Sunscreen contains organic and/or inorganic active ingredients that protect the skin from the sun’s rays. There are 2 main types of sunscreen: physical and chemical.

Physical sunscreen, which is also called mineral sunscreen, contains inorganic physical UV filters. They reflect, shatter, and block sun rays, not letting them penetrate into the skin. The composition of the physical filter is designed to sit on top of the epidermis without getting absorbed into the skin. The main ingredients of such sunscreen are titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide.
Chemical sunscreen works a bit differently. It contains organic active ingredients that absorb UV radiation. Exposure to the sun starts a chemical reaction that transforms ultraviolet radiation into heat, released from the skin. Chemical sunscreens often only protect against one type of ray, while physical sunscreen, as a rule, protects from both. The main active components in chemical sunscreens are avobenzone, octinoxate, oxybenzone, and octocrylene.

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