At this point in your skin-care journey, you should know that sunscreen is not merely an optional accessory in your daily routine but an essential component. Acting as a shield against the sun, SPF safeguards you from harmful UV rays and is crucial for maintaining healthy skin (we’re talking melanoma, sunburns, hyperpigmentation, and more). However, a common misconception suggests that those with highly melanated skin do not require SPF and that melanin makes them immune to the sun’s damaging effects.
As a beauty editor and person with dark skin, it would be remiss of me not to debunk that false notion. Sunscreen is a critical part of protecting skin from UV damage, and melanated skin tones are no exception. Still, I get it—SPF formulas haven’t always been made with dark skin and mind (I’ve tried my fair share of SPFs that leave behind a gray, greasy cast). But if you have melanated skin and are in the market for a new sunscreen, I rounded up my tried-and-true favorites for dark skin tones, ahead. I also tapped dermatologists to share why protecting your skin with SPF is a step you shouldn’t skip. With the help of those experts (and my personal experience) we curated a list of the best sunscreens for darker skin tones, ahead.
Experts In This Article
- Corey L. Hartman, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Skin Wellness in Birmingham, Alabama
- Naana Boakye, MD, MPH, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Bergen Dermatology in northern New Jersey
- Ryan Turner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, and founder of Turner Dermatology, based in New York City
- Shereene Idriss, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology, based in New York City
Our top 13 best sunscreens for darker skin tones, at a glance:
- Best overall: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, $38
- Best full-body SPF: Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Spray Sunscreen, $36
- Best glow SPF: Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Glow SPF 30, $18
- Best SPF foundation: Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, $48
- Best for sensitive skin: Paula’s Choice Calm Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, $37
- Best for acne-prone skin: Saie Sunvisor Radiant Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 35, $38
- Best invisible: Glossier Invisible Shield SPF 35, $25
- Best stick: Supergoop! Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50, $30
- Best mineral SPF: Nudestix Nudescreen Daily Mineral Veil SPF 30, $36
- Best moisturizing formula: Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Face Moisturizer SPF 30, $40
- Best splurge: La Mer The Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen SPF 50, $120
- Best totally clear: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick SPF 45, $30
- Best hydrating: Noto Botanics Practice Safe Sun SPF 30, $43
Shop the best sunscreens for darker skin tones
Best overall: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 — $38.00
I polled all my beauty editor friends with melanated skin and asked their favorite SPF formulas and this one came up a lot. It has a clear, gel-texture, and is a multitasker that acts as a primer and moisturizer. Of course, it also blends into my skin like a dream. It’s a great shield for sun protection, but also the perfect canvas for makeup.
- SPF 40
- Water and sweat resistant
- Invisible finish
- Can feel greasy if too much is applied. A little goes a long way.
Best full-body SPF: Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Spray Sunscreen — $38.00
Sol de Janeiro is known for its delectable fragrances and this time they bottled it up with the added benefit of SPF 50 sun protection. I love that it’s a feather-light formula that melts right in and gives me a beach-ready glow. You also don’t have to worry about looking gray in your vacation photos: this one’s completely clear.
- Lightweight body mist
- Keeps skin feeling hydrated for hours
- May leave behind an oil residue that may stain delicate clothing
Best glow SPF: Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Glow SPF 30 — $15.00
Despite its name, Black Girl Sunscreen is a product designed for everyone. However, it is made with melanated skin tones in mind. This all-over body spray is enriched with nourishing oils such as jojoba and avocado and it’s also water-resistant. So, even after a dip in the pool, you’ll still maintain your moisturized and SPF-prepped skin. But, yes, you have to be sure to follow specific reapplication instructions for the best protection.
- Water-resistant
- Black-owned brand
- Moisturizing ingredients
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Best SPF foundation: Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 — $46.00
Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 checks many boxes all at once: skin care, makeup, and sun protection. The ingredients list is stacked with hydrating ingredients like squalene, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. So, not only does it help support a healthy skin barrier, but the coverage creates a nice base for the rest of your makeup.
- Comes in 30 versatile shades
- SPF 40
- Hydrating ingredients
- In extremely humid weather, the formula is prone to oxidation on oily skin
Best for acne-prone skin: Saie Sunvisor Radiant Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 35 — $38.00
Leave it to Saie to find a way to make mineral sunscreen—not only flattering on a deeper skin tone—but actually luxurious to apply. It’s made with zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to protect your skin from UV damage and free radicals. Moreso, once it’s rubbed it in leaves my skin looking juicy and dewy, which is always a plus.
- Great for brightening and hydration
- Also infused with aloe to soothe irritation
- Recyclable packaging
- May rub or transfer on clothing
Best invisible: Glossier Invisible Shield SPF 35 — $24.00
This sunscreen was one of the first SPFs I truly loved. If you’re one of those folks who see sunscreen application as a daily drudgery (and especially if you have combination skin) this could be your game changer. It’s light as a feather, so you won’t feel like you’re wearing an extra layer. Plus, its water-gel formula is like a mini spa treatment for your skin. And the cherry on top? No white cast in sight.
- Completely clear formula
- Lightweight texture
- Small bottle for the price
Best stick: Supergoop! Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50 — $28.00
You can take this Supergoop stick to your face with your eyes closed and apply it and be 100 percent confident that instead of looking ashy, you’ll look glowy. It’s a great hydrating option, so if your skin is dry, it’ll drink this formula up. I love that it’s portable and travel-friendly, so there’s no excuse—just toss in your bag and go.
- Travel friendly
- Can be applied throughout the day with ease
- Can be used on body or face
- Great for touch-ups
- Takes a long time to dry down after applying
- Some may find the finish to be greasy
Best mineral SPF: Nudestix Nudescreen Daily Mineral Veil SPF 30 — $34.00
This 100% mineral formula glides effortlessly on dark skin. It’s a regular in my rotation and comes in five versatile shades. It’s also packed with soothing herbal extracts that help add to its moisturizing, lightweight finish.
- No white cast on dark skin tones
- Five different shade options
- Oil-free
Best moisturizing formula: Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Face Moisturizer SPF 30 — $38.00
Think of this moisturizer like a two-in-one: adequate sun protection but actually really hydrating, making it perfect for every day. It’s formulated with niacinamide, aloe, and watermelon extract making it a truly nourishing, juicy potion if your skin is thirsy. It does have a light fruit scent that I don’t find irritating, personally. Still, if you’re normally sensitive to fragrance be sure to patch test this one before putting it all over—just in case.
- Clear texture
- Formula doesn’t pill
- Has added fragrance that might irritate sensitive skin types
Best splurge: La Mer The Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen SPF 50 — $120.00
If you don’t mind a good splurge (I don’t from time to time), this La Mer formula is worth a spot on your skin-care top shelf. It has that luxurious, moisturizing feel that I love about La Mer moisturizers with SPF 50 protection. Of course, it rubs in totally transparent and clear, so you get completely flawless, undetectable SPF for a pretty penny, but it doesn’t even feel like sunscreen so—worth it, IMO.
Best totally clear: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick SPF 45 — $30.00
If I had to apply sunscreen with my eyes closed with no mirror, I’d be 100 percent confident that I’d be without a white cast after using this stick. It goes on totally clear, and much like the brand’s cult-favorite Watermelon Dew Drops, it’s packed with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, also leaving your skin supple, hydrated and ready to take on the sun.
- Compact and travel-friendly
- Easy to use
- The finish may be greasy to some
Best hydrating: Noto Botanics Practice Safe Sun SPF 30 — $43.00
This is a great everyday formula that, in addition to guarding your skin from UVA/UVB rays, is packed with niacinamide and ceramides to plump and hydrate. I love using this on freshly cleansed skin on my no-makeup days.
- Made with vegan ingredients
- Formulated with vitamin C for free-radical protection
Are people with melanated skin tones naturally more protected from the sun?
According to Dr. Hartman, people with dark skin can withstand more UV light exposure, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t use sunscreen. “People with darker skin have an inherent sun protection factor in the range of about 8-10 by way of protective melanin, so the skin can withstand more UV light exposure before triggering an immune response,” he explains. “The minimum erythema dose (MED) required to induce damage is higher, but there is still a minimum that, once achieved, can lead to the same cascade of damaging reactions, which means it is still important for people with darker skin to wear sunscreen.”
Dr. Hartman also adds that people with darker skin tones are usually more susceptible to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which can worsen with sun exposure. “Not to mention that darker skin can also be sunburned, which raises the risk of skin cancer, including the most deadly, melanoma,” he explains.
According to Dr. Boakye, just because you may not see sun damage as quickly on melanated skin, it doesn’t mean it can’t happen. “While you may not be able to see it as clearly as you can on lighter skin, sunburns on darker skin can result in erythema (redness), peeling and blistering,” she says. “Sun damage on darker skin can also lead to skin cancer, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and other skin conditions.”
How much SPF does darker skin tones need?
“Regardless of skin tone, the AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) recommends that sunscreen has a minimum sun protection factor of 30 (SPF 30), is broad-spectrum, and is water resistant,” Dr. Turner says. “Remember to reapply every two hours, or more frequently as required by the specifications of the sunscreen label or if you are sweating or swimming.”
Is mineral or chemical sunscreen better for darker skin tones?
Both mineral and chemical formulas have their pros and cons. However, Dr. Hartman says he typically leans towards chemical formulas for melanated skin. “In my professional opinion, chemical sunscreens are more effective for darker skin tones. They contain ingredients that blend seamlessly into the skin, making them a preferred choice for those hesitant about using SPF,” he explains. “On the other hand, mineral sunscreens are more environmentally friendly due to their chemical-free composition. However, mineral sunscreens are not as elegant as chemical sunscreens, especially for people with darker skin.” Ultimately, Dr. Hartman says that both chemical and mineral sunscreens provide broad-spectrum protection, and the best formula is one you’ll be willing to apply and wear regularly.
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