People need sunscreen to keep their skin healthy and looking beautiful, but which type of sunscreen should they choose? Sun protection generally falls into one of two categories: chemical and mineral(physical). What are the differences between chemical sun block and mineral(physical) sun block?
Physical Sun Protection
Sunscreen principle: known as “reflectors,” create a physical shield on your skin to reflect and bounce UV rays. Only covering the surface of the skin, when applied to the face, it will reflect ultraviolet rays like a mirror, avoiding direct contact with the skin, healthy and harmless. Widely protected against UVA and UVB.
Common ingredients:
Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Talc Powder, Magnesium Oxide, Calcium Carbonate etc.
Advantages:
1.The ingredients are simple, mild, and less irritating;
2.Not easily allergic, with stronger UVA and
UVB protection;
3.Higher safety and longer sun protection time.
Disadvantages:
1.Will leave a white film on the skin and have poor water resistance;
2.The texture is thick and heavy, easy to block pores, and the skin feels more greasy than chemical sunscreen, which is caused by its sunscreen principle and cannot be completely eliminated.
Suitable for:
Sensitive and fragile skin, post-operative medical care, and dry skin.
Chemical Sun Protection
Sun protection principle: rely on chemical reactions to absorb ultraviolet rays and then release them in a lower energy form, thus preventing ultraviolet rays from directly damaging the skin.
Common ingredients:
（Chemical sunscreens include one or more of the following ingredients: ）
Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
Octocrylene
Avobenzone
Ooctisalate
Homosalate
Advantages:
1.Strong stability, and delicate texture;
2.Good texture, it is refreshing, non whitening, and non greasy when applied to the skin.
Disadvantages:
1.Apply for about 20-30 minutes to take effect, and the effect is not long-lasting. It needs to be reapplied every 3-4 hours;
2.Penetrating the skin, long-term use may cause damage to the skin;
3.Chemical sunscreen is more likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions than physical sunscreen, and sensitive skin should be carefully selected.
Suitable for: More suitable for oily skin
How to figure out if a sunscreen is physical or chemical?
1.Contains only titanium dioxide and zinc oxide - pure physical sunscreen
2.Excluding titanium dioxide and zinc oxide - pure chemical sunscreen
3.In addition to titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, there are other ingredients - mixed sunscreen
Correct sun protection knowledge:
1.Sunscreen must be applied 20-30 minutes before going out, and reapplied when going out;
2.Apply every 2 hours;
3.The larger the SPF, the poorer the permeability, which hinders the normal secretion and respiration of the skin;
4.For water sports athletes, higher SPF and PA values are required, and their high fat solubility is required to be able to withstand water immersion for a longer period of time.
Attention:
1. The radiation at the beach is nearly 20 times higher than usual, so it is recommended to use professional sunscreen when swimming at the beach;
2. The sunscreen labeled with SPF is designed for medium wave UVB protection to prevent sunburn and redness. PA+is designed for long wave ultraviolet rays to prevent tanning and skin aging;
3. It is recommended to use a combination sunscreen with a higher content of physical sunscreen and a lower content of chemical sunscreen for sensitive skin, which can effectively reduce skin irritation
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