When I began regularly using sunscreen, one of my biggest struggles as a black woman was finding sunscreen for black people that had no white cast.
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This task was tougher than I realized. Many brands that advertise their products as “sheer” or “for face,” still created a white cast on my skin after I tried them on at home. It was so frustrating!
After a few years, I’ve finally settled on a few brands of sunscreen that protect my skin, feel good and do not leave me with the ashy look!
I also noticed that this white residue appeared on medium, olive and paler skin tones. So most people will be able to benefit from this list and not have to deal with the unsightly white cast.
Check out my tried and true recommendations for the best sunscreen for black people.
What sunscreen is best for black people?
The best sunscreens for black people are:
- Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
- Garnier Brightening Serum Cream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30
- Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Broad Spectrum SPF 50 for Face Sunscreen with Antioxidant Oat
All three brands dry clear, are moisturizing and are affordable
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
This was the first non-spray sunscreen I bought (after years of testing out different brands) that actually dried without a white cast on my skin! I was so excited about it!
Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen has a consistency that is similar to a serum or primer. The texture is best described as non-greasy and gel-like, in a silky smooth format.
It actually has a similar texture to Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat Blur Face Primer that I fell in love with recently. I received the primer as a free sample from Sephora a few months ago. That is why I especially love to use this sunscreen on the days that I wear makeup. After a couple minutes, it feels like I didn’t put anything on my skin. The Unseen Sunscreen is one of the best sunscreens for dark skin!
Founded by Holly Thaggard and co-owned by tennis star Maria Sharapova, Supergoop! was created to inspire people to wear sunscreen everyday. This vegan brand is motivated to help prevent skin cancer, in a clean way! They do not use parabens, oxybenzone, octinoxate and 1600+ other ingredients on their “No List”.
Garnier Serum Cream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30
I’ve noticed that sunscreens that double as a serum usually do not have a white cast. This Garnier Serum Cream Sunscreen fits into that mold!
This SPF is a three in one product: a serum, a cream and a sunscreen. It is part of Garnier’s Green Labs line, which is focused on using the power of both nature and science to formulate clean skincare options.
All products in the Green Labs line are vegan with plant friendly packaging. They are also paraben free, mineral oil free and dye free.
The serum cream sunscreens come in three options that focus on different skin issues:
- The Pinea-C Brightening Serum Cream is infused with Vitamin C and pineapple for dull and uneven skin.
- The Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream is for dehydrated skin and fine lines. It is also infused with hyaluronic acid and watermelon.
- Finally, the third option is the Canna-B Pore Perfecting Serum Cream which is made for combination and oily skin. This serum cream is made with Niacinamide Vitamin B3 to help reduce pores and balance the skin.
So far, I’ve tried the Pinea-C Brightening Serum and love using it on the go. I use it as an everyday moisturizer and sunscreen. I often include the product as part of my nighttime routine as well because of it’s skin brightening effect!
It smells good, feels lightweight and blends in perfectly with my skin!
A little bit goes a long way with this sunscreen. Two small pumps are enough for my face and neck. And it has a nice light tropical scent, likely because it is infused with pineapple.
Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Broad Spectrum SPF 60 for Face Sunscreen with Antioxidant Oat
This Aveeno sunscreen is the most affordable brand that I’ve found so far. Right now, on Amazon, you can purchase it for about $14. However, when I originally purchased this Protect + Hydrate sunscreen, I spent only $8.
It has a nice clean scent, provides great hydration and is lightweight.
Recently, I’ve learned that it’s important to wear sunscreen in your home, especially if you have your blinds open.
I love opening my blinds every day and letting the sunlight into my bedroom.
Since this sunscreen is so affordable, I my bank account feel much more comfortable wearing sunscreen everyday, even while at home.
In their effort to soothe dry and itchy skin, Aveeno created this sunscreen formula with Prebiotic Triple Oat Complex. It helps to “soothe sensitive skin, while relieving itchy, dry skin and enhancing the skin’s moisture barrier.”
Do you need sunscreen if you have dark skin?
Yes!
Everyone needs sunscreen, no matter their skin color or race.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that although non-Hispanic African Americans are less likely to develop Melanoma, a skin cancer, than white people, they are still at risk. Because of that, you do need to use sunscreen if you have dark skin.
It’s important to note that survival rates are lower for black people with Melanoma than non-Hispanic white people with Melanoma. Melanoma is the most serious and most common type of skin cancer. This happens because people with darker skin tones are likely to be diagnosed with Melanoma at a much later stage than someone with a white or a lighter skin tone.
Is SPF 30 enough for dark skin?
Yes!
Although melanin in our skin can provide some natural protection from the sun’s rays, it’s important to use an extra barrier of sunscreen to provide the necessary protection.
As a general rule of thumb, wear a broad spectrum sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher, to be on the safe side.
Why does sunscreen make my face white?
Sunscreen can create a white cast on your skin because they contain white compounds called zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients are insoluble in water, creating a physical layer of protection on your skin.
However, as noted by SuperGoop!’s cofounder, zinc oxide comes in various forms and does not need to create the unsightly white cast to be effective. SuperGoop! uses a form of zinc oxide in their products.
Picking out sunscreen shouldn’t be tough for anyone and many companies are working to make sure black people and those with darker skin tones have options to comfortably wear sunscreen everyday.
Hopefully these sunscreens for black people work for you like they did for me!
