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Sunscreen breakdown!

Reading the ingredients, you can tell if your sunscreen is chemical or physical. It is a physical sunscreen if you see minerals such as titanium oxide and/or zinc oxide. These ingredients work like shields on top of the skin, creating a barrier that blocks and deflects UVA/UVB rays. ​​​​​​​​
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What we like:​​​​​​​​

👍🏼 Works immediately when applied​​​​​​​​
👍🏼 Safer for sensitive skin, melasma, children, and pregnant patients​​​​​​​​
👍🏼 Doesn’t promote as much heat within the skin​​​​​​​​

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What we don’t like​​​​​​​​:

👎🏼 Some may leave a white cast which is why we love the tinted options!​​​​​​​​
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Check out our story highlights to view some of our favorite physical sunblocks!​​​​​​​​
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Chemical sunscreens are made with organic carbon-based compounds such as Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Homosalate, etc. These ingredients absorb into the skin and allow UVA/UVB rays to penetrate into the skin, but convert them into non-damaging wavelengths of light and heat.​​​​​​​​
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What we like:​​​​​​​​

👍🏼 Invisible options for deeper skin tones​​​​​​​​
👍🏼 Lightweight consistency​​​​​​​​
👍🏼 More water and sweat resistant​​​​​​​​

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What we don’t like:​​​​​​​​

👎🏼 Must wait 30 minutes after application for the chemical ingredients to become active before sun exposure​​​​​​​​
👎🏼 Break down quickly by the sun and must be reapplied every 2 hours​​​​​​​​
👎🏼 Might not be suitable for sensitive skin​​​​​​​​
👎🏼 Prone to clog pores​​​​​​​​
👎🏼 More prone to allergic reactions​​​​​​​​
👎🏼 Not always reef safe​​​​​​​​
👎🏼 Certain chemical filters are banned in some countries​​​​​​​​
👎🏼 Trace amounts may enter the bloodstream​​​​​​​​