Tag: sunscreen protect

6 Black-Owned Sunscreen Brands to Try ASAP

Published on by Lee2 Comments

Regardless of your skin tone, wearing sunscreen every day is one of the best (and easiest) ways to protect your skin’s health and appearance, not to mention prevent the signs of aging. Sunscreen can help prevent rough and damaged skin, as well as skin cancer — rain or shine — since the sun emits harmful UV rays year-round. Not sure which sunscreen is best for you? According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays.“

If you want to be extra safe, a higher SPF number blocks more of the sun’s UVB rays, but no sunscreen can block them 100%. For maximum protection, be sure to reapply thoroughly every couple of hours, and don’t forget about your lips (wearing a lip balm with SPF not only nourishes your lips but also protects them from skin cancer). Those with darker skin tones might be worried about sunscreen leaving a white cast, but that’s where these Black-owned sunscreen brands that you’ll want to try ASAP come in. They’re for every skin tone, so keep on reading to find your new product go-to. And remember, you don’t need to wait until summer to try these out.

Advertisements

Our top picks:

Site icon
6 Black-Owned Sunscreen Brands to Try ASAP

These are the top picks of Black-owned sunscreen brands to wear in every type of climate.

Advertisements

Keys Soulcare SPF 30 Sunscreen

This broad spectrum SPF 30 will protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, while the squalane and niacinamide ingredients keep your skin soft and balanced. Also, vitamin B3 helps to brighten and balance the skin’s appearance. All ingredients are clean and cruelty-free and it’s formulated without parabens. Not to mention, it goes on completely clear, leaving you feeling (and looking) radiant and confident. Bonus: The brand was founded by the queen herself, Alicia Keys (hence the name!).

Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Made for melanated skin, this sunscreen brand protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays using a signature, sheer formula. “As a Black woman, it can be a struggle to find a lightweight sunscreen that doesn’t leave behind a white cast,” says BLB editor Valeris. “This fragrance-free formula with SPF 30 has been amazing for my skin. It absorbs quickly and it works well under makeup.” It doubles as a moisturizer, thanks to its hydrating ingredients, like jojoba, cacao and avocado, and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30

On the hunt for an invisible SPF 30? Look no further! Founded by Rihanna, Fenty Skin’s Broad Spectrum sunscreen locks in hydration, fades the look of dark spots and smoothes the appearance of pores. After one week, 100% of users agree it softened their skin and it didn’t pill under makeup (this was based on the brand’s own eight-week consumer study on 52 people). It is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, like niacinamide and kalahari melon.

Advertisements

Eleven Ace the Day Face Lotion SPF 30

Founded by Venus Williams, Eleven’s lightweight facial sun serum provides protection while simultaneously helping to hydrate, calm and smooth the skin. Shake well before use and then apply daily for maximum protection and skin hydration. It’s dermatologist-approved and quickly absorbs on all skin tones, creating a semi-matte finish. The multifunctional formula can be worn as a lightweight primer to extend the wear time of all of your makeup looks. Formulated to be water- and sweat-resistant, you can wear it for 40 minutes before reapplying.

Absolute Joi Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen

A tinted mineral sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast, it will leave sensitive skin feeling extra hydrated. “The mineral formula was nice and felt moisturizing,” says BLB chemist Sabina. “It was founded by a doctor (a woman) who had an impressive CV and whose daughters had trouble finding the skincare that suited them.” Plus, there are two shades, mocha and cafe au lait. The squalane and hyaluronic acid ingredients provide long-lasting hydration and moisture without clogging pores, while vitamin C combats signs of aging and brightens the skin to create a more even tone. Other important ingredients are green tea and chamomile extract, which reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

Bolden SPF 30 Brightening Moisturizer

Infused with a large dosage of vitamin C, the Bolden Brightening Moisturizer sunscreen will brighten your skin and diminish signs of sun damage and any dark marks, while also providing hydration and nourishment, thanks to its robust antioxidants. It’s made free of sulfates, parabens or phthalates. Other essential ingredients that make up its composition are squalane, which reduces roughness and fine lines, as well as sunflower oil, which repairs the skin’s barrier and eases dryness. To top off all of its benefits, it dries clear without leaving a white, chalky residue.

SPF APPLICATION: You’ve Probably Been Doing It Wrong

Published on by Lee1 Comment

To give us all some credit, we’re sure a lot of us SPF enthusiasts are doing it correctly. Maybe even overdoing it. Which to us, is correct. One can never have too much sun protection! But there are many of us out there haphazardly slapping on the SPF sparingly, here and there, just to say we did it. Most often, that’s like not doing it at all.

Here are few expert opinions on how we should be applying sunscreen, day in and day out.

Reapply

People really need to understand the importance of re-application of your sunscreen, every day. Because that’s not just a thing our moms like to say to annoy us. SPF is only protectively active for so long, so if we never reapply, it’s literally not working hours later—we might as well have none on. FDA recommends that you reapply every two to three hours, and more often if you plan on engaging in high-intensity activities.

Make sure lips and eyes are covered

Lately, us beauties have been using an SPF mist as our go-to for full face, neck, and chest sunscreen every day because it’s great over makeup. It’s a personal preference whether or not one needs a different sunscreen for lips and eyes, but it’s super important if your eye area is extra sensitive, and many people’s are. What is crucial is that you stay covered, so if you’re avoiding sunscreen on your lips or eyes due to sensitivities, certainly get products just for that area.

Don’t forget the décolletage

You definitely want to remember sunscreen on the décolletage as well to avoid wrinkles and dark spots over time. I use it anywhere and everywhere my skin is constantly exposed—so that absolutely includes this gorgeous area of the body. The skin here is not as delicate as the face, but definitely more delicate and wrinkle-prone than other areas of the body, so don’t skimp on the neck and chest.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE…

The tops of your hands, too

Especially while you’re driving, your hands are always exposed to the sun, which can often lead to skin damage. Some say our hands are the first to tell our true age, and that’s because they are so prone to wrinkling and sunspots. It’s easy to forget the hands, which arguably take the most beating over any other part of the body, and they are almost never unexposed.

If you sit in traffic often …

And if you live in Miami, you just might. When you’re driving, your entire upper body is exposed to the sun, and UV rays can definitely penetrate through the windows onto the skin. I highly recommend applying and reapplying sunscreen on your face, neck, chest, and arms even if you’re sitting in the car all day.

When things get wet

Swimming, versus just sweating? Not every day is going to be a wet and wild pool or beach day, but hot summer days have an effect on your level of protection as well. According to the FDA, there’s no such thing as waterproof sunscreen. So yes, sweating can lift your sun protection up from the skin through your pores, and any material that wipes or wicks sweeps it away along with the sweat. When I know I’m going to sweat a lot or plan on swimming, I make sure to reapply my sunscreen more often.

COMMENT BELOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON SUNSCREEN

SPF SPF SPF YOU’LL LOVE

Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin Tones That Won’t Leave White Streaks

Published on by Lee5 Comments

Although melanin does give darker skin tones some sunprotection, it’s not enough to prevent skin cancer. Not to mention,“With cumulative sun exposure you can see increased fine lines, decreased elasticity, and discoloration, which means, yes, you should wear broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, even if you have a darker skin tone. The trouble is, so many leave a white cast. Here, Lee found (and tested) the best sunscreens for darker skin tones that were made with melanin in mind. And while you’re hunting, don’t forget the lip SPF!

Green Screen Daily Environmental Protector

Farmacy $46.40

A blend of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide forms (with an antioxidant boost from echinacea) a shield on the skin that not only blocks the sun’s damaging rays, but also visible light from digital devices (which accelerate aging, too). Prefer mineral based sunscreens or physical blockers that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, because they’re more protective against exacerbation of discoloration and dark spots.

Umbra Sheer Physical Defense

Drunk Elephant $34.00

Zinc oxide is the sunscreen gold standard. It blocks a broader range of the sun’s light than titanium dioxide and may be more stable. But zinc’s difficult to formulate into a wearable sunscreen, especially for darker skin, because it’s very whitening. This formula gets it right. It disappears on the skin, even on dark complexions. Mineral sunscreens are particularly helpful for dark skin because they deflect heat which worsens hyperpigmentation.

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+

IT COSMETICS $39.50

This all-in-one cream is powered by mineral sunscreens and is my current go-to. There are shades to match every skin tone, it acts as a concealer, and is oil-free with a matte finish.

Award-winning color correcting cream that works beautifully as your full-coverage foundation, hydrating anti-aging serum and SPF 50+ physical sunscreen. Infused with hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and vitamins, this skin-loving full-coverage foundation reduces the appearance of acne scarring, wrinkles, redness on skin, dark circles under eyes and large pores—all while giving you a luminous, supple, flawless-looking complexion.

Complete Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Olay $13.99

For dry skin I usually recommend using sunscreens that are hydrating and most facial moisturizers with sunscreen can achieve this. This formula has a mix of chemical sunscreens and zinc oxide. This gentle, lightweight lotion is fragrance-free and features zinc oxide, a gentle mineral sunscreen. It also includes vitamin E and aloe to help maintain healthy-looking skin. Unlike many facial moisturizers with sunscreen, complete all day facial moisturizer with SPF is non-greasy and lightweight. Its oil-free formula leaves skin with a healthy glow which is also perfect for sensitive skin.

SPF 50 Defense Refresh Setting Mist

Supergoop! $30.00

Lee emphasizes that sunscreen must be reapplied throughout the day (specifically every two hours) to maintain protection. Sounds okay for a day at the beach, but what about a day at the office? Spritz this spray right on top of your makeup—it’ll refresh your look and protect your skin.

Mineral Liplux SPF 30

Coola $18.00

Lips need sun care, too. Moisturize and protect them with this Coola mineral sunscreen lip balm. Organic beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil give this balm its creamy base while titanium dioxide and zinc do sun-blocking work. COOLA Mineral Liplux with SPF 30 adds a hint of natural color while protecting, nourishing and conditioning your lips. Organic Cupuacu Butter and Mongongo Oil offers incredible creaminess that promotes a special softness and smoothness to boost your lip’s natural moisture and help improve the appearance of aging and thinning skin.

Ultra Sheer SPF 30 Moisturizing Sunscreen

Black Girl Sunscreen $18.99

A sunscreen made for women of color. The formula goes on completely clear and gives the skin a pretty glow. Because it hydrates without being greasy or tacky, it’s an effective base for makeup.

Being Oxybenzone and Octinoxate free means you won’t have about toxics disrupting your hormones, and your sunscreen being environmentally friendly. Avocado moisturizes, reduces signs of aging, and treats sunburns. Containing vitamin E and antioxidants is what makes avocado one of the hottest trends in the natural skin care industry. Not only using avocado oil, but eating avocado on a weekly basis can be very beneficial and necessary for your skin. Jojoba soothes and moisturizes the skin leaving it flawless while preventing acne. Hydrating your skin is crucial to skin health and prevents wrinkles and fine lines. Cacao provides powerful anti-oxidants and evens out the complexion of your skin for a smooth, consistent skin tone. Carrot Juice contains vitamin C which enables it to promote healing and even boost the level of melanin in the skin. Carrot juice has been known to even out acne breakouts too. Sun Flower Oil prevents skin irritation from sunburn and other skin irritants. This nutrient-rich oil provides inflammation relief as well.

Forever Young Hand Cream with Sea Buckthorn

Supergoop! $14.00

Your hands need sun protection, too. While its powered by chemical screens, there’s no oxybenzone. And it has argan oil to moisturize but still absorbs quickly.

Environmental Shield Essential-C Eye Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Murad $70.00

The eye area is particularly sensitive to the sun’s damaging rays because the skin is thinner and dryer. This eye cream protects with SPF and antioxidant Vitamin C. Treatment ingredients include retinol to increase cell turnover and avocado oil for moisture. Shorea stenoptera butter and avocado oil work together to condition and hydrate for smoother skin.

Caffeine reduces puffiness, retinol supports natural renewal to help restore skin’s youthfulness, and light diffusers soften appearance of fine lines and dark circles. Environmental Shield Essential-C Eye Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15 / PA +++ is recommended as a Step 3 moisturizer to protect the eye area in any Murad Environmental Shield regimen. It hydrates, smoothes, and shields skin from UV damage to reduce eye area aging as part of Dr. Murad’s inclusive health system of care.

ARE YOU A SUNSCREEN USER? WHAT BRAND IS YOUR FAVORITE SUNSCREEN TO USE ON THE DAILY? Comment down below!