Comments on: Zinc Oxide vs Mexoryl Sunscreen Ingredients

By: Bq

Bq — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 05:46:53 +0000

Hi. I also had a break out experience however after a short break I gave it another try and am very diligent to clean my face with a good cleaner that removes “makeup”. I use skincueticals. I don’t have problems any more. Plus I tone my skin too. It might be the cleaning or lack thereof that caused the breakout. I have typically sensitive skin and it will breakout at the slightest blocking of my pores.

By: Aaryn

Aaryn — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:28:29 +0000

Also, the higher the SPF the more greasy it tends to be. An SPF 30 usually gives a good amount of protection so that’s probably the best option for you if you’re worried about breaking out.

By: Aaryn

Aaryn — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:27:06 +0000

Mexoryl is patented and owned by L’Oreal so almost all of their sunscreen products have this active ingredient. They also own most of the major cosmetics companies in the world. (L’oreal, Biotherm, Lancome, Shu Uemura, Garnier, Kiehl’s, Vichy, Skinceuticals, La Roche Porsay, etc.) There is bound to be one brand owned by L’oreal that produces a sunscreen that isn’t as greasy as the one you tried/won’t break you out. I personally use L’Oreal Ombrelle Sunscreen for Face with SPF 60 and it’s non-comedogenic. It is a little bit greasy for my oily/combination skin but it hasn’t broken me out yet and with a bit of powder, I can still have a matte finish when I go out for the day. I wear sunscreen RELIGIOUSLY so I know how hard yet important it is to find the right one. Good luck with the search! :)

By: Redhead

Redhead — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:38:37 +0000

I have extremely fair skin – burn in no time and do not, under any circumstances, tan. Zinc Oxide works better than anything I’d found, though I still burned with it if not careful (reapplying spf 55 every 30 minutes). I live in the US, but went to Paris for a summer recently, and found Vichy sunscreens, which use mexoryl as the main ingredient. They worked amazingly – better than the zinc oxide, for me. However, I believe very few sunscreens in the US have that ingredient – I know you can’t buy the Vichy brand here, and you can’t order it and have it shipped on their website. I haven’t tried the
Anthelios, but for what it’s worth, the mexoryl worked great – and I have been known to burn in sun less than an hour wearing higher than a 55 spf.

By: Lavinia

Lavinia — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:19:38 +0000

I’m wondering where you got the wavelength information from?
From what I understand Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide protects along the whole spectrum from 230-700.

Can you please correct me if I’m wrong?

By: Tracy

Tracy — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:43:20 +0000

That’s odd that most of you broke out from Anthelios.I have extremly sensitive skin with eczema and the Anthelios is the only sunscreen that doesn’t break me out. In fact, creams containing zinc oxide produced red bumps every where- I always thought that since zinc oxide is a physical barrier, it could clog pores. I have mature skin which is dry most of the time, probably the reason Anthelios works for me. I could see someone with oily skin having a problem with Anthelios because it is rich. Neutrgena and Olay just makes me super shiny.

By: ruza

ruza — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:25:25 +0000

(oops… had to edit previous post, please accept this one instead and delete this line if possible)

thanks for the info. some other considerations with the sunscreen research and controversy (research ongoing, keep googling):
- some sunscreen agents have little UVA protection, most products have UVB only protection, with limited UVA (short-wave) protection. (Wish me luck on returning a bunch of products that I’ve learned aren’t really that “broad spectrum”)
- those agents that provide UVA protection can have estrogenic effects and cause photo sensitivities (i.e. Avobenzone degrades upon UV exposure and over time decreases protection, increases photosensitivity). There are studies in Australia saying there are increased incidences of skin cancer with some UVA sunscreen products (especially with people staying out in sun too long thinking they are protected).
- newer media info: overuse of “high SPF” sunscreens has been linked to Vitamin D deficiencies in some people (still following this one, mostly Australian studies). Tthere appears to be minimal difference in protection between SPF 15 and 30 with regards to sun exposure (96% v. 98%), and looking at previous human generations, some sun is necessary for health (albeit today’s climate seems more severe that in the past). Maybe you only need SPF 15 to 30, but reapplied more frequently during peak sun hours (10 to 3 daily). SPF 40, 50 or higher is controversial.
- don’t know much about Meroxyl except that L’oreal owns the patent (parent company of La Roche Posay). Was going to try their sunscreen but I have problems with sunscreens and breakouts. Thanks for the advice.
- so far, I’m hoping 2 newer products I got with mineral sunscreens will work out better (especially since I have oily-combo skin that’s sensitive, light olive complexion so I don’t really burn that much, UVA more of a concern). One is zinc-oxide based, the other titanium based (but microparticle so less “white”), both are “organic/natural” (we’ll see, I like to research). Zinc is supposed to offer better protection, also zinc is commonly used for medicinal purposes (diaper rash, wounds, zits, etc.) so I prefer this so far. Let you know how I fare before I dare promote anything.

By: Hailey Cross

Hailey Cross — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:54:21 +0000

Hi there. I would recommend you do some real research on sunscreens. You have been influenced by mass media that says that a high SPF product is a better sun screen. Do you know how much more uvb absorption is achieved by an SPF 30 vs. an SPF 15? about 2% more uvb…that basically means you can stay in the sun minutes longer. The key is to reaplpy your sunscreen often, in other words do your skin a favor and fight against skin cancer by using a sunsccreen that focuses on the best protection against UVA. You are correct on one thing, Mexoryl is the best UVA protection. Do you know why? Because it protects you from both UVA long ray and UVA short ray…no other sunscreen in the market protects from UVA short ray. You should also know that the Anthelios products have been clinically tested on patients with highly sensitive skin (Dermatosis), and proved to be extremely safe. Anthelios SX is acnegenic, and the texture is amazing!! I recommend you try it again…perhaps you were hormonal when you used it and are blaming the sunscreen for your breakouts.

By: Jeni - Savvy Skin

Jeni - Savvy Skin — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 06:45:40 +0000

DR,
I’m glad you like the Shiseido! Yeah the Anthelios did seem sort of oily. I only tried one (I know they have like 10 different formulas) but the one I tried also make me break out like crazy.

By: DR

DR — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:34:12 +0000

Hi Jeni, I used the Anthelios sunscreen on holiday and it turned my face into an oil slick :( . Now I’m using the Shiseido one and love it.