Effective Sunscreen Application To Avoid the White Cast
Mineral sunscreen is an ideal choice for sensitive skin types, making it perfect for you and your family. EEZYSUN Mineral Sunscreen is even better than most, with it’s all natural ingredients that aim to keep you protected from the sun simultaneously making sure that our oceans are not harmed in the process.
As great as mineral sunscreen is, we do realise that sometimes it can leave a “white cast” on the skin, which quite frankly is not a hot look for your summer vacation. There are way to get around this and usually it's not the sunscreen itself but rather the application of the lotion.
WHITE SHIELD EXPLAINED
A white shield or white cast is the visible white residue left behind the skin after applying a mineral sunscreen.
What cause a white-cast effect?
- Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide: these active ingredients sit on top of the skin acting like a barrier to protect from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Instead of absorbing, the minerals leave a visible layer onto of the skin. This is especially common with non-nano sunscreens, which are safer for the environment however risk the possibility of leaving a white cast.
- Non-Nano particles: the size of the particles used in the sunscreen have a big impact on the white cast. Non-nano particles are slightly bigger particles and therefore might leave a slightly larger possibility of a white cast, however they are safer for sensitive skin types as they have less chance of entering the bloodstream, reducing the risk of potential health risks. They are also safer for the environment, more particularly marine-life and will cause less damage than nano particles.
- Concentration: we want an effective sunscreen right? So therefore we aim to put in higher concentrations of these particles to maximise protection and minimise sunburn. However, the concentration plays a part in white cast too, the higher the concentration the higher chances of it showing.
- Formulation: This one is pretty straight-forward, basically the level of “white cast” that a sunblock leaves is dependant on the other ingredients added to the sunscreen. Over the years we have adjusted our formula to make sure that there are no other ingredients that can result in this.
Essentially the “white shield” is a byproduct of having an effective, environmentally friendly sunscreen.
With that being said, is it possible to have the best of both worlds, an effective, natural sunscreen with a pleasant application experience? Of course! It's all about how you apply the sunscreen that matters.
6 STEPS FOR EFFECTIVE APPLICATION TO PREVENT THE WHITE CAST
STEP 1: MOISTURISE BEFORE APPLICATION
Apply a light layer of your favourite moisturiser whether it be Cetaphil or Clarins, choose one that works best for your skin type.
Moisturising before helps the sunscreen glide on smoothly and therefore reduces the white cast. This step is especially important for those with a higher melanin content but we do encourage all skin types to moisturise.
STEP 2: APPLY A SMALL DOT OF SUNSCREEN TO YOUR HAND
Avoid squeezing a whole tube onto your arm, rather squeeze a small circular dot the size of a R2 coin in the palm of your hand.
STEP 3: HEAT THE LOTION IN YOUR HANDS
For a mineral sunscreen that is slightly heavier, it is always a good idea to rub between your hands to lower the oil content and make it smoother to apply.
STEP 4: PAT INSTEAD OF RUBBING
Rubbing makes an uneven application therefore causing streaks where as patting gently ensures even coverage to avoid the white layer.
STEP 5: GIVE IT TIME
Before giving up on the cream; wait for a couple of minutes and let it sink in properly.
STEP 6: DON'T FORGET TO REAPPLY
This one is an obvious one but you would be surprised at how many people forget. This step doesn’t necessarily impact the white cast, however it is always a good idea to use a towel to wipe off sweat before reapplication and repeat steps 1 to 5.
Give our mineral sunscreen a try with the correct application method. You never know, you could be surprised.