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If you haven’t switched to mineral sunscreen yet, read this case for it (and also consider that it’s bad for our planet!). Mineral means that it does not contain chemicals, which can be hormone-disrupting, cause dark spots and damage the ocean’s coral reefs. No, you don’t want any of that.
How it works is that the active ingredients in mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, sit on top of skin to physically block UVA and UVB rays. That’s why it is also known as “physical” sunscreen.
If you have already switched to mineral sunscreen, you might have noticed that the zinc options out there can leave a white appearance on skin, aka not a very cute look.
Let us introduce you to the best ever mineral sunscreen that NEVER leaves a white residue: La Suite's Sheer Physical UV Protection ($34).
Founder of la suite skincare located in Greenwich CT and at Union Square Laser Dermatology in NYC Rhea Souhleris Grous turned me onto the product after I returned from a tropical vacation with my skin a mess.
She explained that, “The way a chemical sunscreen works is that it absorbs into the skin (you need to wait 15 mins to take effect). The chemical presence absorbs the sun ray and then transfers it into heat (which is parked on the surface of the skin) to prevent a burn. Although it protects from sun damage, that heat, for people who have rosacea, melasma, sensitive, and hyperpigmented skin, can increase irritation.” Yikes!
As Rhea put it, melasma flares with the presence of heat, so a chemical SPF is not an ideal choice for people like myself. I've seen so many benefits to switching to mineral sunscreen since--few breakouts, fewer dark spots. And the La Suite product also means that I can wear it without ever having to worry about white streaks on my face. Shop now:
