13 of the top sunscreens for women of color

During my childhood (and part of my adult years), I was the victim of bad sunscreen—think thick, chalky, blue/white/ashy, and hella greasy. TBH, I cringe when I look back at photos of myself at the beach. But after receiving the worst sunburn of my life as a teen in Antigua, I knew that skipping SPF wasn’t in the cards anymore. Since then, not only have I been diligent about applying it, but also about testing as many options as possible to find the one that blends in best with my rich melanin.

“Dermatologists typically recommend sunscreens that are composed of physical blockers such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, as they provide excellent protection from the sun and are less likely to cause any irritant skin reactions,” explains Carlos A. Charles, MD, of Derma di Colore.

The thing is, this doesn’t always work so well for people of color. Physical blockers are white, after all. “These thick sunscreens can often leave a white chalky residue that’s visible on darker skin,” adds Dr. Charles.

So what can you do? He has some sound advice: “I recommend finding a sunscreen with a combination of one of the physical blockers mentioned above along with a component of the chemical blockers to aid in minimizing the thickness of the sunscreen,” he says. It’s about finding that perfect balance—which, for me, has involved lots of product testing.

It’s been a long road, but the industry is starting to catch up and recognize the need for formulas suitable for all skin types and shades. Read on to discover the myriad sunscreens I’ve tried and loved, along with some dermatologist picks—no white streaks in sight.

I\u2019ve been a long-time fan of Supergoop because it was one of the first lines that worked for me. I was previously a hardcore user of their <\/span>Everyday Sunscreen<\/span><\/a>, but they\u2019ve upgraded to a fancy new weightless, scentless, and invisible formula that works like magic. <\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/rstyle.me\/n\/c52jzjr326","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

\u201c<\/span>When applying a physical sunscreen, for maximal transparency apply a thin layer that’s easily absorbed, making sure that the skin is dry,\u201d explains<\/span> Dr. Sumayah Jamal of <\/span>Schweiger Dermatology Group<\/span><\/a>. \u201cIf it’s a hot summer day, apply at least 15 minutes before leaving home to allow time for the sunscreen to absorb.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/rstyle.me\/n\/c52j5pr326","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

The name says it all: Formulated by\u00a0Shontay Lundy, an MBA and avid outdoor lover, this new sunscreen with non-toxic, high-quality natural ingredients to help protect your melanin from harmful rays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/blkgrn.com\/products\/black-girl-sunscreen-spf-30","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

Created by Frank Ocean\u2019s mom, <\/span>Katonya Breaux, <\/span>this all-natural, mineral-based SPF was created with all skin tones in mind. Don\u2019t be alarmed by the intital subtle tint, which blends into a soft, subtle glow that’s on par with your favorite Instagram filter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/www.unsuncosmetics.com\/products\/unsun-spf30-tinted-mineral-sunscreen","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

I can\u2019t say enough nice things about this sunscreen-primer hybrid. First, I love that it eliminates two moisturizing steps (face lotion and SPF). Second, it nixes shine\u2014something that’s a summertime pain point for so many of us. The silky formula glides over skin and helps your makeup stay put, even as the temps climb.<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/rstyle.me\/n\/c52ksvr326","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

Admittedly, when this launched I was a skeptic\u2014clear<\/em> sunscreen? But upon using it while on the blazing Cruzan island, I became a convert. The serum-like formula blends in effortlessly without a weird, white residue.<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/www.glossier.com\/products\/invisible-shield?gclid=CjwKCAjwi6TYBRAYEiwAOeH7Gck1xg-ORFDtAZZDqmfkmpN_-O1NBnQh-WOqwdp4YdqC-FQ1GRIdvxoCyL0QAvD_BwE","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

Designed for those who like to do more than chill out at the beach (read: the active sort), this hard-working, yet invisible formula has been one of my go-tos for years. The Japanese brand cleverly created a polymer that reacts with minerals in water (or sweat for that matter) to keep you protected for up to 80 minutes once wet.<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/rstyle.me\/n\/c52kuxr326","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

Simply calling this product “a derm favorite” would be the understatement of the century\u2014nearly every derm of color I\u2019ve interviewed over the years has mentioned this product as the gold standard. \u201cIt serves as an excellent daily moisturizer with sun protection,\u201d explains Dr. Charles. \u201cIt provides broad spectrum protection, is easy to apply, and doesn’t leave any residue on even the darkest skin tones.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/rstyle.me\/n\/c52kvyr326","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

A girlfriend of mine whipped this out in Tulum and I was pleasantly surprised. “<\/span>When applying a physical sunscreen, for maximal transparency, apply a thin layer that is easily absorbed, making sure that the skin is dry,” Dr. Jamal explained. \u201cIf it’s a hot summer day, apply at least 15 minutes before leaving home to allow time for the sunscreen to absorb.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/www.lorealparisusa.com\/products\/skin-care\/products\/body\/advanced-suncare-clear-cool-lotion-spf-30.aspx?shade=clear-cool-lotion-spf-30","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

I had no idea that Moroccanoil was in the body care game. However, they’ve seemingly captured the essence of summer in a bottle (thanks to moisturizing Monoi oil). This lotion-like formula helps nourish the skin while also protecting it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/rstyle.me\/n\/c52kybr326","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

This is another personal favorite of mine because it\u2019s so silky, sheer and easy-to-apply.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe daily use of sunscreen is the <\/span>most<\/span><\/i> important step in your skin-care routine for the prevention of skin cancer and sun related changes such as hyperpigmentation and textural imperfections,\u201d says Dr. Charles.<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/rstyle.me\/n\/c52kz5r326","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

I\u2019m typically not a fan of spray sunscreens because there’s the risk you aren\u2019t covering your entire skin\u2019s surface. This makeup setting spray, however, is prime for reapplication\u2014something that people often forget\u2014throughout your day. Plus, the <\/span>70 percent certified organic formula includes skin-soothing ingredients ranging from green tea to vitamin E. <\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/rstyle.me\/n\/c52k4br326","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

\u201c<\/span>What you want to look out for in addition to the SPF is a \u2018broad spectrum\u2019 \u00a0sunscreen that covers both UVA and UVB,\u201d she explains. \u201cHowever, you have uneven skin tone that you are trying to correct, you might want to go for the highest SPF available.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","cta_text":"Buy now","cta_link":"https:\/\/imageskincare.com\/catalog\/product\/view\/_ignore_category\/1\/id\/1221\/s\/daily-ultimate-protection-moisturizer-spf-51\/","sponsor":{"name":"","logo_url":false,"link":"","label":""}}">

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Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40, $32

I’ve been a long-time fan of Supergoop because it was one of the first lines that worked for me. I was previously a hardcore user of their Everyday Sunscreen, but they’ve upgraded to a fancy new weightless, scentless, and invisible formula that works like magic.

This is *exactly* how much sunscreen you should be applying, according to a derm. And this is 2018’s dermatologist guide to sunscreens.