I’ve used the LaRoche mineral sunscreen for a couple of years now ever since I first spotted it in a French pharmacy. The whiteish cast is faint when I first smooth on the lotion, but disappears once I lightly rub the product into my skin. The pharmacist who recommended the product offered a couple of tips for applying mineral sunscreens:
Don’t squirt and slather mineral sunscreens like you would with a thicker chemical lotion. Mineral sunscreens are more liquid, and, since they sit on top of the skin, require a different application technique. Start by shaking the product and pouring a quarter-size amount in your hand, then use your fingers to dot it on an area. Smooth the product to a thin film, then move onto the next area. The whiteish cast helps you see what is covered and what is bare. Once you have covered your face, ears, and neck, gently massage the product into the surface layer of your skin to get rid of the whiteish cast. This rubbing smooths out the mineral layer so it becomes translucent and is invisible.
If you aren’t sure you have applied enough sunscreen, opt for two thin coats (with a drying period in between) instead of one thicker coat. Using two coats makes it easier to spread out the layers so they become translucent.
