Zinc oxide
Zinc Oxide
A mineral filter that covers the full UVA and UVB range and rarely irritates.
Zinc oxide sits on the surface and reflects and absorbs ultraviolet light across the whole spectrum. It is the least irritating of the common filters, which makes it the default for sensitive and rosacea-prone skin. The trade-off is cosmetic: at the concentrations needed for high SPF it can leave a white cast, particularly on deeper skin tones.
What it helps with
Products containing it
Related reading
What order to apply your skincare
Thinnest to thickest, with two exceptions that matter more than the rule itself.
Sunscreen: the only guide you need
The best sunscreen is the one you will actually put on every morning. Everything else is detail.
Fading dark spots and post-acne marks
Different causes need different treatment, and one of them is not pigment at all.
Skincare during pregnancy and breastfeeding
What to stop, what is fine, and what to use instead. Confirm anything with your own clinician.
Routine is educational and is not medical advice. Recommendations are generated from the answers you gave and general dermatological guidance — they cannot account for your full history. For persistent or severe skin conditions, or before starting anything new during pregnancy, speak to a doctor or dermatologist.