Zinc oxide is one of the best ingredients available to use in sunscreen, and there are so many reasons for this. However, by including zinc oxide in a formula, you’re not exactly guaranteed a good product, so here are some great recommendations to choose from if you’re looking for some help.
What is zinc oxide?
While many people know that it’s good to use zinc oxide in a sunscreen, thanks to the media, some don’t know what makes it so good, and others don’t even know what it’s for! Luckily, you’ve come to the right place for a quick introduction to zinc oxide sunscreens. Remember, if you want to find out more information about the use of zinc oxide in sunscreens, or even in other cosmetics and skincare products, you can always take a look at some websites online and do a little research.
In sunscreens, zinc oxide is used as a UV filter, meaning that it’s one of the ingredients made to protect your skin from the Sun itself (most ingredients in sunscreens aren’t actually there for this reason, and some will be there to moisturise, preserve the product or change its consistency), so it’s a very important component to the formula. Because it’s a mineral sunscreen filter, zinc oxide works by creating a physical barrier across the top of your skin, and it deflects the ultraviolet rays back off of your skin, to protect it. One thing that’s quite unusual is that zinc oxide is a filter for both UVA and UVB rays, and most filters usually just protect against one of these.
There are many benefits to using a sunscreen with zinc oxide, and one of the main ones for your skin itself is that science is certain that zinc oxide is completely safe and, under recent reviews, only one other ingredient managed to pass the testing as fast as it, whilst other ingredients were still under review. Because it doesn’t penetrate into your skin, like chemical sunscreen ingredients do, there’s also no concerns about what can happen within the layers of your skin.
One of the best, and most valuable benefits of using zinc oxide is that most of the sunscreens that contain it are reef-safe, and the ingredients itself is reef-safe, so it won’t cause harm to our natural environment when you go swimming in the sea.
Now that you know all about zinc oxide, how it works, and why it’s so great, you’re probably wondering what you can buy. Below are five zinc oxide sunscreen recommendations to get into!
Also read: What is The Best Sunscreen? (For Body or Face)
Bare Republic Mineral SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Spray
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Firstly, it’s worth noting that the sun protection factor of this sunscreen is SPF 50, so it is suitable for use in the summer, and you can use it for any occasion you wish. Because it is a sports sunscreen, there are many added benefits that come with using it. Not to mention, it’s a mineral sunscreen which is another really great property to have.
Because this sunscreen is mineral, its ingredients fall under the category of clean beauty, meaning that they’re natural and all good for you – no need for any nasty chemicals or unknown substances. It also means that the formula is 100% reef-safe, so you won’t be causing any coral reef damage during your vacations.
In terms of convenience, this bottle is a spray can, which is often much easier to apply, especially when on the go, and it tends to cause less mess, two things which are even more valuable if you’ve got kids. It also stays for a long time on the skin, so you can be confident that it’ll be protecting you well for a long time.
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Oxide Dry-Touch Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 50
- 2-fluid ounces of Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 provides superior protection against aging UVA and burning UVB rays to help prevent sunburn
- Specially formulated water-resistant face sunscreen is made with naturally-sourced 100% zinc oxide and features Dry-Touch technology to help ensure it dries with a non-greasy finish
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If you’re looking for a simple sunscreen containing zinc oxide that you can use on your face, this one from Neutrogena may just be the trick. Because of all the benefits and claims it makes, it’s probably one of the best options for teens (as many teens suffer from the same concerns and skin types due to their hormones), but there’s nothing stopping anyone else from using it either!
Thanks to the two oily skin-friendly properties that it carries, being non-comedogenic and oil-free, there’s no need to worry about this sunscreen causing breakouts, irritation or worsening any pre-existing acne. Aside from your skin itself, this is also non-greasy so, while it doesn’t add to any excess oils on your skin’s surface, it’s also not making your skin feel greasy or unpleasant.
EltaMD UV Daily Face Sunscreen Moisturiser Broad Spectrum SPF 40
- EltaMD UV Daily Face Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide and Hyaluronic Acid protects your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays while infusing it with essential moisture for a more youthful appearance
- This SPF 40 non greasy sunscreen face moisturizer glides over skin effortlessly, won't leave a white cast after applying, and can be worn alone or under makeup
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Contrasting to the previous product, the target group for this facial sunscreen is of people whose main concern is aging, and this sunscreen is here to combat these signs. This is great because it simplifies your skincare routine by mixing two products into one. Of course, if you’d like, you can still use a separate treatment product along with this, but it’s not as necessary as before in order to help clear and reduce your fine lines and wrinkles.
One key ingredient used in this formula to give it the boast-worthy properties it has is hyaluronic acid, a moisturising factor that is also known to help with the sings of aging, and it will leave your skin feeling baby-soft. Another thing worth noting is that this product is, in fact, a moisturiser which contains an effective SPF, so it essentially fills in the place of your moisturiser, anti-aging treatment and your sunscreen – great for travelling or for someone who want to simplify their skincare routine.
Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen Mineral Lotion SPF 70
- POWERFUL NATURAL SUNSCREEN FOR SKIN PROTECTION - The gentle Australian Gold Botanical SPF 70 Mineral Lotion with zinc & titanium offers broad-spectrum protection that blocks harmful UVA & UVB rays, for a refreshing powdery-clean feel
- FORTIFIED WITH AUSTRALIAN BOTANICALS - The antioxidant rich SPF lotion, created with soothing elements like Eucalyptus & Red Algae, forms a unique blend of antioxidant-rich plants to fight free radicals for nourishing skin
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For environmentally friendly and highly effective sunscreens, Australian Gold is one of the favourite brands, and the link above will take you to this specific product, but there are also different options you can select to personalise your product, so it suits your lifestyle.
However, this combination is a great all-rounder, and it has SPF 70 protection, something which is quite uncommon, and assures you that you will definitely be very protected, even on the hottest of days. One of the brilliant things about this sunscreen is that the benefits it comes with are quite general, so anyone can use it, no matter what skin type, concerns or any other factor that may influence your decision on whether or not to use it. It’s also water resistant for a short period of time, so you’ll still be protected for a certain amount of time whilst you’re swimming in the sea, which beats lots of other sunscreens.
CeraVe Hydrating Tinted Sunscreen with SPF 30
- [ SHEER TINTED MINERAL SUNSCREEN ] Universal tint for all skin tones that instantly leaves skin with a healthy glow and offsets the white-cast typically associated with mineral sunscreens. Lightweight, non-greasy feel.
- [ HYDRATING FACE SUNSCREEN ] Formulated with Niacinamide to help calm skin and Hyaluronic Acid to help retain skin's natural moisture.
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If you haven’t heard of CeraVe before, where have you been?! Particularly recently, this brand has been really popular for all of its skincare products, which are made simple but effective, and come at an affordable price. This sunscreen comes with a sheer skin tint, so you will experience some glowiness and it can help to smooth out some of your blemishes.
One slight downside is that this product is only SPF 30, so it’s best not to use it when you’re going to be exposing your skin to a very strong sun, but it’s perfect for the winter, especially seeing as it will add a slight glow during a time when you’re probably not getting much of a tan.
Final thoughts
Zinc oxide is one of the best ingredients that you can find in any sunscreen, but that doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the entire product will be of the same standard. If you’re struggling to find a sunscreen that suits you, hopefully you now have a better idea, and who knows, maybe you’ve just found your new favourite skincare product!
