, so the product no longer sits on the surface.
This is a very new process, and there is little research to say how safe this is for human health. We know inhaling minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is dangerous, and that is why there are concerns about nano versions of these ingredients, and why for now at least, it’s best to look for ‘non-nano’ mineral sunscreens.
How safe are mineral sunscreens?
In short, very. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the only two active sunscreen ingredients to be classified as ‘safe and effective’ by the FDA (the Food and Drug Administration in the US), with all active ingredients in synthetic sunscreens failing to achieve this due to research that claims they can cause hormone disruption and remain in the body weeks after being applied to the skin.
Zinc oxide especially is considered safe for sensitive skin, and babies and children as it simply sits on the skin. It is non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores), antimicrobial (prevents and protects from bacteria) and doesn’t irritate the skin (that being said, still patch test any products that contain it in case of a reaction).
And while zinc oxide is photostable - meaning it doesn't break down into free radicals when exposed to the sun - studies show titanium dioxide and chemical UV filters are not as stable, which is something to consider when the products are designed for use in the sun.
Protection-wise, you can get mineral sunscreen in a range of SPF levels, but the most common and best option is SPF 30 for long days in the summer sun. There is very little difference in protection between SPF 30 and SPF 50, which is why many no longer produce the latter, while anything between SPF 15 and SPF 20 can be found in daily sunscreens and tinted moisturisers (although it’s a good idea to skip it every now and then, we still need our vitamin D!)
Are mineral sunscreens water-resistant?
Yes, but don’t forget to reapply after swimming. Protection doesn’t last as long in the water, but this is general advice regardless of the type of sunscreen you use.
Mineral sunscreens - so long as they are non-nano and not mixed with synthetic ingredients - are reef safe. This simply means the minerals don’t harm ocean life, from coral reefs to blue whales. There is a criteria to follow for a product to achieve this stamp, and it includes not using chemicals including octocrylene and oxybenzone, as well as parabens, pthalates, micro-plastics and nano-particles.
No one wants to swim in polluted oceans, so even though this may seem like a small thing to consider when buying sunscreen, it can have very large consequences.
Is there anything else to be aware of?
The only other thing to consider is that a mineral sunscreen doesn’t always mean natural. Many mineral sunscreens will still be filled with ingredients that some deem unnecessary, such as fragrance, silicones or emollients used to create the right texture.
Finding a mineral sunscreen is always a great step, but check other aspects of the product to make sure it fits your own criteria.
Check the links throughout this article for more information on mineral sunscreens.
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