Benefits of Mineral Suncreen

As you search for a sunscreen to incorporate into your daily skincare routine, you’ll likely come across a key differentiating factor between types of SPF: mineral and chemical. Each type has different benefits based on your skin type, so it’s important to know the difference between mineral and chemical formulations so you can find the best sunscreen for your skin. Here, we break down the properties of each.

Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen

Mineral sunscreen is often referred to as “physical sunscreen” because its active ingredients are zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, which form a physical protective layer on your skin. This layer prevents the absorption of UVA rays, which can cause hyperpigmentation and other long-term skin issues, and UVB rays, which lead to sunburns.

Chemical sunscreen utilizes UV filters that absorb UV rays and transform them into heat. The most common ones found in everyday SPFs are oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate.

A Deeper Dive

There are many benefits to chemical sunscreen: chief among them is that it’s often a more wearable formula than its mineral counterparts that spreads and lays evenly on the skin. The chemical, or organic, compounds and filters used to shield the skin from UVA and UVB rays are formulated to prevent a white cast and give chemical sunscreen its signature silky soft finish. However, these same compounds can cause irritation or allergic reactions for more sensitive skin types.

Mineral, or inorganic, sunscreen is compatible with almost every skin type, including those who are sensitive and/or acne-prone, and is more photostable so it doesn’t have to be reapplied as frequently. For these reasons, we decided to make our first sunscreen a mineral one.

Mineral sunscreen can sometimes be harder to apply because the formulas are thicker and the physical filters can give the product a gritty texture, plus the physical filters can leave a white cast on darker skin tones. That’s why we formulated ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen: a lightweight, serum-like sunscreen that leaves no white cast on anyone — promise. We worked with our community to test the application for months before launch to ensure blendability across all skin tones, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results.

All About ShadeDrops

Throw out everything you think you know about mineral sunscreens because ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen is going to turn it on its head. Gone are the days of thick, goopy SPFs that feel gritty on the skin and leave you with a sheet of white across your face. ShadeDrops applies like a dreamy veil on top of your morning skincare routine and sinks into the skin to leave nothing but a dewy glow.

The Ingredients:

Zinc Oxide works as the active filter in this sunscreen, blocking out both UVA and UVB rays. It is also gentle enough for the most sensitive skin types to use daily.
Squalane gives ShadeDrops its signature hydrating glow, leaving skin looking and feeling its softest, smoothest, and most hydrated.
A blend of Vitamin E and Ethyl Ferulate form the Antioxidant Complex in our SPF to protect the skin against free radicals and other environmental stressors.

As with the rest of our Summer Fridays product lineup, ShadeDrops is vegan and cruelty-free and is also free of parabens, sulfates, and synthetic dyes. Additionally, our sunscreen does not contain any chemical UV filters, including Oxybenzone, Octinoxat, Octocrylene, Homosalate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, or PABA.

It has never been easier to add sunscreen into your daily skincare routine, thanks to the skin-loving benefits of ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen. Shop now on summerfridays.com.