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Which sunscreen should I use, Inorganic or Organic?

Overview

There are mainly two types of sunscreen: Physical and Chemical. 

Inorganic sunscreens are also called Physical Sunscreen or Mineral Sunscreen. Organic sunscreens are also called Chemical Sunscreens.

A term Inorganic and organic are derived from chemistry.
* Organic Chemistry: The Study of Molecules Based on Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen
* Inorganic Chemistry: The study of compounds other than organic chemicals

A sunscreen can, of course, have both of these functions. It is called a Mixed sunscreen or a Combined sunscreen, and these days, many brands are developing products like this.

Through this post, let's find out what inorganic and organic sunscreens are, and what sunscreens are most suitable for one to use.

The difference between inorganic and organic sunscreen.

Inorganic sunscreen is a sunscreen that forms a protective layer on the surface of the skin to block ultraviolet rays before they penetrate into the skin.

Most product contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which has a disadvantage in that the skin does not look clean due to the white cast.

It does not seep into the skin, but it is applied over the skin. It may block skin pores, but it has less irritation than organic sunscreen. Also, even if you go out right after applying it, you can get an immediate effect.

Organic sunscreen protects the skin by getting absorbed into the skin which causes a chemical reaction. Ultraviolet rays penetrating the skin are released out of the skin as chemical energy.

Mainly, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, oxybenzone, and avobenzone (Butyl methoxy dibenzoyl methane) are used as the main ingredients.

Unlike inorganic sunscreen, it has the advantage that the skin looks clean because it does not cause a white cast.

Therefore, those who want to put on color makeup usually prefer organic sunscreen.

Contrary to inorganic sunscreen, it is not recommended for people with sensitive skin or atopic skin as chemical compounds are absorbed by the skin.

It also takes about 30 minutes to get ready to protect our skin from UV rays. Therefore, it is not recommended to go outside immediately after.

*In fact, if you dig deeper, this isn't exactly true. Inorganic sunscreens do not necessarily reflect all UV rays, nor do organic sunscreens have no effect as soon as they are applied. We will talk about this in detail in another post.

Refer to the list comparing inorganic and organic sunscreen below.

Inorganic sunscreen
- Physical UV protection (blocking)
- Suitable for dry or sensitive skin
- There is a white cast.
- It functions right after you apply it.
- Main ingredients: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide

Organic sunscreen
- Chemical sun protection
- It's better to use if you're planning to put on makeup.
- No white cast
- It doesn't work right after you put it on.
- Main ingredients: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, oxybenzone, avobenzone

Recently, a lot of modified and improved sunscreens are being developed. Such as an inorganic sunscreen that does not cause a lot of white casts, and organic sunscreen that have little irritation.

Therefore, keep in mind that the above chart is not always correct

Which sunscreen will suit me?

In order to choose the right sunscreen for you, consideration should be given in the following order.

1. Is it safe for me?
2. Purpose of going out.

If you have sensitive or atopic skin, choosing organic sunscreen is not a good decision. This is because organic sunscreen uses stronger chemicals than inorganic sunscreen and can cause skin irritation and trouble.

Therefore, these people should choose inorganic sunscreen, and if possible, it would be a good idea to avoid ultraviolet exposure at all, regardless of whether they are organic or inorganic sunscreens.

Let us also consider SPF levels. Of course, the higher the SPF level, the more irritating the skin becomes. If you initially used an SPF of 50 or 50+ and your skin was sensitive, it is recommended to lower it to 30 or 15.

The second thing to consider is the purpose of going out. If you go to a party, wedding hall, or a formal occasion such as a meeting or interview, some color makeup will be essential.

At this time, when inorganic sunscreen is used, skin makeup may not be as desired due to white casts. In this case, you can use chemical sunscreen to make your makeup look more natural and beautiful.

Furthermore, it is better to use products that do not contain raw materials recognized as dangerous substances such as avobenzone and oxybenzone for the environment and health. This will be covered in other posts.

Source

Location: South Korea

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