Do you know what’s in your sunscreen? The ingredients matter. Your level of protection and comfort will depend on them.
ZINC OXIDE is a mineral sunscreen ingredient. It is also added to other skincare products because of its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
If you live in the U.S., Zinc Oxide in sunscreen is the ideal active ingredient. It offers the best UVA protection (covers the widest part of the UVA spectrum) + UVB protection. Good UVA coverage is important because UVA causes more skin damage (i.e. signs of aging!) than UVB.
If you live in regions such as Europe, Asia, or Australia, you have more UVA ingredient options. Our options are very limited here in the U.S., thanks to the extremely slow regulatory approval process for new sunscreen ingredients. 🙁
Zinc Oxide is also a good choice if_____:
– Your eyes get easily irritated by sunscreen. Avobenzone (a popular chemical UV ingredient) can be irritating. I personally can’t let Avobenzone go anywhere near my eyes, or they will sting them and make them water. If I even apply Avobenzone sunscreen on my cheeks, it migrates to my eyes and irritates them.
– You have sensitive skin, acne scars, or any kind of inflammation.
– You are recovering from a cosmetic procedure.
– You live in an area with intense sun, or you are trying to prevent your skin from getting darker from the sun.
Further Reading:
- Physical (Mineral) vs Chemical Sunscreens
- Best UVA Ingredients
- What You Need To Know About UV – UVA vs UVB
- Extreme Sun Protection Tips
Want articles & posts delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the weekly newsletter here.
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
Good morning! I recently started following you and want to say thanks for creating such an awesome resource. I personally have a hard time finding sunscreens that work with my skin yet don’t cost a fortune (since they need to be used so liberally). Would you ever consider posting some budget-friendly skincare recommendations? I know a lot of people appreciate the concept of investing in one’s skin health, but incomes can be limiting. Thank you!
Thanks for following and dropping me a note Lisa! I understand the challenge of finding a good sunscreen, and a good sunscreen that is affordable.
A budget-friendly zinc sunscreen is Blue Lizard. You can even buy this in family size (1 gallon!). Blue Lizard is thick and better for the body than the face. CoTZ is another one you can find in drugstores.
If you have access to Whole Foods, they have a number of zinc sunscreens under $10.
Look in the baby section when you’re shopping. Baby sunscreens are mostly zinc-based. And they’re often priced less than ‘adult’ sunscreens.
For the face, Japanese and Korean sunscreens/BB creams are very good for oily skin and affordable. The textures are far lighter and more cosmetically elegant than ones you find in the U.S. The only thing is, you need to shop on Japanese or Kbeauty websites. English translations are skimpy and poor. But the sites are still manageable to navigate. There are MANY of them. Imomoko, Jolse, and W2Beauty have good selections.
Thank you so much! I currently use a baby sunscreen but find the formulation a bit inelegant for wearing under makeup. I will definitely look into the Asian brands. I really appreciate your thoughtful response. Have a great day!
You’re welcome! Thank you, I hope you find a good sunscreen and wish you a great day too!