Hey guys, I hope all is well. I am always talking about the importance of sun protection, especially if you have hyperpigmentation so I thought I would put together an edit of sunscreens I have used & recommend. There are a ton of sunscreens on the market, but most of them leave a white cast on dark skin or leave us looking blue/purple/grey, even the SPFs that promise to be invisible
This is not a sponsored post, I bought 5/6 of the sunscreens listed! I am doing this post because I know first-hand how frustrating it is to find a good sunscreen that can work on our skintone without having to ‘make it work’.
Beauty pie Ultra-Light UVA/UVB SPF 25
This is the lowest SPF on this list but I thought I would still add this in here. I discovered this during my BP skincare challenge and I used it in the winter. This is a lightweight lotion and it’s very hydrating too. No cast and it leaves the skin looking brighter thanks to liquorice extract. I do wish they bring this same formula in an SPF 30 or higher!
Nivea Face Moisture Mousse SPF 50
This is the best value for money sunscreen I have come across in the drugstore. It’s only £9 for SPF 50 and 75ml which should last you a while (mine lasted 1 month because I like to slather on SPF in the morning!) this is a mousse texture and also provides moisture to the skin. This can leave the skin looking a little shiny so I would not recommend it if you have oily skin. I have normal to combination oily skin but I prefer my skin to look dewy than matte. I can skip moisturiser with this sunscreen because it provides moisture. You can also blot your tzone if you find it’s too shiny for you
BodyShop Drops of Light Multi Essence SPF 50
This was the first sunscreen I discovered in the UK that was 100% invisible on my skin and I have honestly lost count on how many times I have repurchased it, it got me through spring/summer 2017-2018! It is a very lightweight watery texture that sinks into the skin with ease and provides hydration. It’s an SPF 50 that doesn’t leave any cast or an oily finish. It is a bit pricey for the amount you get so I always wait till the BodyShop sale to buy in bulk.
So I was excited when the Inkey List first launched but I must admit I was not drawn to any of their products right off the back because I was already in love with the Ordinary. Only the Zinc Moisturiser caught my skin, this is actually an SPF 50 but its named Zinc to fulfil the different requirements of the 3 SPF regulation boards which means it can be sold in different countries with ease. I didn’t get on well with this sunscreen which actually led me to look for another SPF( it was then I discovered the Nivea) I didn’t want to add this to the list but I decided to because it’s very affordable and I know a few people like it.
This is a gel texture sunscreen that also adds hydration to the skin and is 100% invisible on dark skin. I love the orange citrus scent of this and how easily it also sinks into the skin. It doesn’t clog pores and for someone with normal to combination skin, this sunscreen did not leave an oily residue on my skin. In terms of value, it’s not the best i.e. its £20 for SPF 30 for 30ml whilst BodyShop is £17 for SPF 50 for 30ml however if you are a diehard Glossier fan you will love this. It is recommended you use SPF 30 and above so I would definitely still recommend it if the price isn’t an issue for you
Black girl sunscreen SPF 30 (gifted)
This SPF was gifted to me for review for BrownBeautytalk last year and I remember falling in love with it. It does exactly what it promises sun protection without the white cast! This is readily available in the US but I am not exactly sure how easy it is to get in the UK
I really hope this helps! This is part 1 of my sunscreen edit for dark skin! I will keep testing out sunscreens and bring you guys ones that actually suit our skintone. I know it can be so frustrating but the formulations are getting better and there are more products out now than before. If you are in search of a sunscreen I hope you can use these recommendations as a starting point. I have personally tested these out and can vouch for them. these edits take me a while to put together because I like to test the products for a while before they make my ‘good list’ part 2 of the sunscreen edit will be all Asian sunscreens, I have 5 I will be testing out! Stay tuned for that!
Catch you later
sarah fynn 