Mineral and chemical sunscreens are both effective UV filters that help to prevent sun burns and premature skin aging.

Chemical sunscreens use a variety of FDA-approved UV filters made from organic compounds to protect your skin. They work by absorbing into the skin and dissipating UV rays.

Mineral sunscreens are made from the inorganic compounds Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide. Contrary to popular belief, these filters do not reflect UV. They reflect *some* UV, but mostly work by absorbing UV energy. When using these products, it's important to get a smooth application by rubbing them in as much as possible. When you do this, you ensure that your SPF is effective. When you don't, you run the risk of a rigid application which can degrade the product's efficacy.

It's important to know that all sunscreens are chemicals that are made in labs. The primary difference between so-called "mineral" / "physical" and so-called "chemical" sunscreens is that mineral chemicals are inorganic compounds and "chemical" sunscreens are made from organic compounds. "Chemical" or Organic sunscreens tend to be both more effective and more cosmetically elegant.

Which one is right for you? That’s a matter of personal preference. At Bask, we think the best sunscreen is the one that you are going to use! The three key things to avoid in sunscreen products are: oxybenzone, aerosols with chemical propellants (Bask uses a non-aerosol spray free of chemical propellants), and nanoparticle-zinc.

You should also avoid chemical/mineral hybrid products. It's totally fine to layer a mineral on top of a chemical, but we don't currently recommend purchasing sunscreens that formulate a chemical active and a mineral active together.

The other important factor to consider when choosing between a mineral and chemical sunscreen is environmental. The carbon footprint of mineral sunscreens is exponentially higher than that of chemical/'organic sunscreens. Therefore, mineral sunscreens contribute far greater to global warming - which is not only the greatest threat facing our environment, but also the greatest threat to coral reef.