You’re probably familiar with the white cast left after lathering on your sunscreen. The chalky layer can leave the palest of us looking ghostly, but it’s especially noticeable for those of us with more melanin.
This often occurs as most sunscreens aren’t designed with darker skin tones in mind. Sun-blocking products usually contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that tend to leave white residues. This doesn’t mean that people with darker skin simply don’t need to wear sunscreen, though. No matter your skin tone, sun protection is fundamental.
But for those with darker skin, navigating your way to find the right sunscreen can be a challenge. That’s why we’re here to help.
Mineral formulas are a good place to start. They’re particularly helpful for dark skin and rarely leave white casts. Colorless invisible textures can also do the trick. So, if you’re looking for the ultimate dark-skin-friendly sunscreen, these are a few options to choose from:
Sonrei Sea Clearly Gel Sunscreen
Alongside sun protection, this vegan and reef-safe sunscreen hydrates and brightens the skin with its formula of antioxidants like ferulic acid, vitamin C, and E.
128 AED / 35 USD
sonreiskin.com
Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50
The sunscreen’s orange tint might seem unorthodox but the mineral peachy cream instantly sinks into the skin with no trace and no white cast in sight.
323 AED / 88 USD
muradskincare.ca
Black Girl Sunscreen
Mixing avocado, jojoba, and sunflower oil with cocoa butter, this sunscreen is perfectly glowy, reef-safe and also hydrating.
69 AED / 18.99 USD
blackgirlsunscreen.com
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Defense
Whether it’s grape juice and sunflower shoot extract to minimize the appearance of photoaging, or raspberry seed and marula oils for moisture, this chemical-free sunscreen has it all.
125 AED / 34 USD
drunkelephant.com
Mario Badescu Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30
A lightweight and oil-free formula with green tea extract not only protects from the sun but also moisturizes and helps the skin against acne marks, age or sun spots.
103 AED / 28 USD
mariobadescu.com
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen
A 2-in-1 moisturizer and sunscreen with a lightweight, oil free, and invisible texture that brightens the skin, reduces the look of pores and is reef-friendly.
128 AED / 35 USD
fentybeauty.com
Glossier Invisible Shield
Vegan, colorless and light, this product is the perfect water-gel formula that feels exactly like a serum.
92 AED / 25 USD
glossier.com
Eleven By Venus On-The-Defense Sunscreen
The brainchild of tennis champion Venus Williams and Credo Beauty, this mineral and reef-safe sunscreen melts into the skin leaving it hydrated, with a matte finish and certainly without a white cast.
154 AED / 42 USD
elevenbyvenuswilliams.com
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
This invisible mineral sunscreen formulated with natural antioxidants like marigold and black chokeberry extracts is also a particularly potent anti-aging product.
132 AED / 36 USD
farmacybeauty.com
