Skin cancer (a.k.a. melanoma) is one of the biggest causes of death across the world, with more than a million cases reported last year. It’s a shame that this often happens needlessly, as sunscreen is able to stop it. However, if you have sensitive skin, it can lead you to avoid using protection, but the good news is that a solution exists for you in the form of the best face sunscreen for sensitive skin.
Prevention is the best way to deal with sun damage, and when you find the right type of sunscreen for this kind of use, you get the reassurance that you’re safe. In this article, we look at how to find the best sunscreen option for anyone with this kind of skin problem.
What’s the Best Face Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin – Mineral or Chemical?
While both mineral and chemical sunscreens are effective at stopping the sun from causing aging, dark spots and burning, they work in very different ways. As such, knowing which is the best face sunscreen for sensitive skin out of the two involves knowing a little more about them. So, let’s see.
So, How Do Chemical Sunscreens Work?
For decades, most people used chemical sunscreen products, and as you’ll know, if you’ve ever used one, you need to give them time to work – around 30 minutes, to be exact. That’s because they have to be absorbed into the skin. Once that has occurred, any UV rays hitting the skin are turned into heat and dispersed by the chemical formula.
The issue for people with sensitive skin and chemical sunscreen is that the chemical filters used are often triggering for certain types of issues like rosacea. Filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone are just too irritating for some people’s complexions.
Not only that, but due to the need for absorption, chemical brands are much more likely to clog the pores – which is bad news for acne sufferers.
And Mineral Sunscreens? How Are They Different?
There is no absorption with mineral sunscreens, so immediately, the chances of pores becoming blocked are eliminated. This is because they sit atop the skin, acting like a mirror, stopping UV rays before they even have a chance to hit the skin. This is a barrier in the truest sense of the word, and it means that you can go out in the sun immediately after application.
Furthermore, the active ingredient in mineral brands of sunscreen is zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which both occur naturally and are very benign in terms of causing reactions. Some types of powder-based mineral sunscreens are also great for people with oily skin.
You’ll know if you’ve got yourself a good mineral product for sensitive skin issues, as it will – in addition to stating it’s a mineral product – say something like non-comedogenic or acne-friendly on the bottle.
It’s Clear – Mineral Brands Represent the Best Face Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin
When you examine the facts, it becomes very clear that there is one winner for anyone looking for sunscreen when they have problematic skin. Mineral brands are not only less irritating but also work in a way that causes much less pore-blocking than their chemical counterparts.
So, you don’t have to stay inside and hide away from the sun because of skin issues. You can go out and enjoy it like everyone else. All you have to do is choose the right sunscreen product.
