Sunscreening： Physical & Chemical

In sunscreen formulation, there are always two categories of sunscreen ingredients, they are physical sunscreen ingredients and chemical sunscreen ingredients, which work in different mechanism to protect us from sun-tan.

Physical sunscreen compounds reflect UV lights to decrease penetration of UV rays into and reduce the harm of sunburn to our skin as much as possible.

example: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide

Whereas, chemical sunscreen compounds absorb UV rays and convert UV rays tino non harmful compounds to skin. Application should be made 30 minutes before going out.

example: octyl methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, PABA, Avobenzone/Parsol 1789 (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane), Mesoryl SX (Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid), Mesoryl XL (Drometrizole Trisiloxane)

For most sunscreens available in the market, they utilize both physical and chemical sunscreen compounds. However, for organic brands, they just utilize nothing but physical sunscreen compounds for both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are natural source minerals. Owing to the fact that they are only mineral sunscreen compounds, you will find that the SPF is low, unless you add on some chemicals to boost their UV　protection ability. If anatural sunscreen is high in SPF, for example Lavera SPF 40，the texture is not light at all and sticky and whitish upon application.