Sunscreen labels can be a little overwhelming. What does SPF actually tell you? Which ingredients provide the protection? And how can you tell whether a sunscreen is truly mineral?
You don’t need to understand every ingredient on the list. A few simple things can tell you a lot about what’s inside your sunscreen — and whether it’s the kind of formula you’re looking for.
To make it easier, we’ll use our Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 as an example along the way.
I. Start with the SPF
SPF tells you how well a sunscreen protects against UVB radiation — the type of UV radiation primarily responsible for sunburn. But UVB is only part of the picture. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and contribute to premature skin ageing and other forms of skin damage.
That’s why it’s important to look beyond the SPF number and choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Broad-spectrum protection means the formula protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. Our Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 offers broad-spectrum protection, using 20% non-nano zinc oxide as its only UV filter.
The difference between SPF30 and SPF50 is smaller than the numbers might suggest: SPF30 filters approximately 97% of UVB rays, while SPF50 filters approximately 98%. Whatever SPF you choose, how you apply it matters too. A generous, even layer and regular reapplication are essential for getting the protection stated on the label.
Good to know: SPF mainly tells you about UVB protection. For everyday sun protection, look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that also protects against UVA.
II. Look at the UV filters
This is the most useful part of the ingredient list if you want to understand what
is actually protecting your skin. For a mineral sunscreen, look for:
- Zinc oxide — a mineral UV filter that provides broad-spectrum protection.
- Titanium dioxide — another mineral UV filter, primarily used for UVB and shorter UVA protection.
Chemical UV filters include ingredients such as:
- Avobenzone
- Octocrylene
- Octisalate
- Homosalate
- Octinoxate
If zinc oxide is the only UV filter listed, you’re looking at a sunscreen that relies solely on mineral protection. If zinc oxide appears alongside chemical UV filters, it is a combination formula.
In our Daily Mineral Sunscreen, Zinc Oxide is the only UV filter. It appears right at the beginning of the ingredient list, after water, and makes up 20% of the formula.
III. “MINERAL” DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN MINERAL-ONLY
This is a useful detail to know when shopping for sunscreen.
A sunscreen can contain zinc oxide and still use chemical UV filters alongside it. So if you’re specifically looking for mineral-only protection, don’t rely on the word “mineral” on the front of the bottle. Check the active ingredients instead. Some common chemical UV filters you may see alongside zinc oxide include avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, homosalate and octinoxate. These can be used alongside mineral filters to increase the overall level of SPF or to broaden the protection of a formula.
These products can still provide effective sun protection, but they are different from a sunscreen where zinc oxide is the sole UV filter. Our Daily Mineral Sunscreen contains 20% non-nano zinc oxide as its only UV filter. We chose this approach because we wanted the UV protection to come from a single, well-established mineral filter.
IV. NOT EVERY INGREDIENT IS A UV FILTER
Once you know which ingredient provides the UV protection, the rest of the ingredient list becomes much easier to understand. A sunscreen needs other ingredients to give it the right texture, stability and feel. For example:
- Glycerin is a humectant that helps attract and retain moisture.
- Betaine helps support skin hydration and comfort.
- Lecithin is a naturally derived lipid that can help condition the skin and support the structure of the formula.
- Coco-Glucoside is a mild surfactant derived from plant-based sources and can contribute to the formula’s texture and stability.
- Glyceryl Oleate, derived from glycerin and oleic acid, helps condition the skin and improve the feel of the formula.
Other ingredients have more technical roles. Cetearyl alcohol, for example, helps give a cream its structure and consistency, while Polyhydroxystearic Acid helps keep the zinc oxide evenly dispersed throughout the formula. These ingredients aren’t something to avoid. They are part of what turns a UV filter into a stable, wearable sunscreen.
V. THEN LOOK FOR THE SKINCARE INGREDIENTS
Once the UV filter and the ingredients needed to create a stable formula are accounted for, you can look at what else the formula brings to your skincare routine.
Our Daily Mineral Sunscreen combines its mineral protection with ingredients chosen to support the skin:
- Rosehip seed oil (Rosa Canina Fruit Oil) — a nourishing botanical oil rich in naturally occurring lipids.
- Ectoin — a naturally occurring amino-acid derivative known for its skin-protective and moisturising properties.
- Betaine — helps support hydration and skin comfort.
- Glycerin — helps attract and retain moisture.
This is an important part of how we think about sunscreen. The UV filter provides protection, but the rest of the formula can also contribute to how your skin feels and functions throughout the day.
VI. A SIMPLE WAY TO READ THE LABEL
Next time you pick up a sunscreen, look for these five things:
1. SPF
What level of UVB protection does it provide?
2. Broad-spectrum protection
Does it protect against both UVA and UVB?
3. UV filters
Is the protection coming from zinc oxide, chemical filters, or a combination?
4. Supporting ingredients
What makes the formula stable, spreadable and comfortable? Look for ingredients such as glycerin, betaine, lecithin and plant-derived emollients.
5. Skincare ingredients
What else is the formula doing for your skin? Botanical oils, humectants and barrier-supporting ingredients can all have a role.
You don’t need to become an expert in sunscreen ingredients. That’s part of our job. We do the research, carefully consider every ingredient and how it works within the complete formula, so you can feel confident in what you’re putting on your skin. Thoughtful science, carefully chosen ingredients, and nothing there without a reason.
Ready to see it in practice? Take our to find your ideal morning routine, or go straight to the . Ready to find your daily routine? Take our Skin Quiz or discover our Daily Mineral Sunscreen.