I highly recommend this mineral sunscreen for runners. My mom gave it to me when I was back in the US. I put it on my bald head for a noon run.
I felt good and didn’t get burnt after being in direct sunlight for 45 minutes.
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Today, I only want to talk about 1 product that I have been using recently for full sun protection.
It’s called Bare Republic SPF 50 mineral sunscreen.
Provided by Amazon
Here are the benefits:
- It smells good
- It stays on while you sweat
- It is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes
- I have not had to reapply throughout the day
- My skin feels good when I use it
The only downside I have noticed is that it stays on a little too well. I have to use soap and water to wash it off.
Why Mineral Sunscreen?
According to Andrea Karr from ReadersDigest.ca, there a quite a few benefits to using mineral sunscreen
1. Mineral Sunscreen protects runners against the full spectrum of UV light.
This is important for everyone. One of the biggest and most aggressive skin ailments comes from too much UV raise in a short burst of time. Since mineral sunscreen physically blocks the sun’s raise with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, UV light is reflected off of the skin. It’s almost like having super thin sunglasses all over your skin.
2. Mineral Sunscreen is easier for runners with sensitive skin
I am all over this. My skin is quite sensitive to products and chemicals. Sometimes, I have trouble with the wrong kind of laundry detergent. I generally have to put all-natural ingredients on my skin. So, if you have sensitive skin, mineral sunscreen is a must-try.
3. You can put Mineral Sunscreen over make-up
Now, I don’t usually wear make-up, but this is a huge benefit for those that do. I’m sure it can be a pain to have your make-up smear when applying sunscreen.
4. Less likely to irritate acne
If you are a runner who has acne, this is another benefit for giving it a try. Look for non-comedogenic mineral sunscreens. This just means the sunscreen won’t clog pores. Less clogged pores mean a reduced chance of making acne worse.
5. It can be just as invisible as chemical sunscreen
How I look when I’m running is not important to me. But, for many of us, running and looking like we have white makeup or paint running down our skin is not something we want. Mineral sunscreens like the one I am using, Bear Essentials, hide very well on well-tanned skin like mine. I’m brown and I cannot see the sunscreen when I apply it.
Why do I Like Mineral Sunscreen?
Mineral sunscreen is what I have been wanting to use for years, but didn’t know it. Years ago, I learned how some chemical sunscreens can be damaging to the skin because they allow cancer-causing UV rays to penetrate the skin. This was not entirely true, but one true part is that we all need a little sunlight.
Doctors recommend an average of 15-30 minutes of sunlight per day. The darker your skin, the more time is required. The problem is that we are led to believe that all sun exposure is bad.
Australia is a good example. there’s a massive hole in the ozone layer in Australia. Everyone steps foot outside Australia’s recommended to put sunscreen on. In this example, sunscreen is almost a requirement. But, in parts of the world where the ozone layer is normal, should you wear sunscreen?
The answer to that question is dependent on what your doctor recommends. It also depends on the intensity of the UV exposure, the time of day that you expose your body, and how long you expose yourself to sunlight.
For me, I’ve noticed that if I’m only gonna be running for 15 minutes or so and I don’t need to put on sunscreen. If I need to be running for over 30 minutes then I will put on sunscreen.
Is Chemical Sunscreen or Mineral Sunscreen Better for Runners?
The simplest answer that I can come up with is “I don’t know”.
I prefer using something more natural than something that has chemicals that are not always good for you. Physical sunscreens or mineral sunscreens are essentially putting a form of rock all over your skin. I like to think of it as putting dirt all over my body. Or maybe it’s like rolling around in the mud.
In Conclusion
I prefer mineral/physical sunscreens.
The mineral sunscreens help my body feel better when I’m in the sun. When I’m running for over 30 minutes, I like having mineral sunscreen on.
I hope this article leads you to try out mineral sunscreens to see if they work for you.
Have an amazing day!