It’s no secret that {SPF} is a vital part of every {skin care} routine, regardless of skin tone, as it’s essential that you protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays every. single. day. But we know that the fear of that chalky residue can be all too off-putting, especially for those with darker skin tones.
With that in mind, we’ve made it our mission to uncover the very best sunscreens with no white cast. Alongside skin care expert and Cult Concierge consultant {Ryan}, we’ve carried out rigorous testing to find the best chemical and physical sunscreens that blend seamlessly into your skin for an invisible finish, with no ashen appearance.
Read on to find out more about what causes the dreaded white cast, and to discover the 10 best SPFs without white cast.
What causes white cast in sunscreen?
It’s the filters in the sunscreen that cause that visible white residue. In mineral sunscreens (also known as physical sunscreens) in particular, these filters can be large-molecule metal oxides (like zinc and titanium oxides) that are white in colour and which, by design, sit on the surface of the skin to create a protective barrier and reflect harmful UV rays.
Chemical sunscreens typically blend and absorb much more easily, as they’re designed to penetrate the upper layers of your skin rather than sit on the surface, and they don’t contain the same white-coloured minerals. But they’re not totally void of guilt – some chemical sunscreens can leave you with a ghostly appearance too.
What to look for in a sunscreen to avoid white cast
There are certain key factors to consider when looking for a sunscreen without white cast:
Check the ingredients of mineral sunscreens
When choosing mineral sunscreens, {zinc oxide} is the better ingredient to look out for. It’s often a smaller sized molecule, which reduces the likelihood of white cast.
Opt for a chemical sunscreen instead
Chemical sunscreens don’t sit on the surface of your skin and reflect the light like mineral sunscreens, so there’s much lower risk of that white tint.
Drop to SPF30 (at the absolute lowest)
If you are comfortable dropping to an SPF30, this will reduce the percentages of filter ingredients, which in turn reduces the potential of white cast. But SPF30 is the limit. Any lower, and you won’t be giving your skin the sun protection it needs.
Now you know the science and what to look out for, here’s our pick of the best sunscreens without white cast.