In order to help you find the perfect treatment for your skin, we’re rounding up the best sunscreen for dark skin in this list. We’ve carefully tested and selected these products based on their effectiveness in protecting your skin from the sun. We believe these products can help you support your beauty.
It is a common misconception that people with darker shades of skin do not need to use sunscreen.
This is a false statement as sunscreen’s main use is to protect from harmful UVA/UVB rays from the sun that can cause serious skin diseases and even cancer.
Keep in mind that nobody is safe from the sun’s heat and rays especially in this harsher weather.
This stigma discourages people with dark skin from not only putting on skin protection but generally checking areas on the skin that can get other forms of sun damage such as melanoma, keratoses, etc.
There is no reason at all why people with darker shades should not wear sunscreen if they want to.
However, it can be a difficult to find the right product to suit the correct shade as most sunscreen products leave a white cast after application.
This can be a bit weird to look at, but there are always products that cater to everyone’s needs.
Which is why we have researched the best sunscreen to use on dark skin. This will allow you to choose the best sunscreen that suits your shade and provide you with the protection that you need.
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Quick Review: Our Top 5 Best Sunscreen Products For Dark Skin
OUR TOP #1 PICK - Our top pick for the best sunscreen for dark skin is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen. This sunscreen offers the highest SPF on the list. Its sheer formula does not leave a white cast on your skin and is quite easy to blend.
OUR TOP #2 PICK - The second top pick is the Zealios Sun Barrier SPF 45 which is a non-comedogenic sunscreen that is gentle to use on the skin while giving you protection from the sun. This product is also used by athletes as it is perfect to use for rigorous activities in and out of the water.
OUR TOP #3 PICK - The third product on our list is the Solbar Shield. This product is hypoallergenic which means it can be used on sensitive skin. It does not contain strong chemicals that can irritate the skin.
OUR TOP #4 PICK - The fourth best sunscreen is the Majestic Pure SPF 30+ Sunscreen contains organic ingredients that not only protect your skin from the heat, but it also nourishes and moisturizes as well. It provides protection from UVA/UVB rays that lasts throughout the day.
OUR TOP #5 PICK - The fifth sunscreen on our list is the Sunology Face Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizing Lotion. This sunscreen is gentle to use on sensitive skin.It is non-comedogenic, cruelty-free, and it is biodegradable as well. It provides protection from the sun and is formulated with soothing essential oils.
What To Consider When Choosing Sunscreen For Your Dark Skin?
There aren’t many sunscreen products that fall into the dark screen category other than evening out dark spots however this should not discourage you!
There are some sunscreens that offer good coverage without the white residue after the application, but a good trick to finding one that suits you is to go for the sheer finish.
Sheer products, or in this case, sunscreen can help not only even out skin tone, but it is basically invisible once properly blended. It is translucent, so any shade is perfect as a canvass.
It is basically the same as any other sunscreen. What is important is that it does not leave you with grey-like skin.
People with dark skin have melanin which is basically a natural SPF, but this does not mean that they are totally safe from sun exposure.
Remember that UVA and UVB rays can do major damages to the skin, aside from just burning your skin.
There are still ongoing productions that focus on creating products for those who have dark skin.
This is to address their specific wants and needs and to encourage people to wear sunscreen for added protection whether dark skinned or not.
Skin Conditions in Dark Skin
There are different skin conditions that can affect anybody, especially when we do not take care of our skin. If we cross out hereditary conditions, we are faced with conditions that can be due to our health and environment.
Sadly, dark skin is often in the last row, and not all are aware that there are conditions that affect dark skin tones.
We have gathered some of these conditions in order to shed light and awareness.
Pigmentation Changes
We all know that hyperpigmentation is a common and almost harmless condition that affects the skin with patchy dark spots. This is also commonly seen on those who have light to fair skin tones.
Hypopigmentation, on the other hand, is the exact opposite.It affects the skin with patchy light spots. It is caused by melanin depletion or the decrease of an amino acid that is used in making melanin.
Hypopigmentation can be hereditary, or it can be caused by skin damage from burns, cuts, and even extreme sun damage.There are treatments for this condition such as light lasers and creams, but it is limited.
Eczema
This usually occurs during puberty when there are hormonal changes and disappears, but it still can occur through adulthood.
Eczema on dark skin is often misdiagnosed, and if left untreated, it could lead to more serious pigmentation problems.
The best treatment for this is to use products that are gentle and suit your skin’s sensitivity. A good diet is also required so as not to trigger irritations and allergies.
Pseudofolliculitis Barbae or PFB
This condition occurs to those who have wavy or curly hair follicles and shave or pluck their hair.
When these kinds of hair are cut off or are cleanly shaved, the tendency is that the wavy or curly hair follicles do not grow straight out. Some grow just below the skin.
You can try imagining ingrown hair. This can cause redness and irritation, and it is often mistaken as acne.
Aside from getting red and irritated, it can leave bumps and dark marks on the skin as well.
There are no known treatments for PFB at this time, but dermatologists can recommend creams that can reduce the discomfort.
There are still a lot of skin conditions that affect dark skin, and we do recommend further research or asking your peers who have experienced such.
This is to widen the perspective of dark skin and accepting that every skin tone is indeed normal and beautiful.
Product Reviews: The Top 5 Best Sunscreens For Dark Skin
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Our Rating
This sunscreen has SPF 85 that truly gives maximum protection. It protects deep into the skin, so the UVA/UVB rays won’t be able to reach even the deepest layer of your skin.
The product has a slightly heavy cream-like texture that absorbs well into the skin. It gives off a matte, shine-free finish.
The product is also weightless, and it feels invisible when worn separately or under makeup. It is also non-comedogenic, so it does not clog your pores that can cause breakouts.
It lasts throughout the day so reapplication may or may not be needed. It is water-resistant as well, but we recommend reapplying the product after 80 minutes.
It contains Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Octisalate, and Oxybenzone; all of which are commonly found in sunscreens.
This sunscreen also contains Beeswax to help keep your skin soft and elastic, and Licorice Root that helps soothe your skin from the heat or burn.
It does contain other chemicals that are essential ingredients to the product. This also has a mild fragrance which is temporary as it disappears throughout the day.
The cream may absorb well onto the skin, but it is slightly difficult to spread. This is important as the product has to be evenly distributed to the skin for good coverage.
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This sunscreen was specifically designed to protect athletes or those who prefer staying outdoors for long.
Sun exposure does not only take its toll on the surface of your skin, but it also does deep damage, which is why this product has SPF 45 to ensure that you are protected from UVA and UVB rays.
This product contains Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, and Octisalate as its main active ingredients to help for a barrier of protection on your skin.
It also helps reduce irritation and inflammation caused by the sun. This product does not contain natural ingredients, but it does its job in moisturizing and nourishing the skin.
It is non-comedogenic, so it does not clog pores nor does the product run and stings the eyes in the process. The product is long-lasting, but it is gentle for everyday use.
The formula is lightweight, has a creamy texture, and it is very easy to apply and blend on the skin, unlike heavy sunscreens. This sunscreen is also unscented, which is a plus.
When applied, this product goes on white, but it absorbs and dries clear fast, so you won’t have to worry about leaving a white cast after application.
It does not leave a slick feeling after application; it also does not make your face oily in the long run.
The only feature that we didn’t like about this sunscreen was that it is a bit difficult to remove, we recommend using a shower loofah to gently rub the product off.
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Solbar shield is hypoallergenic, making it gentle to use even on sensitive skin. This product does not have any scent to it, which is a plus and will not bother those who have a sensitive sense.
It protects the skin against any damage done by the sun and inflammation with its SPF 40.
Its active ingredients include Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. These help reduce redness, inflammation, and peeling on damaged skin.
This sunscreen also contains ingredients such as Aloe Vera powder, Vitamin E acetate, and Citric Acid which commonly found in citrus fruits.
The product comes in a thick, white cream that leaves a slight white cast, but once you blend it well, it disappears.
It can be used as a base for makeup, and it can be used as an everyday moisturizer.
It is also water-resistant, so you can have fun while doing water activities all day, but there is still a need to reapply the product after 80 minutes to ensure that you will still be further protected throughout the day.
However, the product does leave you with a slightly oily or greasy feeling afterward and since it has a thick and creamy texture, applying the product can use a bit more effort.
We do not recommend this product to those who have oily skin, but it can be used on the rest of the body where oil and sebum production is not that great.
If you apply this product with one big goop onto your skin, not only will it be difficult to spread, but it will tend to clump in the long run.
We recommend applying the product one small amount at a time so as not to waste the product and that you can apply and blend it thoroughly.
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This product contains Zinc Oxide as its main and active ingredient. It leaves a white cast after application, but it disappears after a short while.
The product does come out white with a creamy consistency, but it blends well onto skin if applied properly.
It also contains Grape Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Beeswax, Honey, Sea Salt, Macadamia and Sesame Seeds Oil all needed to provide deep moisture onto the skin.
The product is also water-resistant, but instead of 80 minutes, reapplication would need to be done 40 minutes after swimming or doing sports.
We recommend this product on those who have dry skin as it provides excellent moisture throughout the day.
It goes on the skin very well, and it spreads easily. It is non-greasy as well so there is no slick feeling after application. It is also unscented, which is a major plus.
However, this product may tend to look oily after application, but it does disappear after a while. But if you have oily prone skin, we do not recommend using this, especially under makeup.
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This sunscreen has powerful sun protection that keeps your skin safe and damage-free while being exposed to the sun. It contains Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide to help ease burnt skin.
It also contains Moringa Oil, which has a lot of benefits.
Moringa Oil is packed with nutrients with all kinds of benefits from the skin, to hair, and even to your health. It helps repair damaged skin and even cell tissues.
It also has Vitamin C which helps keep the skin elastic and supple. It also helps rejuvenate our skin’s ability to lock in natural moisture.
It is also used for other beauty and herbal products as it can help in reducing acne, dark circles and even smoothen out the skin.
This way, you are not only protected from the sun’s damage, but you are also keeping your skin healthy!
It comes in a thick cream that does not blend very well under makeup. It does leave a white cast, but it is temporary and will disappear once you blend it well.
This product is water-resistant, and it is biodegradable, so you don’t have to worry about harming marine life.
The product is also a bit greasy afterward; we do not recommend using this on the face if you have oily skin as it will appear shiny in a while.
We also do not recommend using this product under makeup as it might cake and clog the pores.
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The Bottom Line
Searching for the right product that suits your skin’s shade can be rather difficult, as it does not always cover the way we want it to.
However, there are still products that are currently being made to cater those who have dark shades.
We recommend using the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen. It provides ultimate sun protection. It is gentle to use on skin, and it blends well.
You won’t have to worry about the white cast appearance because of its sheer finish.
It is water-resistant which you can use around or in water, or you can use it as an everyday moisturizer as the product is long lasting without the need for reapplication.
Remember that sunscreen that leaves white casts are mostly not applied properly onto the skin, so blend or buff it well before adding another amount.
This way, it will not leave your skin feeling greasy and white residue that might transfer to fabric or other surfaces.
