Okay, I am having confusion between the two. I thought before that they are just the same, but my friend told me that they are not. When I asked her the difference she can't give me an answer. She still insists though. So, now I am really wondering whether they are the same with just different names or completely different with the same function.
sunblock reflects the sun's rays, thereby blocking them from reaching your skin. Sunblock doesn't have a SPF because it protects the body from all UV rays. Usually, sunblock is a thick cream that should contain zinc oxide. Sunscreen absorbs rather than reflects ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Sunscreen is a cream or lotion that is SPF rated. It reacts with the skin to create an invisible barrier against the sun.
Their names say it all: sunSCREEN uses ingredients to filter (or screen) radiation to the skin. It basically acts like a sponge. SunBLOCK just blocks all the UV rays nearly completely, due to the reflective particles found in it. Sunblock acts like a mirror. Sunblock is usually less appealing because it's thicker and visible. Sunblock also is not labeled in SPF form like sunscreen is.
