What is mineral sunscreen? 

Otherwise referred to as physical sunscreen, mineral sunscreen is formulated with active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that literally form a physical barrier to block UV light from reaching your skin by either reflecting the light or absorbing it. Once chalky, hard-to spread and hard to wash off, mineral sunscreens have come a long way, and are now easy to apply and easy to remove. With added ingredients like antioxidants, mineral sunscreens not only offer lasting protection from UVA and UVB light, but actually help to benefit your skin beneath. Mineral sunscreens are a better choice for sensitive and blemish-prone skin because they aren’t absorbed into the skin and therefore will tend to cause less irritation or affect its natural balance. 

What is chemical sunscreen? 

Chemical sunscreens are formulated with active chemical ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, or octinoxate that filter either UVB or UVA radiation. Instead of creating a physical shield that blocks or deflects ultraviolet rays, they absorb the sun's light energy and convert it safely into heat on top of the skin, which is then released. Now, if you were paying attention in science class, you may recall the primary scientific premise is that energy is constant. It can be changed into different forms, like vapor changing to water, but it's never really gone. That’s the lab coat bit over with! So chemical sunscreens don't really absorb the UV radiation, as much as convert it into something harmless (heat) that dissipates from the surface of your skin before it's able to reach deeper levels of your skin. The problem is that this photochemical reaction uses up sunscreen, so the more sun you are getting, the faster sunscreen is used up or breaks down and the more frequently you have to apply it. Although, often more popular due to their lightweight and sheer consistency, chemical sunscreens have also faced some criticism over the years. They can cause irritation if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. Chemical sunscreens have also been shown to have some adverse environmental effects. *