Difference between sunblock and sunscreen

[Ophy]

Hello ladies

Im just a little confused. sunblock tends to leave a whitish grey residue on my skin whereas sunscreen doesn't. this year im going to try to stay pale as every year i have a dark face and pale chest.

I also suffer badly from heat rash so the sunblock helps with that but its just so greasy, and gives me a blueish tinge.

thanks

 

[Kathy]

Found this information on the web. hth and welcome to mut!

Sunblock vs. Sunscreen

Sunblock vs. Sunscreen

Sunblocks (physical sunscreens) are opaque formulations which absorb, reflect and scatter up to 99% of both UV and visible light. Because they are messy and may stain clothing, sunblocks are often used on such sun-sensitive areas as the nose, lips, ears and shoulders. Examples of ingredients in sunblocks are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Sunscreens (chemical sunscreens) absorb specific wavelengths (range of 200-400 nm) and are classified as drugs by the FDA because they are "...intended to protect the structure and function of the human integument against actinic damage." Sunscreens are considered more cosmetically refined due to their pleasing consistency and are, therefore, typically used over a prolonged time for effective photoprotection.

 

[charish]

wow thanks, i just always thought they were the same thing.

 

[fickledpink]

Great article, Kaville!

 

[beautynista]

Thanks for the info Kathy!

It's confusing because sometimes that's not the case. For instance the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch is actually a sunscreen because it contains chemical ingredients but on the tube it says sunblock. I guess the best thing to do is read the ingredients!

 

[Ophy]

Thanks for that, I recently bought Boots No7 Anti Ageing Anti dark spot Facial Sun protection cream with a sun factor of 50+ it does contain zinc oxide and doesnt leave a greyish residue and is silky soft on the skin.. I'll let you guys know if it starts fading any of my uneven patches of pigmentation.

Ive also bought this nifty little tube of eye cream from Fade Out for dark circles as it was recommended on another website. Fingers crossed.

 

[Kathy]

I think it depends on WHAT ingredients are in it and in what amounts. The companies might also just be marketing it in a way they think will be more attractive to the consumer!?

 

[Ophy]

I agree with you there, the name of the product is so apealing. lets hope it does something

 

[magosienne]

well i always thought they were just the same, now i know the difference. thanks for asking the question !

 

[tadzio79]

I didn't know the difference between the two either.

thanks for the clarifying that kaville!

 

[WhitneyF]

Originally Posted by charish /img/forum/go_quote.gif wow thanks, i just always thought they were the same thing. Me too. I'm glad I know the difference now.

 

[chocobon]

Great info!

 

[ayemel]

I agree with the thanks about posting the differences. I prefer a physical "sunblock", although I usually refer to it as "sunscreen".

Also, I thought I read somewhere that the FDA (or some other organization) made sunscreen companies change the names to sunscreens, because a sunblock implies that no UVA or UVB rays are getting through, but a sunscreen acts as a filter, delaying the effects of the sun's rays.

 

[justdragmedown]

wow. I always thought they were the same thing too

 

[so happy]

THANKS FOR THE INFO. THERE CAN NEVER BE ENOUGH "SUNSCREENING" TO STAY BEAUTIFUL INTO OLD AGE. WISH I HAD KNOWN THAT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

 

[biancazentena]

if u want a good uv a and uvb protecant you should go with an spf 30 or above. spf 15 30 45 50 60 still need to be reapplied often. an spf 60 needs to be reapplied every 2 and a half hours if your in the sun. if you working in an office applying it in the morning is fine. you dont need to reapply it in the office because the sunblock is not being broken down by the sun because your not sitting in the sun.. mineral or no chemical sunblock example an spf 50 mineral based sunblock like avene can be reapplied every 5 hours because its mineral and not chemical based. the avene no chemical spf 50 sunblock has been tested to be used on babies 3 months or older because there is no chemical like others. if you want a good protectant sunblock always go with the more prestige ones. the shelf generic ones are not so great in quality.

example of brands; la roche posay, ombrelle,vichy,roc minesol, neo strata oil free sunblock (great for oil and acne skins)

people using peels, dermabrasion, glycolic acids, skin lighteners etc should be using sunscreens everyday.

 

[so happy]

also, shiseido spf 55 is a really great one, too. stays on, doesn't break down, and wears well under makeup. love it.

 

[IslandGirl725]

Thanks for all the info!!!

Deb