If you’re just lightly interested in skin care, you know that sunscreen is a must for healthy skin. But even nowadays, it can be quite a journey to find a sunscreen that doesn’t break you out. It certainly was for me!
After trial and error, I finally found the solution for my acne-prone skin: zinc sunscreen! It is quite different than the chemical sunscreens I grew up with, and that’s mostly a good thing.
Let me tell you about it, it’ll be worth it!
Related: The best skin care products for treating acne scars
Disclosure: Some of the links below are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
How does it work?
So first of all, you have to know that zinc sunscreen is a mineral sunscreen. “And mineral sunscreen is different from a chemical sunscreen how?” I hear you ask.
Well, mineral sunscreens are physical sunscreen. They form a protective layer ON your skin, whereas chemical sunscreen reacts WITH your skin to increase UV protection.
Why should you use zinc sunscreen?
Okay, so on first glance, it sounds different. But why is mineral sunscreen better?
First of all, if you at all struggle with any hormonal imbalance, you want to be careful around traditional sunscreen. Many ingredients will act as “endocrine disruptors”, meaning they will impact your hormones.
Additionally, lots of the ingredients can cause irritation on sensitive and acne-prone skin. It certainly did for me!
And, last but not least, chemical sunscreens are really bad for our environment.
So for your own health and the world you live in, zinc sunscreen might just be the better choice overall!
Related: A reef-safe leave-in conditioner for a beach vacation?
How to apply mineral sunscreen
When applying mineral sunscreen for the first time, it might feel a little weird. Most products are harder to distribute than your typical chemical sunscreen. And the bigger downside: Lots of them leave a white cast!
No matter which product you choose, you will have to rub a little to distribute properly, but by now there are some zinc sunscreens that are quite easy to use.
I’ve been using (and loving!) the Badger Mineral Sunscreen* and while it does make my skin tone look a tiny little bit lighter, it doesn’t leave a thick white cast.
Another upside of this product: it has super clean ingredients! Nothing irritating, even for sensitive skin. You can order it here!*
What percentage of zinc should be in sunscreen?
If you now go out looking for your own zinc sunscreen, be on the lookout for a concentration of at least 10% of zinc oxide. For comparison, my badger sunscreen* has a concentration of about 19% zinc oxide.
If you have very dry skin, lower concentrations of zinc oxide might work better for you. Higher concentrations might dry out your skin additionally, and mineral sunscreen can be a little drying as is.
When using the minimum concentration and re-applying the sunscreen throughout the day, your mineral sunscreen should be safe and protecting you from the damaging effects of UV rays.
Enjoy and share!
I hope you’ll try zinc sunscreen and that it works well for you and your skin! If this post was helpful to you, I really appreciate any shares. Thank you and have a good one!
*These links are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
