Best 5 sunscreens for the summer 2022

As you might have heard, you need to protect your skin with sunscreen all over the year, no matter the season or how much time you spend outdoors. UV sun rays can damage the skin and cause skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, inflammation, fine lines or worst, skin cancer.

Hence it is very important to protect the skin with the right sunscreen while adopting good habits – starting by protecting your skin with sunscreen every morning in your skin care routine.

In this guide, we are going to give you some advice about the best sunscreen you should get depending on the type of skin you have.

There are two different types of sunscreen, mineral and chemical. Each of them uses a different mechanism for filtering the UV rays and protecting the skin.

MINERAL SUNSCREEN

Mineral sunscreen – also called physical sunscreen or natural sunscreen – is effective, easy to apply and you don’t have to wait a long time before it is absorved as it creates a physical barrier. It uses minerals to safeguard your skin from UV rays. This minerals sit on top of the skin’s surface and deflect the UV rays acting like small mirrors. Because they block UV rays at the surface level, mineral sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB.

Typically it contains active ingredients acting as a protective layer on your skin : zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. This are the only ingredients that count as mineral.

• Zinc oxide is derived from zinc and ground into small particles. It can be present at concentration up to 25%.
• Titamnium oxide is derived from titanium and has smaller particle sizes than zinc oxide. It can reach concentrations of 25% as well.

CHEMICAL SUNSCREEN

Chemical sunscreens take more time to be effective – about 20 minutes. They are absorbed into the skin and sit in deeper layers. They absorb UV rays and change them into heat, then release the heat from the skin.

OUR PICKS

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 70

$ affordable – 9$

Aveeno Hydrate + Protect, SPF 60

$$ paraben and oil free – 17$

Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

$ good deal – two for 20$

CeraVe Mineral Body Sunscreen, SPF 50

$ best for sensitive skin – 16$

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen, SPF 100

$$ best for acne prone skin – 20$

MINEARL vs. CHEMICAL SUNSCREEN: Which One Should I Use?

When it comes to your safety, you should not take risks. Not only does UV photodamage accelerate aging but as mentionned early, it can cause skin concerns.

	Mineral sunscreen	Chemical sunscreen
Pros	-Safer ingredients (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) -Great for sensitive skin -Works immediately	-Absorbs UV light -Doesn’t leave a white cast
Cons	-It can leave a white cast -It can feel a bit heavier than chemical sunscreen	-Can cause allergic reactions, irritations or acne -Contains dangerous levels of toxins -Takes longer to work

CONCLUSIONS

As seen previously, there’s pros and cons about chemical and mineral sunscreens. Mineral sunscreen wins the battle as it is better for sensitive skin, for your health and for the environment.

What really matters is that you choose and wear the sunscreen you prefer and you feel confortable with it, but always remember that wearing sunscreen, even if it is a low SPF, is better than wearing nothing!