“Don’t forget your powdered sunscreen!”

Yes, you read right. Like, the color mint and espadrille clutches, mineral-based sunscreens are all the rage this summer.

At first I was hesitant about the potency and real protection I’d receive from using mineral sunscreen, after reading their praises on numerous fashion/beauty publications and websites, I was interested in testing this trend out for myself.

Mineral sunscreens consist of naturally-occurring and micronized forms of active sunscreen ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide; the benefits of these ingredients are already well-known. Both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are not absorbed into the skin, water-resistant, and block both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays, thus are naturally nonirritating, nonallergenic, and non-comedogenic. And unlike traditional lotion or spray sunscreens, mineral sunscreens are applied dry and won’t leave your face feeling greasy.

I decided to try BRUSH ON BLOCK Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen. After being diagnosed with skin cancer in the late 1990’s, beauty professional, Susan Posnick developed the sunscreen in an effort to encourage every man, woman and child to wear sun protection daily. Applying the screen is beyond easy - simply remove the cap, twist the bottom of the barrel (which contains the actual sunscreen), slide the plastic sleeve encasing the brush and dust liberally onto the face, neck, chest and hands. (You may need to tap the bottom a few times to get the mineral powder to reach the soft-bristled brush.) For smaller, more sensitive regions like the eyes and nose, BRUSH ON BLOCK recommends to move the sleeve halfway up for a more precise application.

The result? Not only was my face protected after a long day at the Folsom Aquatic Center, my skin felt remarkably smooth and soft after application. Another added bonus was its convenience. I could easily slip the sunscreen into my purse without worrying about a messy spill; twisting the bottom of the barrel to the right securely prevents the flow of the mineral powder. Needless to say, I am now a firm (and evangelical) believer in the power of mineral sunscreen!

BRUSH ON BLOCK Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen provides SPF 30 protection after 80 minutes of activity in water or sweating and is intended for external use only. You can purchase the sunscreen online at brushonblock.com for $24.95.