If you have dark skin, I’m sure that you’ve had a pretty traumatic sunscreen experience at some point in your life. A lot of sunscreens I had to wear back in the 90s were super thick, greasy, and did not blend well into my skin no matter what I did. I dreaded applying SPF during the summer, and I ignored it for a few years in college (big mistake!)
SPF is the most important step in your skincare routine. Even though I’ve never had a sunburn in my life, that doesn’t mean that I should skip over sunscreen. Wearing SPF can prevent wrinkles, skin cancer, and some sunscreens can even block blue light as well.
For all my dark-skinned ladies out there: if you’re looking for sunscreens that aren’t greasy and will blend into your skin flawlessly, here are some of my favorite sunscreens for dark skin that I’ve tried over the years!
The Best Sunscreen for Dark Skin:
Olay Sun w/ Shine Control ℅
I tried their Olay Sun w/ Shine Control sunscreen last year during a campaign, and after that, I was hooked. What I love about this sunscreen is that it is super lightweight, it contains SPF 35, and it is the perfect makeup primer. It does a fantastic job of smoothing out my skin and reducing shine, which saves me during the hot, humid east coast summers.
I use the Olay Whips w/ SPF 40 If I’m in a drier climate, and also during the winter on the East Coast to moisturize my skin.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
The Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen w/ SPF 40 is like an IRL FaceTune filter. It makes your skin look absolutely flawless. If you don’t feel like wearing makeup when you’re running errands, just throw on this sunscreen, and it will look like you have tinted moisturizer on. The big Sephora sale kicks off today, and if you get one product from the sale, this should be it!
Moroccanoil Sun Lotion 30 SPF ℅
My friends at Moroccanoil sent me their Sun Lotion w/ SPF 30 a couple of years ago, and it’s been my go-to body sunscreen for the last few years. I even brought it along with me on my last warm-weather trip to Cancun back in January. It goes on so easily, has a nice light scent, it isn’t overly thick or greasy, and it makes my skin glow in the sun.
There’s also an SPF 50 version of this sunscreen if you need a bit more protection!
Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30 Moisturizer
The Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30 Moisturizer is one of the most innovative sunscreens that I’ve tried over the years. It has light-activated technology, and it can protect your skin against blue light, so I love wearing this sunscreen when I’m working from home.
What are your favorite sunscreens for dark skin? Let me know in a comment below!
Photos by Tom McGovern
