Our Top 5 Mineral Sunscreens

By now, we’re all well aware of the dangers of the sun. And as we approach warmer weather, it seems like the only question on every forum I see is “What sunscreen should I use?!”. Well, look no further. This post will answer that question. I’ll explore the two types of sunscreens, and give my top 5 recommendations.

First and foremost, let’s breakdown the difference between chemical vs. mineral sunscreens:

A chemical sunscreen uses non-natural active ingredients that get absorbed into the layers of the skin, which then basically dissolve or “deactivate” the sun’s UV rays through a chemical reaction.

On the other hand, mineral sunscreens (which are also referred to as “physical sunscreens” since they provide a physical barrier) use natural active ingredients (either zinc oxide and titanium dioxide), which sit on the top layer of the skin and reflect UV rays away from the skin.

So the question is, which one is the better choice?

We would definitely say go mineral. Since chemical sunscreens have to be absorbed, they can be irritating to sensitive and acne-prone skin, and can cause discomfort. Not only that, but small amounts of the chemicals in those products can trickle into your bloodstream. Mineral sunscreens provide great protection without the synthetic active ingredients, and are less irritating as they sit on top of the skin to do their job, rather than being absorbed.

You might think that natural skincare is sometimes hard to get your hands on, but think again! Here are my top 5 mineral sunscreens, and all can be found pretty easily:

1. La Roche Posay: Anthelios Tinted Lotion SPF 50

Life hack: Tinted Sunscreen. I have been wearing this La Roche Posay Tinted Mineral sunscreen as a base all week. All I’ve been adding is concealer only on the spots where I need some coverage, some blush, and my base is done. Serious game changer.

It’s very fluid and blends easily, while being surprisingly long lasting. It’s SPF 50, so it provides great protection, and the tinted aspect is just an awesome bonus.

Though, there is only one shade, and it’s unfortunately not universal. It can too dark for very pale skin, and it’s definitely too light for dark skin. If it does match you, I highly recommend it. It also has a pretty matte finish so is more suitable for oily or combination skin types.

2. REN: Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30

This REN sunscreen is a great un-tinted option. It’s lightweight so it absorbs quite quickly. It’s mattifying too so it’s ideal for an oiler skin type as it reduces shine and minimizes excess oil. It holds nicely under makeup and the best part is that it doesn’t leave that white sunscreen ghost cast that we hate, instead it blends in pretty seamlessly. It’s also at the top of clean beauty lists: vegan, cruelty free, silicone-free, and mineral. Beauties approved.

3. Coola: Rosilliance Mineral Tinted Organic Sunscreen SPF 30

Another awesome mineral sunscreen is the Coola BB+ Cream Tinted Organic one. This one is extra special because it not only protects the skin from the sun’s rays, but also contains ingredients to fortify and nourish. For example, it has acai fruit oil which helps heal damaged cells. Though it’s SPF isn’t as high as others, SPF 30 is the minimum you should be going for. It’s available in three shades; ranging from light to deep, so you can hopefully find one that matches you. Unfortunately the deep shade isn’t actually very deep, in which case I’d recommend going for an un-tinted option to wear under your normal base product.

4. Suntegrity: 5-in-1 Tinted Face Sunscreen

This Suntegrity sunscreen is a lazy person’s dream. It’s moisturizing, provides coverage, and protects your skin from the sun with a mineral SPF of 30. A great multi-purpose product. It contains nutrient-dense ingredients like organic aloe vera, sunflower, pomegranate, cucumber, and green tea. These all help provide lasting hydration and a boost in sun protection. The coverage is quite decent, though, the drawback (as with many other beauty products), is the shade range. There are only 4 shades available and they are fairly light, and would not be suitable for deep skin tones. Overall, a lovely, clean, everyday product (…if you can find a matching shade).

5. Juice Beauty: SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen

Last is Juice Beauty’s Sport Sunscreen. This product is great if you’re an active person since it’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes, so is ideal for sun, splashes, and outdoor sport fun. It’s made especially for an active outdoor lifestyle and contains awesome organic ingredients like jojoba and coconut to provide hydration. It’s also the most affordable product on this list, at $16 USD. Definitely worth trying!

So, you probably hear this all the time but wear SPF everyday. You’ll thank yourself in 20 years. And the five I mentioned are all really great mineral sunscreen choices. There’s a ton of options out there and it can be overwhelming, so this post has hopefully narrowed it down for you (at least a little).

Let us know in the comments, do you have a holy grail sunscreen you can’t let go of?

Crédit photo principale : https://louloucr.tumblr.com/post/169467360755/ibiza-2017-35mm