If you’ve ever scanned thesunscreen aisleor browsed your favorite online retailer, the never-ending options can feel overwhelming.

Gone are the days of heavy, goopy products.

Today’s options are more sophisticated and tailored to different skin types and tones (viaHarper’s Bazaar).

Applying sunscreen at the beach

Not sure where to start?

Understanding the differences will help you determine which SPF is worthy of a spot in your beauty arsenal.

Take, for instance, chemical sunscreen.

Shoulder bearing sunscreen

They use powerful ingredients like zinc oxide to protect the skin (viaHarper’s Bazaar).

Another reason that mineral sunscreens can be less irritating to acne-prone skin is thanks to their protective ingredients.

Sunscreen applied to the cheek