Mineral sunscreen has been a hot topic in the skincare community for as long as I can remember, it’s the one topic that divides professionals and riles up audiences.
Some professionals feel as though mineral sunscreens are a better option than chemical sunscreen filters, but this is absolutely not true. The best sunscreen is a sunscreen that will work for you! Mineral sunscreen filters tend to leave a white cast on the skin, or at the very least do not dry completely clear and this is due to filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide being white powders.
Brands have claimed from time to time that their mineral sunscreen is completely white-cast free on black people and in all of my experience, once you apply the correct amount this is simply untrue.
There have been rumours swirling of a few sunscreens that contain mineral filters only, having a very minimal cast and so far I have only been able to find two that are available for sale in the U.K.. We also see mineral filters in formulations that combine mineral and chemical filters to create hybrid sunscreens.
Is mineral sunscreen better?
Some people feel as though mineral sunscreen is better because it contains “natural filters” that can be used during pregnancy, this is wrong. You can use your regular chemical sunscreen throughout your pregnancy. All fillers used in sunscreens have to be tested and legally approved. Some people also argue that a mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide, is ideal for calming inflammation that leads to hyperpigmentation.
Again, this does not make a mineral sunscreen a better choice and you can find zinc derived ingredients in your skincare serums. Another reason why mineral sunscreens may not be suitable for you, is that if you find yourself rubbing your sunscreen into your skin for extended periods of time, this can impact the efficacy of your sunscreen and potentially break it down.
