There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and physical. But what are the difference between the two? Read on to find out:
Chemical Sunscreens
Chemical sunscreens contain synthetic chemical substances that absorb UV rays. They are colorless, odorless and feel lighter on the skin. Most chemical sunscreen ingredients, like Mexoryl, are photostable, but others aren’t. However, they generate free radicals which can lead to skin aging. They also cause allergic reaction and irritation.
Physical Sunscreens
Physical Sunscreens, also known as sunblocks, contain ingredients like titanium oxide or zinc oxide which physically block and scatter ultraviolet radiation. They offer protection against UVA and UVB rays and don’t cause free radicals. It is unlikely that they will cause allergies or irritations because they don’t get absorbed. However, their formula is quite thick and they tend to leave a white cast on skin. But the main problem with physical sunscreen is that, because of their formulation, it is difficult to apply the sufficient amount (1 tablespoon). If you apply less, then they won’t offer enough protection.
Which type is better?
The debate is still ongoing. Both types can protect your skin from UV rays and have pros and cons. Nowadays, some sunscreen combine both chemical and physical ingredients to get the best of both.
Whatever type you decide to use, just make sure you select one classified as broad spectrum which protects from both UVA and UVB rays.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
which type do YOU use?
I had NO idea about the free radicals. Oh no! Now I’m wondering – are average store brands (e.g. Coppertone, etc) considered physical or chemical?
I’m torn too. the sunscreen that I’m using now has a chemical sunscreen… *sighs* But I used to use a physical one and it’s soo thick…
jojoba: I prefer physical sunscreen. I’m not fond of the fact their thicker and can leave like a white cast sometimes, but zinc oxide is said to be the best sunscreen ingredients as it protects against the whole spectrum of UVA and UVB rays. With chemical sunscreens you need to read the label very carefully as some ingredients only protects from UVB rays and other only from UVA rays. So you need to make sure it contains both types of ingredients to get a broad spectrum protection.
GHD: Whether a sunscreen is chemical or physical depends on the ingredients, not on the brand. For example, sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are physical, while products that contain Mexoryl SX or Avobenzone are chemical. As far as I know most Coppertone sunscreens are not only chemical but also lack suffiecient UVA protection. But it depends on the product really. Copperton has a few chemical sunscreen protecting from both UVA and UVB rays.
Connie: chemical sunscreen feel a lot better on the skin as they’re lighter. Just makes sure you use one that contains protection from both UVA and UVB rays as some don’t offer a broad spectrum protection as they claim.
I use whichever that doesn’t have that strong sunscreeny smell :p
I don’t like that smell either
I use BestBloc organic sunscreen, it is a physical blocker with no residue and is unscented. Best I have ever used!
http://bestonearthproducts.com/bestbloc_organic_sunscreen.php
Sounds like a good product, I’m glad it works well for you, Tina.
Yes, it works great! Thanks Beautiful
Tina
Good and you’re welcome, Tina
Can you suggest a few examples of sunscreen brands that you consider safe. I am using at the moment Ombrelle Extreme 30, La Roche-Posay 60. Both appear to be a combination of physical and chemical. I am thinking of switching to a botanical product from the Arbonne Line.
Also, what brand do you feel is safe for children. I often wonder if it is a good thing that we are slathering these young people with these lotions on a day to day basis.
Hi Penny, the sunscreens you are using isn’t bad but personally I prefr other brands like Soleo Organics Sunscreen Organic chemical free sunscreen SPF 30+, Keys Soap Solar Rx Cosmetic Moisturizing Sunblock SPF 30 and Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30. They all use zinc oxide and are rated among the safest sunscreens by the Enviromental Working Group. You can see the whole list here if you are interested:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/findyoursunscreen.php?&sunscreens=1&&start=0
I think it is safer to apply sunscreen on kids as they sun rays can damage their skin too. California Baby and Truekid has some really good and safe sunscreens for children.
I’m concerned about the sun exposure I get while driving. I spend my work day indoors, so my morning sunscreen will not break down due to sun exposure (other than during my half hour morning commute). Is there a reason I should reapply sunscreen before I drive back or my morning application is still protecting me? I would rather avoid ruining my make-up.
The tablespoon amount that you were mentioning above refers to the face only, doesn’t it?
Also, you are saying “Just makes sure you use one that contains protection from both UVA and UVB rays as some don’t offer a broad spectrum protection as they claim.” If reading the label is not helping, then how?
Thanks
Nelly, sunscreen tends to rub off, especially if you’re sweating a little bit (it’s been very hot here this month and I’ve been sweating a bit indoors too even if I didn’t exercise or anything), so I would recommend reapplying it. If you don’t want to ruin your makeup, you can try to retouch it using cosmetics that contain SPF.
Yes, one tablespoons refers to the face. For the entire body (if you’re going to the beach), the recommended amount is an ounce (30ml).
Reading the label does help if you look at the ingredient list. The SPF rating only refers to the protection offered against UVB rays, so sometimes claims can be misleading. Look for sunscreens that contain Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), Mexoryl and Tinosorb at the top of the ingrdient list. All of them protect against UVA rays. I like using sunscreens with Zinc Oxide as it protects from all UVA and UVB rays, or Titanium Dioxide, which protects fom all UVB and most UVA rays too. The others work well too if used with UVB-protecting ingredients.
Oh, I really like the stuff you’re doing:-) Do you think Green Peope’s sunscreens are physical or chemical ones?
Your site is yummy:-)
Spelling error: Green People’s
xoxo Carina.
Carina, I’ve checked their website and their sunscreen seem to contain both physical and chemical sunscreen ingredients.
And thank you, I’m glad you like my blog and hope you’ll stick around.
You’re welcome,dear.
I read somewhere, that if you apply product X first(SPF 30) and thereafter product Y(SPF 15) the latter product will interfere with the former one,in which it reduces product X’s SPF Value. Is that correct? How do you apply your sunscreen+foundation?(like,order)
Oh, you seem like a very genuine person, I thank you dearly for answering my weirdo-questions! There are other bloggers out there whose behavior is very arrogant, but you seem truly kind<3 Where are you from? It appears to me that you're from mixed ancestry? lol
Carina, that’s not true. If you apply two products with SPF one after the other, you get the protection of the one with the highest SPF. In your example, if you apply a product with SPF 30 first and then a product with SPF 15, you get SPF 30. The other product you used doesn’t decrease its protection but it doesn’t increase it either. I usually apply my moisturizer first, then my sunscreen and then my foundation.
Aww thank you! I love interacting with my readers and I do my best to answer everyone’s comment and questions. Yours aren’t weird and if you have any doubts, I’m happy to help you out.
By the way, I’m from Italy. 
Hi, really interesting read.. 2 quick questions for you..
Im reading that SPF30 is more than enough protection but then i’m wondering why there are products of SPF50 and higher. Do you think SPF 30 is enough protection in hot climate or in regular sun following an aesthetic treatment that would leave the skin more exposed and less protected naturally?
I use a chemical sunblock but understand that it may increase free radicals that can lead to skin ageing. The suncreen i use has free-radical scavenger properties and this is suppose to scavenge potentially damaging free radicals. Would you say this balances the disadvantage of chemical suncreen? (because i really like using my current sunblock SPF50 which contains Tinosorb M, Tinsorb S, Octocrylene and Dibenzoylmethane ).
Keith, SPF 30 protects against 97% of UV rays, while SPF 50 against 98% so as you can see the difference is not that much. There are even sunscreen that claim to have higher protection such as SPF100 but none protect against 100% of UV rays. You can use SPF50 if you want that little bit more of protection but usually SPF30 is more than enough.
And yes, if the sunscreen has antioxidants, then they will neutralize any free radicals that could be generated by the chemical sunscreen.
Hi, thank you for the information, really helpfull..
I read that UVA (A = Ageing) UVB (B = Burning) so protection of both is important.
I was reading that EU law suggests that manufacturers of UV products must provide protection of UVA rays of at least 1//3rd of the total SPF (suggesting that SPF30 could give protection of only 10 UVA). They can market these products as SPF30 but if the UVA cover is only 10 then how protected are we from UV Ageing.
My question is how would you describe the benefit (effect on skin over time in relation to ageing) for protecting against UVA-10 Vs. protection of UVA-50 which some products are promoting? (thank you)
Keith, you’re welcome.
The SPF refers to the protection offered against UVB rays. The EU law is a step in the right direction but the point is that sunscreens need to provide broad spectrum protection or they are well, useless. It’s not much a matter of numbers, but of finding a sunscreen that offers protection against the entire UV spectrum. You need to look for products that contain UVA filters at the beginning of the ingredient list or listed separately as active ingredients. Or just purchase physical blockers with Zinc Oxide, which protects against the entire UVA spectrum and thus offers the maximum protection available. But if you use a sunscreen that protects only partially from UV rays, then your skin is going to be damaged. Not as much as if you weren’t wearing sunscreen at all, but still damaged.
Could i ask you personal opinion about using a product that provides the following ingredients and protection:
Tinosorb M & S, Octocrylene & Avobenzone filters SPF 50+ (50-UVA). Also promising skin calming, softening and moisturising (cream, fluid or lotion).
I read Tinosorb M&S are a mineral filters (organic) covering 280-400nm UVA-UVB “the only organic UV filter produced as microfine organic particles (< 200 nm), like microfine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide".
Sorry for so much detail but it's really interesting to get your feedback.. I promise this is the last information suck on this subject
That sounds like a well formulated product that should offer broad spectrum protection but I would need to see the whole ingredient list just to make sure that there is enough of them to do what they are supposed to do. Especially if it says it contains antioxidants as some products contain too little concentrations of them to be effective. But from what I know atm, it sounds good.
And please, feel free to ask all the questions you want. I’m glad to help if I can.
Hi Giorgia, thanks agains
ingredients: Water, Tinosorb M, Tinosorb S, Octocrylene, Avobenzone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cyclomethicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Peg-100 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate-VP Copolymer, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
From what i understand the two main antioxidants are Glycyrrhetinic Acid/Licorice Root (free-radical scavenger and anti-inflammatory) and Tocopheryl Acetate which i read contains Vit E..
What do you feel about the ingredients?
Keith, it is a broad spectrum sunscreen so it will protect your skin well from the sun. But the position of Tocopheryl Acetate and Glycyrrhetinic Acid in the ingredient list makes me think their concentrations are small (around 1%) and their antioxidant benefits limited. I like the sun protection this sunscreen gives and even though the antioxidants in it may not be able to scavenge all the free radicals generated by it, it is always best that not using sunscreen at all. Or you can just fix the problem by applying a moisturizer/serum with antioxidants.
the other question on my mind is. if you have a chemical suncreen providing very high coverage for UVA and UVB and the forumla incldues antioxidants and free radiacal scavenging. What is the disadvantage of using this chemical suncreen over a physical zinx or titanium sunscreen? thanks
Keith, in this case, it is just a matter of personal preference. Physical blockers can leave a white cast on skin so some people prefer chemical sunscreens instead. As long as they offer broad spectrum protection and antioxidants, they work well.
Thank you Giorgia
You are welcome.
Hi Giorgia!
I’ve been watching this DermTV episode on How to Apply Physical Sunscreens and it turns out, you don’t actually need as much physical sunscreen as chemical sunscreen for effective protection. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg-xVFvFZc8
Eva, hi and thank you so much for sharing that link. That is so interesting to know. And it’s another reason to love physical sunscreens, which I prefer to chemical ones.