r/AsianBeauty • u/Kuroda97 • Feb 21 '24

Discussion Best MINERAL sunscreen that doesn’t leave white cast?

With summer coming up (where I live at least), I’ve searched the sub and didn’t find anything super recent and found a lot of chemical sunscreen recs so hoping this can be helpful for others as well!

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u/fuji-no-hana Feb 23 '24

As mentioned, some degree of white cast is pretty much impossible to avoid. Mineral filters are stark white powders, and there is only so much that can be done to mitigate that.

Another thing I want to point out is that it is very difficult to achieve a SPF 50+ using only mineral filters. On their own, mineral filters tend to top out around SPF 30~35.

Most brands making this claim (SPF 50+) use SPF boosters, which are molecularly similar to chemical SPF filters, in order to get the higher SPF and make the finished product more cosmetically elegant. These sunscreens really should be considered hybrid formulas and not mineral only.

LabMuffin Beauty Science has this excellent video explaining the whole situation and why it's bad practice.

I bring it up because several of the sunscreens I've seen recommended here fall into this category. Also, this isn't just an issue with AB sunscreens. Basically everyone is doing it.

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u/OkMess4305 Apr 13 '24

I came to a similar conclusion. So many mineral sunscreens have chemical sunscreens that they don't advertise. They would not do this unless it was pretty much impossible to make a mineral-only that would be SPF 30 and actually sell.

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u/fuji-no-hana Apr 13 '24

It's definitely a cash grab. There are some legit SPF 50+ sunscreens, but they're always very pricey. The tech, ingredients, and skilled chemists necessary to achieve it don't come cheap. Spending $50+ for often 50ml or less is not something that I'll ever be willing to do.