Best Mineral SPF for Dark Skin
By: Dara Udobong ‘23
Easily the biggest skincare myth floating around historically African communities is that dark-skinned people don’t need sunscreen. This was exemplified in the way I shrugged off a summer camp counsellor’s advice to rub on sunblock before we went on a hike (I definitely didn’t know what I was saying) or the diminished sunscreen options available for darker skin tones. A sunburnt picture of me in 10th grade agrees.
Darker-skin tones can give the illusion of protection from the harsh sun rays because they mask the tell-tale signs of burns, redness, and inflammation. Nonetheless, overexposure to UV rays can pose as a cancer risk, especially in the never-ending-summers of Southern California. Below is a list of the best un-tinted mineral sunscreens for people with dark sin (without the grey cast!) below $45:
Versed
Guards Up Mineral Sunscreen
$21.99
This SPF 35 boasts a lightweight texture for all skin types and provides three-way protection against UV rays, blue light rays (this is your daily reminder to spend less time on your phone), and environmental pollution. Created by an African American woman concerned with the noticeable gap in sun care for darker-skinned women, the oil-free formula is vegan, environmentally friendly, and surrounded by a 79% recycled tube. Good for sensitive skin.
Drunk Elephant
Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense
$34
This SPF 30 promises to give the wearer a more youthful-looking complexion for the humble price of $34 (okay, marketing!). Infused with antioxidants such as grape juice and sunflower shoot extract and hydrators such as raspberry seed and marula oils, Umbra Sheer moisturizes the skin and minimizes the appearance of photoaging while acting as a great sunscreen for sensitive skin.
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Prevention + Daily Ultimate Protection Moisturizer
$44
Definitely the most high-end of the bunch, this SPF 50 offers a sheer moisturizing finish with a pleasant citrus scent. With anti-aging defense and UVA/UVB protection, the sunscreen also leaves no white cast and blends into the skin smoothly. Good for oily skin types (those with very sensitive skin should be mindful of this product, as it contains essential oil fragrance). This sunscreen is also a hybrid SPF, with both chemical and mineral key ingredients.
Supergoop
Unseen Sunscreen
$17
Just HAD to slide this one in here, even if it is technically a chemical sunscreen. Truly a pioneer in the millennial sun care market, Supergoop’s SPF 40 is invisible, weightless, and scentless. Made for those of us that hate the way sunscreens can feel on the skin (especially underneath makeup), this sunscreen has makeup gripping properties, works like a primer, and glides onto the skin effortlessly.
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