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[alx]

Is anyone using a powdered mineral sunscreen (similar to the Sunforgettable) product? How effective are these compared to chemical based sunscreens?

Considering that a sunscreen is applied at least once daily, are the claims by some that chemical based sunscreens should be minimized due to the absorption of chemicals into the skin valid?

Edited by alx, 07 April 2009 - 09:05 PM.

[immortali457]

Does a moisturizer or foundation or mineral make-up with SPF provide adequate UV protection?
The distinction between a moisturizer with SPF and a sunscreen is often just marketing, as many sunscreens are emollient, so as long as you apply an SPF moisturizer at the correct rate, it will provide the labeled SPF. However, SPF moisturizers tend not to be very substantive (substantivity refers to the ability of the sunscreen to adhere to the skin and retain its original SPF under conditions of use), so it is best to look for an SPF product labeled water-resistant or very-resistant. On the other hand, use of a foundation or mineral make-up with SPF as the sole means of UV protection may be problematic because many people do not apply make-up at 2 mg/cm², the application rate at which all sunscreens are tested, as required by the FDA. Furthermore, mineral make-up tends to be less dense than sunscreen lotions/creams (which tend to have a density around 1 g/mL), so you would likely need to apply more than 1/4 tsp of mineral make-up to your face to obtain the labeled SPF. Finally, many foundations are not UVA-protective or photostable.