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Whether you're strolling around the park or lying on a tropical beach, you're exposed to the sun’s harmful rays.
While some sun exposure is good for us – it provides vitamin D and increases serotonin levels (the happy hormone) – too much can cause burning and lead to skin damage.
The easiest way to avoid over-exposure is to cover up and limit time spent in the sun; but let's face it, who wants to be without a golden glow all summer?
So our next best option is to limit any damage that could be done by applying sun protection, as this shields you from both UVA and UVB rays.
We all know how important it is to wear sun cream – scientists believe that 80% of visible ageing is caused by sun damage.1 Still, few know that not all sun creams are created equal.
Mineral sun creams should only contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.2
Although still chemically engineered in a lab like chemical sun creams, mineral sun creams can be gentle on the skin and protect against the sun for longer.3
Mineral sunscreens contain the minerals zinc oxide and titanium oxide, and work by creating a physical barrier on your skin that reflects the sun’s rays.
They have to be applied evenly over your skin to be effective. In contrast, chemical sun creams – the most common kind – chemically engineer a barrier to protect against UVAs and UVBs.
Mineral sun creams offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays, but often use fewer ingredients, which makes them more suitable as skincare for sensitive skin or people who want to use conscious beauty.
Read on to find out all our top myth-busting mineral sunscreen facts.
Generally speaking, you can apply mineral sun protection in the same way as chemical ones.
Thanks to their reflective properties, traditional mineral sunscreens used to leave a white residue on the skin (think of those seen on the noses of cricket players or Aussie lifeguards in the ‘90s).
However, with the advances in technology, zinc and titanium oxide particles can now be made much smaller, meaning they're no longer visible.
This means new mineral sunscreens are clear, but still offer effective protection against UVA and UVB rays. However, for peace of mind, once children’s mineral sunscreens have been applied, they leave a thin white layer so you can see where the sunscreen has been applied.
Some mineral sun creams must be reapplied more frequently than chemical sun creams when swimming or sweating, as they wash off easier.
Protecting your skin is the most important thing, whichever sunscreen you choose.
Look out for a high SPF rating (which protects the skin from burning and skin-damaging UVB rays) and a UVA or Star rating (which protects the skin from skin-ageing UVA rays).
And remember, it’s important to cover up and stay out of the sun during its strongest hours, from 11am-3pm.
Last updated: 27 March 2023
Joined Holland & Barrett: Mar 2019
BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science
After completing her BSc in Biomedical Science, Doaa worked in Research and laboratory for 3 years. Doaa was also a member of a product development team in a manufacturing company specialising in sun care and personal care products, researching and providing regulatory advice regarding international regulations.