Mineral vs chemical sunscreen: what the ingredient data shows
Updated 2026-10-15 · Based on 2089 screened products
Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide; chemical ones use organic UV filters (some are hybrids). In our data, 16 of 38 mineral and 57 of 77 chemical sunscreens list no watchlist ingredients.
| Mineral | Chemical | |
|---|---|---|
| Screened | 38 | 77 |
| No watchlist flags | 16 | 57 |
| Flagged for titanium dioxide | 22 | 14 |
Why mineral looks "worse" here: titanium dioxide is on our watchlist (IARC 2B for inhaled powder), which mainly matters for sprays and powders. Chemical filters such as oxybenzone are regulated by concentration limits rather than classified carcinogens; see Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1176 (UV filters) and ingredients to avoid in sunscreen.
Browse: clean mineral · clean chemical · best clean mineral sunscreen. Source: FDA – Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun.
Hazard is not risk. An IARC classification says whether a substance can cause cancer under some conditions (e.g. titanium dioxide is classified for inhaled powder), not that a cosmetic containing it is harmful at normal use. EU restrictions set use limits. This page is informational, not medical advice; talk to a dermatologist about your own skin.