Field Notes · January 28, 2026 · 5 min · By Theo Lindqvist
Sunscreen: the only non-negotiable in pigment care
Mineral vs. chemical, SPF numbers, and the reapplication problem nobody solves.
Every conversation about fading spots ends in the same place: the sunscreen you actually wear.
Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on the surface and reflect light; they are the safer bet for reactive, pigment-prone skin and now come in tinted formulas that double as visible-light protection, relevant because visible light, not just UV, drives pigment in deeper skin tones. Chemical filters absorb UV and tend to feel lighter, which matters because the best sunscreen is the one you will reapply.
SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB; SPF 50, about 98%. The jump past 50 is marginal. The real failure point is quantity and reapplication: most people apply a quarter of the tested amount and never reapply. A tinted mineral SPF 30, applied generously each morning and again midday, outperforms a neglected SPF 100 every time.
Related reading: Chemical peels for pigment: what to expect and What picosecond lasers changed about pigment removal.