2 Tips For Avoiding A Sunscreen White Cast

You most likely know that you should wear sunscreen every day to help reduce the chance of skin cancer developing. However, you may limit your sunscreen use or even avoid wearing it entirely due to the white cast that some sunscreens can leave behind on your skin. The truth is not all sunscreens that leave white casts behind after application, and you can minimize the chance of purchasing yet another sunscreen that leaves a white cast behind when you follow these two tips. 

1. Choose a Sunscreen That Does Not Contain Physical Filters 

There are two main types of active sunscreen ingredients: physical and chemical sun filters. The two main physical sunscreen filters in use today are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, while just a few of the many chemical sun filters included in today's sunscreens include octinoxate, avobenzone, and oxybenzone. 

Physical sun filters are typically white in color and sit on top of the skin after application, while your skin absorbs chemical sun filters shortly after application. For this reason, sunscreens that contain physical filters are much more likely to leave a white cast on the skin than those that contain only chemical filters. 

Simply check the ingredient list of a sunscreen to make sure it does not include zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide before purchasing it when you want to reduce the chance that it will leave a white cast behind. 

2. Opt for a Tinted Physical Sunscreen 

If you prefer using a sunscreen that contains physical, often called mineral, filters alone, because you have sensitive skin or simply want the great sun protection that these filters can provide, then there are ways to minimize or eliminate the white cast that zinc oxide and titanium oxide can leave on your skin. 

One way to ensure that your mineral sunscreen leaves no white cast behind is to choose a tinted physical sunscreen instead of one that contains no tint. When you use a physical sunscreen that is tinted to match your skin color, you can look forward to a sunscreen that leaves no white cast behind and even helps provide the illusion of a more even skin tone. 

In addition, tinted sunscreens that contain the pigment iron oxide do not only block the sun's harmful UV rays, but also visible light that can worsen many types of skin hyperpigmentation problems, including melasma. Non-tinted sunscreens do not block visible light, so they lack this additional protection. Sunscreens like EltaMD tinted UV sunscreen, produced by Skin Elite, are very popular tinted sunscreen options that many people today enjoy using. 

If you wear sunscreen less often than you should because you dislike the white cast it tends to leave on your skin, then follow the above two tips. You can then wear sunscreen every day to help avoid skin damage caused by the sun's harsh UV rays. 


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