Tinted mineral sunscreen that isn't a bastard

[crispinglovershighkick]

I have a love/hate relationship with tinted mineral sunscreen: it's easy (two birds/one stone, no white cast) but it's a bastard (pills and peels about 50% of the time). I've just wiped my face a second time because for whatever reason neither of the primers I used stopped the ts from pilling over moisturiser. Not sure if I should have 1) waited longer to apply or 2) applied immediately but I can no longer be arsed to figure it out.

I used to love the Coola matte one, now discontinued. It sometimes pilled but the Niod one I use now pills somewhere on my face most of the time.

Am I doing it all wrong and I need a completely different product? Ts all seem very silicone-heavy which I don't love.

Ideally prefer cruelty free brands.

I tried Sam Bunting’s tinted SPF today and it was really shiny. Not sure how wearable it is! Avene also makes a tinted physical sunscreen which has a very oily finish, it didn’t work for me at all.

With regards to pilling, I wondered if you may be applying too much sunscreen? I know we should use 1/4 teaspoons for the face but some sunscreen formulas require so much rubbing that they will end up flaking even without any other product underneath.

If you (or someone else in this thread) is OK with chemical filters, the Heliocare tinted gel SPF 50 is excellent. My skin reacts badly to La Roche Posay and other French pharmacy filters, but not to this one. It comes in 2 shades, the light one is close to Laura Mercier TM in Nude (but warmer) and has medium coverage with a lovely finish. Not a good option for very fair skin tones but for those who are light medium it should work. The second shade is called “Brown”, I haven’t tried it so don’t know what colour it really is.

Has anyone tried this? New (to the UK), it’s an Australian brand, looks lightly tinted and has a high zinc oxide content:

www.spacenk.com/uk/sun-tan/suncare/face-suncream/lean-screen-mineral-mattifying-spf-50-MUK200029722.html

BlackAmericano I have very fair neutral skin and I've had the same problem but I find both the Neostrata and Niod ok colourwise. That's a great tip about the drops if I find an untinted product that suits me better.

TheWine good call, I'll try serum, mist and a drop of oil instead of balm. Today I used just a tiny bit of serum around the eyes and a hydrating mist then applied the ss thinly over it and it didn't pill but it feels and looks a bit dry and matte.

Mcmc I think you're right about applying too much sunscreen, it's a reflex bc you're meant to apply enough to achieve the correct protection. I'll try the Bunting and Avene products. I should have said in my op, I'm 53, I wonder if facial mineral sunscreen suits a younger or oilier skin.

If anyone else is having the same problem there are lots of good suggestions here: theskincareedit.com/how-to-prevent-product-pilling

Reporting back on the Jan Marini sunscreen, as I have been wearing it for a few days and am very impressed. More matte than the Ella MD, very lightweight and no white cast. And easier to get hold of than Elta!