What is the difference between physical and chemical sunscreens?
It goes without saying that every day, all year round, we need safe, effective sun protection, but many people are still unsure of whether to choose a physical or chemical sunscreen. If you’re still wondering what the difference is, here’s an easy breakdown.
| Physical sun protection | Chemical sun protection | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Inorganic sunscreen ingredients act as a shield that reflects and scatters UV rays off the surface of the skin. |
Organic sun filters absorb UV radiation, and deactivates it by changing it into heat, then releases the heat from the skin. |
| Ingredients | Examples include:
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Examples Include:
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| Pro’s |
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| Con’s |
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To effectively protect your skin against damaging ultraviolet light, you should look for 3 essential elements in sunscreen:
- Broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection.
- Low SPF – less chemicals.
- Added antioxidants - UV irradiation activates free radicals in the skin, so it is sensible to choose a sunscreen with added antioxidants. These are powerful free radical scavengers which help to minimise the damaging effects of UV rays that penetrate sunscreens and filters.
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