Whether you’ve come to physical sunscreens because of skin sensitivities, are concerned about how chemical sunscreens work, or just prefer a physical barrier on the skin - physical suncreams are becoming more and more popular. No longer the thick, heavy creams of your childhood, formulations have been developed which are easier to blend into the skin, and suitable for all skin types and tones.
Physical sunscreens will usually contain ingredients such as Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide, where chemical ingredients can be a little more complicated - oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate are all examples of this, but these expand all the time as scientists and formulators work to create thinner and less irritating chemical sunscreens.
These are actually two words for the same product! The active ingredients used in physical/mineral sunscreens are commonly things like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide - which you might recognise from the ingredients section back of your mineral makeup products. These are mineral ingredients, and physical blockers - two for one!
Zinc Oxide is considered a physical suncream because it forms a protective barrier on the top of your skin that reflects the sunlight away from your complexion. Because Zinc Oxide does not need to be absorbed into the skin, it’s often a more popular option for those with a sensitive skin type. Further, Zinc is a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient, so those with blemish-prone or easily inflamed skin often enjoy the calming effects of sunscreens or even moisturisers that have Zinc Oxide as a key ingredient.
This is a tough question - like being asked to choose a favourite child! Some of our most popular options are Medik8 Physical Sunscreen, which uses Zinc Oxide as well as Titanium Dioxide to create a great physical barrier with SPF30. Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 is a new kid on the block, but has become popular for its soft matte finish and lack of white cast, and asap moisturising daily defence spf 50+ is a well-priced, and well-loved option suitable for all skin types.
