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Sunscreen Formulations, the Difference, and Sunscreen Recommendations
Sunscreen Formulations, the Difference, and Sunscreen Recommendations
I started regularly wearing sunscreen only a few years ago, and in those first few months, I showed up to school with the most unblendable, stubborn white cast that anyone could imagine. Growing up, I hardly ever used sunscreen, so it took me a while to find out what sunscreens worked for me and which ones definitely didn’t. Nowadays, I go through almost a bottle of sunscreen a month, and I try to switch it up and buy a new product every time I run out. I’ve found a lot of fantastic options, but these are my top favorites.
Mineral sunscreens, or physical sunscreens, are the classic thick, white creams that I still associate with beach days. These sunscreens sit on the surface of your skin, and reflect UV lights away. Chemical sunscreens use chemical UV filters to absorb the UV rays before your skin does. While both are effective, it ultimately depends on your skin to pick whether chemical or mineral sunscreens are the right choice for you.
Chemical sunscreen lasts longer than physical sunscreen, and works well if you need water-resistance or if you plan on exercising. They apply much faster into the skin and are to wear underneath makeup. Mineral sunscreens can be more moisturizing and the gentler choice for sensitive skin. However, due to the zinc inside them, mineral sunscreens can leave your face super chalky and pale—-especially if you have darker skin. For this reason, I generally prefer chemical sunscreens, but that’s not to say that there aren’t mineral sunscreens that blend without that signature white cast.
Price: $18.99
Type: Chemical + Mineral
SPF Rating: 30
One of the first sunscreens I ever used that had zero white cast! The brand was designed with women of color in mind in order to prevent white cast! It’s got a thicker formulation, that is especially fantastic on drier skin and leaves you moisturized and glowing. My only complaint is that it can leave my skin a little too oily for my taste, and when I apply near my eyes or my undereyes can cause some burning. If you have oily skin, I would recommend skipping this specific formula and looking at Black Girl Sunscreen’s Matte SPF 50! It has the same benefits and is formulated for oilier and combination skin.
Beauty of Joseon Rice + Probiotics Relief Sunscreen
Price: $18.00
Type: Chemical
SPF Rating: 50
Half of my friends use this Korean sunscreen! Korean sunscreens are super popular in the United States as they use newer sunscreen filters that haven’t yet been approved for usage in the United States. This sunscreen applies smoother than a moisturizer and goes on with zero trace that you’ve applied anything. I do feel like it is on the expensive side, as for almost $20, you only get less than 2 oz of product. However, it is extremely popular and has a cult following for a reason— it feels fantastic and leaves your skin looking beautiful. The rice extract gives it a great fragrance + hydration and antioxidants. The natural glow that this sunscreen gives your face lasts until your night routine.
Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Mineral Lotion
Price: $9.89
Type: Mineral
SPF Rating: 50
This has to be my favorite mineral sunscreen by far. There’s little to no white cast, and though the consistency is lotion-like, it rubs in very easily. If you don’t know where to start with sunscreen, I would start with this one. It’s a high enough SPF that if you don’t like how it feels on your face, it can easily be used on your body on a beach day or at a nice picnic. It’s got a fantastic value at just under $2 an ounce, and applies much better than most other sunscreens in this price range. It’s great for most skin types, though I would be careful if you’re sensitive to fragrance. I personally like the mild tropical scent it has, but I know that it can irritate other skin types. In general, I found that it held up well even throughout the Texas heat, and that it had little effect on how the makeup I applied over it looked. It was extremely moisturizing, so it may have honestly let my foundation and concealer apply smoother than normal. The packaging is also so chic and gorgeous, it looks like it belongs permanently in my beach bag.
Price: $45.00
Type: Chemical
SPF Rating: 46
I liked this sunscreen so much! It’s definitely on the very expensive side, but I got a smaller bottle to test and I was obsessed. The tint that the sunscreen has is definitely not full coverage, and more light-to-medium, but it made my skin so smooth and even that I would skip concealing blemishes for the day. It is definitely a watery sunscreen, and you have to shake the bottle often to prevent product separation. However, I feel like it's a much easier application for this reason than some thicker gels and creams. If you do wear liquid foundation on top, it blends in well with it and makes applying contour and concealer a lot easier. However, there are only a few shades of this sunscreen, and they are all quite warm-toned. For people who are cool-or neutral toned, this may not be the sunscreen for you.
Price: $14.99
Type: Chemical
SPF Rating: 50
This is a pretty popular Japanese sunscreen that’s extremely lightweight and soothing. I love its unique texture and how little effort it takes to blend into my skin. Most sunscreens I’ve tried are cream-like, this one feels almost like a watery gel. It applies clear and stays clear, which is definitely different from most others. It doesn’t feel greasy like some of the other more liquid sunscreens can. It’s got a cooling texture, and I typically skip my primer when wearing this. After a few hours of wear it can get a little greasy, so I would recommend a powder on top. I also don’t think this is the best for applying under the eye or on the eyelid; if you’re exercising, the sunscreen can drip and irritate your eyes.
Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen
Price: $19.99
Type: Mineral
SPF Rating: 50
I loved this sunscreen for pool days— I normally go into the pool and immediately wash my sunscreen off, but this stays on well and is very moisturizing. For a mineral sunscreen, its consistency is not too thick (around lotion) and it blends very easily into the skin. There is a slight white cast, but nothing excessive, and it disappears after around five-ten minutes of wear. I love how much you get for the amount you pay, as 5 oz of sunscreen of this quality can be upwards of $40 nowadays.
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