Ever wonder why so many leading clean sunscreen products include zinc oxide as an essential active ingredient? It’s probably the most popular sunscreen ingredient of them all, with its ability to fully protect your skin from sun damage and offer a wide range of skincare benefits. Find out more about zinc oxide and its uses.
What is zinc oxide?
Zinc oxide is an earth mineral often used as a thickening active ingredient in sunscreens. Most clean cosmetic brands use zinc oxide as a key ingredient in various skincare products because it provides foolproof protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays.
The powdery white zinc oxide is also used in a wide range of medical products like ointments and bandages because of its astringent properties.
What are the benefits of zinc oxide?
The benefits of zinc oxide are wide-ranging, though here are some of the most important ones:
It’s a physical sunscreen
It sits on top of the skin to reflect the sun’s rays, unlike chemical sunscreens which both absorb into the skin and let UV rays seep in your skin to convert them into heat.
It’s a mineral sunscreen
It provides full-spectrum protection against ultraviolet radiation. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, protect against UVB radiation, a degree of protection not strong enough to healthily prevent sunburns and protect all layers of the skin.
It’s a natural skin astringent
Zinc oxide works wonders for those of you with oily skin. Its properties work on drying out excess oil to prevent oil formation on the surface of your skin. In doing so, it reduces the appearance of large pores and tightens up your skin for a more natural and radiant glow.
It helps sun damage and inflammation
While it protects you from sunburns, zinc oxide also helps if you’ve gotten one, making your skin less prone to chapped sensitivity. Not only will it make your skin less sensitive to pain, but zinc oxide will also speed up skin repair for a faster recovery.
It prevents and manages acne breakouts
Are you tired of jarring acne breakouts? Zinc oxide works to prevent and manage unwanted acne breakouts by containing your skin’s sebum production to healthy levels.
Is zinc oxide safe?
Contrary to the belief of some chemical sunscreen advocates, zinc oxide does not pose any risk when applied to the skin. In fact, a recent study found that the regular application of zinc oxide to the skin did not cause any toxicity.