Mineral vs Chemical Sunscreens: Key Differences and Choosing the Right One
- Alicia Teasdale
- May 8
- 4 min read
Have you ever found yourself in front of the sunscreen display only to come down with a severe case of option exhaustion. What's the right SPF? Water-Resistant or Not? What the heck is broad-spectrum? What is mineral sunscreen and why is everyone telling me to use it?
So, leaving your research for another day, you grab what's on sale, or the same old bottle you've been using since childhood.
There's been a lot of chitter chatter about sunscreen over the last few years, particularly around ingredients, efficacy, and what's considered safe for our bodies, the reefs and the planet. We often get asked about the difference between mineral and chemical based sunscreens so let us break it down for you:
Mineral-Based Sunscreen (may also be referred to as a physical sunscreen):
A mineral or physical sunscreen is a formulation of physical UV filters, primarily zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that provides broad-spectrum UV protection by physically reflecting UV rays from the skin (Adamson & Shinkai, 2020). In essence, they are blocking the sun's UV radiation by providing a physical barrier.
Since they work by creating a physical barrier, mineral sunscreens start protecting you as soo as they're applied to the skin.
Chemical-Based Sunscreen:
Chemical-based sunscreens make up the majority of sunscreens on the market and are the sunscreens most commonly found at your local drugstore. Chemical sunscreens contain UV filters that absorb UV radiation (Adamson & Shinkai, 2020). Instead of sitting on top of the skin, the UV filtering chemicals in these sunscreens penetrate the skin and protect you from UV radiation without forming a visible layer on the skin . The most common active ingredients in chemical sunscreens are: oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone (EWG, 2017).
Since they need time to absorb, chemical sunscreens need to be applied about 15-20 minutes before sun exposure.
How to choose:
Both mineral and chemical sunscreens can offer the same broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Of course, this can vary from brand to brand so it's important to do your own research. If protection quality is similar, some other influential factors when choosing between the two include:
Appearance / Texture:
Mineral sunscreen is traditionally thicker, creamier and can leave a white cast on the skin (think retro sunscreen ads with white, pasty noses.) If the appearance of sunscreen on the skin is a concern, you may opt for a chemical sunscreen that leaves no trace on the skin, or a tinted mineral one, or some of the newer mineral formulations that are marketed as having 'no white-cast'.
Ingredients:
Mineral sunscreens made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are classified as safe ingredients and research shows that few, if any, zinc or titanium particles penetrate the skin. The ingredients in chemical sunscreen on the other hand are associated with a number of health concerns including allergies and hormone disruptions (EWG, 2025).
If you're concerned about the ingredients in your sunscreen, a great place to start is the Environmental Working Group's 'Skin Deep' Database. This comprehensive database provides consumers with full reports on personal care items, ingredients, toxicity ratings, and a list of 'EWG Verified' products. The EWG verification means a product has met the strictest standards for health and safety and contains none of the EWG's identified chemicals of concern. Many mineral-based sunscreens are EWG verified, particularly if they do not contain synthetic fragrance. If choosing a chemical sunscreen, look for low-hazard ratings.
Environmental Impact:
If you've been on a snorkeling trip recently, your guides have likely required that all snorkelers use reef-friendly sunscreen. This is due to the adverse impacts of sunscreen on aquatic life, including the damage to coral reefs as well as reproductive, developmental and endocrine effects on marine organisms (Lebaron, 2022). For this reason, only sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are considered reef-safe.
Bonus - some manufacturers of mineral / reef-friendly sunscreen are values-based companies that truly care about the environment so they often employ other eco-friendly practices in their manufacturing process (like plastic-free packaging!)
Whichever your choice, you'll find a well-curated and intentional collection of both chemical and mineral based sunscreen at the Apothecary featuring brands like Sun Bum, Ombrelle, Attitude (Sunly + Oceanly), Green Beaver, and The Sunscreen Company.
My Favourites:
Personally, I've been a fan and a user of mineral-based sunscreen for over a decade. For me, it's the balance of protecting myself from the sun, while still being mindful of the ingredients I'm exposing my body to. If you're in need of a recommendation - here are my faves.
Favorite All-Over Sunscreen: Plastic-free Mineral Sunscreen Stick Spf 30 - EWG Verified & sold here at Teasdale Apothecary Co.
The stick application makes this SO easy to use and the butter base makes my skin feel nourished and hydrated. Simply rub on, and blend! (Bonus - great for travel as it's a solid, so it can go right in my carry-on without compromising limited liquid allowances!)
Favorite Daily Facial Sunscreen: Solid Tinted Oil Spf 30 with Zinc Oxide & Ave Isa Sun-e-Serum Drops SPF 35 Sunscreen - both EWG verified and sold here at the Apothecary.
Admittedly, I'm late to the game of ensuring my face is protected by an SPF everyday (I'm sorry to all of my estheticians who warned me about this 15+ years ago). When I finally listened at 37, I found myself struggling to find something that I felt comfortable incorporating into my daily routine. Alas, I found these two and brought them into the Apothecary. Most days I don't wear foundation, so that's when I reach for the tinted oil stick. Super easy to apply and it blends beautifully (if your skin is on the oilier side, it's available as a cream stick). I also want to try their shimmer cream stick! If I'm wearing foundation, I simply apply the serum drops before my foundation. It's silky-smooth, absorbs quickly and non-greasy.
For more sunscreen related information, I encourage you to check out the links below:
References;
Adamson, A.S., Shinkai, K. (2020). Systemic absorption of sunscreen: balancing benefits with unknown harms. Jama Network, Editorial.
Lebaron, P. (2022). UV filters and their impact on marine life: state of the science, data gaps and next steps. Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology, 36 (36), 22-28.
Environmental Working Group (2025). EWG's Guide to Sunscreens. https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/
*Information in this blog is for education and information purposes only. Everyone's needs are different. Readers are encouraged to consult with a healthcare professional.