A guide to SPF for darker skin tones

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A guide to SPF for darker skin tones

Every skin tone, no matter how light or dark, is at risk of developing sun-related skin cancers, wrinkles, sun spots and hyperpigmentation.  

There is a dangerous misconception that those with darker skin tones don’t need daily SPF, but the truth is, we all do.

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We’ve seen SPF move from a product found only in chemists, to a skincare staple sold in all major beauty stores, and hailed by every skin expert.

And even more recently, we’re seeing brands cater to a much needed gap in the market: sunscreen for darker skin tones. 

As a lot of sunscreens are mineral-based (also known as physical sunscreens), they contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which often leave a white, chalky cast.  Not exactly ideal if said white cast is incredibly obvious in contrast to your skin tone.

Chemical sunscreens, although more transparent and thinner in texture, can also have the downside of being irritating and not suitable to those with sensitive skin. So it can be hard to find a happy medium.

One of the leading innovators in this industry, Katonya Breaux (who happens to also be the mother of music legend Frank Ocean), expressed her frustrations of this very issue in the form of a tweet back in 2013.

She then took matters into her own hands, developing her own brand of mineral sunscreens for darker tones: UnSun

Seven years on, UnSun is among several brands doing great things in the SPF world, so we thought they all deserved a little shout out.

Here are seven sunscreen picks that will offer daily protection without the ashy residue:

  1. Dermalogica Protection Sport SPF 50
  2. Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++ (available at Sephora)
  3. Kiehls Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen Aqua Lotion for Face and Body Broad Spectrum SPF 30
  4. Invisible Zinc 4HR Water Resistant Sunscreen SPF50+ UVA-UVB
  5. La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Dry Touch Facial Sunscreen SPF50+
  6. Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen Broad Spectrum (available at net-a-porter.com)
  7. Kate Somerville UncompliKated SPF 50 Soft Focus Makeup Setting Spray (available at net-a-porter.com)

Main image credit: @unsuncosmetics

Have you ever had this issue? Has it deterred you from wearing a daily SPF?

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Comments 33

  1. I’ve got a fair complexion, and I can’t stand the dreadful white cast that some sunscreens give you. It puts me off using them. So I can’t imagine how hard it must be for someone with darker skin. My personal favourites are Reef Coconut for my body (I was part of a trial team for this one, it’s fabulous) and Mecca To Save Face Sunscreen (for my face. Sits well under makeup. Love it).

  2. I’m fair but I hate white cast, too. I like Invisible Zinc tinted daywear. I get it in light & it doesn’t have a white cast. I know it also comes in medium but I don’t think they have a darker variety.

  3. Oh, wish there was a perfect sunscreen for face. All chemical based ones burn my eyes and leave very awful bitter chemical taste in my mouth when wearing them. All so far physical ones feel and look heavy on the skin and dehydrating to top skin layer. I’m using atm mix screen one, but can not apply around the eyes so this area is always unprotected. Unsure if sunnies do anything (level 3)

  4. I’m fair but use a tinted sunscreen such as Invisible Zinc or La Roche-Posay on my face and an un-tinted high SPF on my body. I can imagine how difficult it must be for people with darker skin.

  5. The white cast of sunscreen does not look good on most people especially when you see your skin in photos. But I can imagine it looking much worse on darker skin tones. I have now moved to a oil sunscreen which has no colour.