Sunscreens are made to protect your skin against sun damage and to prevent sunburn. Sunscreen is also really important because it prevents skin cancer by protecting your skin cells from UV rays. There are 2 types of filters in sunscreens that protect your skin from the sun: mineral filters and chemical filters. In addition, there are also 3 components that are commonly found in both chemical and mineral sunscreens. These ingredients include emollients, stabilizers, preservatives.
Mineral filters are also known as physical filters create a protective barrier on the skin that blocks and reflects UV rays.
Examples of mineral filters include:
Zinc oxide
Titanium dioxide
Best for: All skin types
Pro Tip: After applying the sunscreen, let it sit for 15-20 minutes before sun exposure
Watch For: A white cast on your skin can appear if the minerals haven't blend properly, or there was uneven and incorrect application of the sunscreen.
Feels like: Thick and heavy textures
Chemical filters are filters in sunscreen that are organic, carbon-based compounds that absorb the UV radiation, then convert the radiation into heat, followed by releasing the heat from your skin.
Examples of chemical filters include:
Avobenzone
Octocrylene
Octinoxate
Oxybenzone
Best for: All skin types
Pro Tip: Use chemical filter sunscreens when going to a pool, beach, etc. since chemical filters are more water-resistant than mineral filters.
Watch For: Potential health concerns such as skin irritation, body absorption, and degradation when exposed to sunlight.
Feels like: Lightweight textures
Emollients help make the skin feel smooth because they create a protective barrier to seal in your sunscreen.
Examples of emollients include:
Squalene
Jojoba Oil
Catenary alcohol - these alcohols are good because they don't dry out the skin and they are beneficial.
Shea Butter
Best For: Dry, flaky, or sensitive skin
Pro Tip: Try to dab onto damp skin as opposed to rubbing to limit possible irritation.
Watch for: Some emollients are known to clog pores which can lead to acne and skin irritation so double check your ingredients if you are prone to sensitive skin.
Feels like: Creamy, silky, or rich textures
Stabilizers are ingredients that maintain the integrity of a product by preventing separation and degradation of the product.
Examples of stabilizers include:
UV absorbers
Emulsifiers
Tocopherols
Potassium sorbate
Best for: All skin types
Pro Tip: Choose a sunscreen with stabilizers because it helps prevent the UV filters from decomposing too quickly in the sun.
Watch For: Look at the label to make sure the UV filters stay effective when exposed to sunlight.
Feels like: You don't feel stabilizers as it's an ingredient but rather, you feel the product as a whole.
Preservatives are ingredients that are added to skincare products like sunscreen to prevent growth of bacteria, or other micro-organisms that can irritate or infect the skin by keeping the product fresh.
Examples of preservatives include:
Parabens
Benzyl Alcohol
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Best for: All skin types
Pro Tip: Check the recommended PH range with your dermatologist to adjust your formula and maximize effectiveness.
Watch For: Potentially irritating ingredients such as parabens, formaldehyde releasing ingredients, and sorbic acid.
Feels like: Don't necessarily feel like something, used in small concentrations that are added to products.
Chemical filters - This includes oxybenzone and homosalate
Avoid spray sunscreens - Don't provide enough skin coverage.
PABA - Type of ingredient that can increase cancer risk, and skin allergies.
Look for sunscreens like...
Mineral sunscreens which are the best for sensitive skin
Broad-spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of 30 or higher
Water-resistant sunscreens which are better for going to the beach or an outdoor pool
Zinc Oxide - Ingredient that reflects UV rays that is found in mineral sunscreens.