Sunscreen is a must-have not just on beaches, boardwalks, and boats, but also every day. It is an everyday essential, whether you live in the Arctic or on the equator, even on the cloudiest, coldest, rainiest of days. That’s because even on the least sunny days, around 80% of the sun’s harmful UV rays can sink into your skin. Whether you’re sitting poolside, laying beachside, hiking on a cloudy day, or snowboarding in freezing temperatures, applying sunscreen first (and reapplying it a few hours later) is a must. Protecting your skin is vital to avoid developing skin cancer as well as premature aging.

Dermatologists recommend using an SPF of 30 or higher every day of the year, but especially during the summer when the sun’s rays are at their most powerful. Unprotected sun exposure can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes, and over time, it’s linked to the vast majority of facial skin aging. In other words: You need to wear sunscreen every day if you want your skin to stay healthy and youthful-looking. But, which type of sunscreen should you choose? There are two main types of sunscreens: chemical and mineral (also known as physical). While both types shield your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays, they differ in their active ingredients as well as the way they protect against UV exposure.

How Do Sunscreens Work?

The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) rays. And as much as you love feeling the sun’s warmth, these UV rays can cause all kinds of skin damage. There are two types of UV rays that can hurt your skin: UVA and UVB.

UVA

UVA rays (ultraviolet A) are long waves from the sun that penetrate deep into your and your skin and create long-term effects. We’re talking about things like wrinkling, age spots, and cancer.

UVB

UVB rays (ultraviolet B) are shorter waves from the sun that only reach the surface of your skin. This is what causes tanning or sunburn.

According to the University of Iowa Health Care (UIHC), there are approximately 500 times more UVA rays in the sun’s light than UVB rays! So not only do you need to protect yourself from the effects of UVB rays, but you also need to protect yourself from the damaging effects of abundant UVA rays.

The sunscreen you’re using contains either mineral or chemical filters. Chemical filters absorb the UV rays, while mineral filters act as a physical barrier on your skin.

What Is SPF?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This is the number that you’ll see on the side of your sunscreen bottle, like SPF 30, for example. SPF is a measure of your sunscreen’s ability to protect against UVB rays and their damaging effects.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the SPF number tells you how long the sun’s UVB rays would take to redden your skin if you applied the sunscreen exactly as directed compared with the amount of time without sunscreen.

In other words, if you used an SPF 30 product properly, it would take 30 times longer for you to burn than if you used no sunscreen.

But what about those UVA rays we mentioned earlier? Unfortunately, many sunscreens do not protect against UVA rays. (Remember: these are the rays that can penetrate deep into your skin!)

To guarantee protection against UVA and UVB rays — both of which can cause cancer — choose a sunscreen with a “Broad Spectrum” label. This is the best way to protect your skin!

What Is The Difference Between Mineral And Chemical Sunscreen?

Mineral sunscreens use two natural minerals, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as active ingredients. These minerals simply sit on the skin’s surface and protect it by blocking and reflecting away UV rays. Mineral sunscreen is to blame for the horrible white cast you see on your face.

Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, absorb into the skin and absorb UV rays. Once the light is absorbed into the skin, the chemicals in the sunscreen (oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate) create a chemical reaction in which UV light is converted to heat, and the heat dissipates from the skin.

Chemical vs Mineral: Is One Type Safer?

A lot of people tend to avoid chemical sunscreens, thinking that the chemical ingredients found in chemical sunscreens are harmful, and due to the fact that it is partially absorbed into the bloodstream. A scientist will be the first to tell you that not all chemicals are bad. Water is a chemical, and it’s something our body depends on for survival. Similarly, not all chemical sunscreen is bad. Experts assure that chemical sunscreen is safe. Pay less attention to the mineral vs chemical debate and instead focus on finding a broad-spectrum sunscreen you love that’s SPF 30 or higher.

While neither mineral or chemical sunscreen is unsafe for humans. However, chemical sunscreens are a threat to marine life. Chemical sunscreens wash off the skin and enter waterways. Unless explicitly stated on the label, chemical sunscreens are not coral reef-friendly. Certain places in the world, such as Australia, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, and now the Virgin Islands, have banned the use of chemical sunscreens because of this harmful impact. Some of the main sunscreen ingredients used today that are known to harm marine life include oxybenzone (benzophenone), nano-titanium dioxide and nano-zinc oxide, octinoxate, and octocrylene.