There's no denying the power of a high factor, broad spectrum sunscreen in your skin-care routine. Whether you prefer a mineral or chemical version, a generous layer of SPF will protect your skin from UVA (the ultraviolet rays associated with premature aging and melanoma skin cancer) and UVB (the rays which cause sunburn). But finding a sunscreen that is compatible with dark skin? Well, that's no mean feat.
Often, the ingredients that are so brilliant at shielding skin against those damaging UV rays can also leave behind an unsightly white cast, making darker skin looking more ashy and gray than glowy.
By now, sunscreen should be a staple in your morning skin-care routine — come rain or shine — but if you're thinking about trying something new or simply want to step up your skin-care game for summer, look no further. Ahead, Dami and Breanna have done all the legwork, having tried 13 popular SPFs. Here are their honest thoughts.
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This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.
Breanna's Verdict: I never remember to prime my face before applying makeup, but e.l.f.'s invisible sunscreen knocks two birds with one stone as it provides sun protection and acts as a "blurring primer." I'm not crazy about the smell (which does fade) but I love being able to apply it without looking in a mirror. I never have fears of painting my face white when I use this.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Whoa Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen, $, available at UltaPhoto: Courtesy of Breanna Davis.
Dami's Verdict: This mineral sunscreen is a great option for Black skin — literally zero white cast and good moisturizing properties. It might not be the best choice for oily skin in the summer, but if you’re looking for a good physical sunscreen for darker skin, then here it is.
Paula's Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50, $, available at Paula's ChoicePhoto: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
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The Verdict: In my experience, this is the best mineral sunscreen for dark skin during a hot summer. It literally left no white cast and survived the underground heat on a 90-degree day. One negative is that the cream doesn't have much slip at all, so it does take some work to rub in, but the results are worth it — it's one of my faves for sure. I wouldn't recommend for the cold winter months, though, unless combined with another moisturizer.Photo: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
Breanna's Verdict: When it comes to sun safety, Sun Bum has literally thought of everything. The brand boasts SPF lip balm, heat protector for your hair, sunscreen face mists for top-ups and dedicated face and body sunscreen. This sunscreen lotion stayed true to its promise of being moisturizing. My skin was so plump and hydrated-looking. It was invisible, like I was wearing a simple lotion rather than something containing sunscreen.
Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion, $, available at Sun BumPhoto: Courtesy of Breanna Davis.
Dami's Verdict: This is a chemical sunscreen and has no white cast. Generally, chemical sunscreens don't have a white cast so it doesn’t get many brownie points for me based on this, but if you prefer chemical SPF and are in need of a new one, this is your best bet. I did find it was a tad too greasy for the summer months, yet not moisturizing enough.
Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen +, $, available at GlossierPhoto: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
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The Verdict: This mineral sunscreen has a lethal white and blue cast. Although it scored well on the non-greasy chart and had a great dry-touch finish, unfortunately it left me looking like I had a mask on. I found it somewhat difficult to remove after applying and I wouldn't wear it under makeup either, as I believe it would alter the color of a base product like a foundation. It's an all-around no for me.Photo: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
Breanna's verdict: Anything with SPF 50 is immediately a green flag for me and Pixi's SPF50 SunMist is another great, lightweight gem. The spray nozzle reaches widely, so you achieve generous coverage. It doesn't shooting out like a water gun compared to others. I can't speak much about it's water resistance because I re-apply sunscreen habitually, whether I'm getting in a pool or going to the dog park. However, I can say that despite the bottle being aluminum, it'll fit inside your purse without adding extra weight to your shoulder.
Pixi SunMist SPF 50, $, available at PixiPhoto: Courtesy of Breanna Davis.
Dami's verdict: Okay, so this didn’t give me a white cast but it had me looking slightly dull and colourless. It's not really noticeable in these pictures but it's definitely there in person! It performed well on having the dry touch element and was moisturising too.
Avène Very High Protection Sun Cream Fragrance Free SPF50+, $, available at French PharmacyPhoto: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
Breanna's Verdict: My expectations were extremely low when I first used this sunscreen because it's just so white! That'll be the ingredient zinc oxide, a mineral filter which deflects the sun's rays. I was thoroughly expecting to turn blue because of the white cast, but I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, it got me through a trip to sunny St. Maarten. I didn't find myself vigorously rubbing my skin in order to blend it in, and neither did I turn ashy after taking a dip in the ocean. It gets extra brownie points for fitting easily into my fannypack and is a great option for those who prefer mineral sunscreens.
iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 30, $, available at iS ClinicalPhoto: Courtesy of Breanna Davis.
Dami's Verdict: This is literally the perfect mineral sunscreen for dark skin. There's absolutely zero white cast. It's moisturizing and has all the slip required to spread across my face without tugging — gold star!
Skin Ceuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF50, $, available at Skin CeuticalsPhoto: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
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The verdict: This is a sunscreen I am definitely not used to but it's very useful. There is absolutely no white cast – it feels like micellar water on the skin. I think this is great for the winter months but it has a bit of an oily feel to it, so is probably not that great for the summer.
Vichy Capital Soleil Hydrating Solar Protective Water Spray, $, available at Walmart
Breanna's Verdict: This formula is highly moisturizing thanks to hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin-repairing ceramides, but it's impressively lightweight. My everyday skin tint serum includes SPF, but it helps to know I can wear that — and other foundations — over this sunscreen without my skin feeling weighed down or oily. I also have fairly sensitive skin and I haven't experienced one breakout since using this. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: This is definitely in my top three favorite sunscreens and it passes the white cast test. The price point is pretty good, too."
Byoma Gel Face Moisturizer SPF 30, $, available at TargetPhoto: Courtesy of Breanna Davis.
Dami's verdict: When you initially spray this there’s a white film, but once you pat it in, it disappears. It's not a big deal per se, but this is not a spray-and-go kind of mist.Photo: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
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The verdict: This is a great cream with no white cast but I felt it kind of crumbled off the skin while rubbing it in...
Breanna's Verdict: I really enjoy Supergoop!'s Unseen Sunscreen, but it raises the bar with Glow Screen. The SPF 40 formula is a sheer tint with a glow that looks delicious in sunlight. There are only four shades and the darkest is "Sunset" which only just matched me perfectly. At almost $40, it's not ideal for penny-pinchers like me but a little goes a long way, so if you're looking to treat yourself, it's totally worth it.
Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 Sunscreen with Hyaluronic Acid, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Courtesy of Breanna Davis.
Dami's verdict: This is a mineral sunscreen with a tiny white cast. I've been using it for years but I've had to do a lot of work, mixing it with other serums just to minimise the ashiness. Oddly enough, when I’m on holiday the white cast doesn’t come through but when I'm back home in London, it’s the complete opposite...
Clinique Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen Oil-Free Face Cream, $, available at CliniquePhoto: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
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The Verdict: I've wanted to try this SPF moisturizer for a while. It's an interesting option, because I'm not sure if I can call it a white cast, but there is definitely a cast that makes me look slightly gray and takes the color out of my skin. It has a tingling sensation on application because it contains glycolic acid — which is strange. Other than that it moisturizes and minimizes shine, which is perfect for the summer.Photo: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
Dami's Verdict: This is a great moisturizing chemical SPF, and I think it would be especially good to wear in the colder months. It has zero white cast, does the job, and feels good on the skin — what more can you ask for?
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30, $, available at AmazonPhoto: Courtesy of Dami Khadijah.
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