Best Sunscreens for People With Dark Skin

This sunscreen sunk in quickly and left the skin with a glow or a dewy look. “I’m very satisfied with how this sunscreen looks on my skin tone because it absorbs very well and it doesn’t leave a white cast,” said one participant who described her skin tone as type 7. Another with type 8 skin said it didn’t make her look chalky or ashy. The moisturizing effect of this product was also a plus. “My skin literally feels like velvet,” said a woman with type 6 skin.

Lightweight, thin, and invisible were how many of our participants described this facial sunscreen. It absorbed quickly into the skin for everyone who tried it, regardless of skin tone. “I honestly can’t tell that I’m wearing sunscreen at all,” said one who described her skin as type 5. A participant with type 9 skin said: “It rubbed in clear with no white cast, and left my skin looking moisturized and dewy.” The verdict on the scent was mixed. Some said it smelled citrusy or fresh, while others thought it had a chemical odor. (Note that, unlike many of the sunscreens we tested, this one isn’t water-resistant. It would be a good choice for everyday use, but not when you’ll be swimming or sweating.)

This company says that its sunscreens are designed not to leave white streaks and that they “double as a moisturizing lotion.” In our review, this one lived up to those promises. “My skin tone looks the same after spraying the sunscreen,” said a participant with type 8 skin. Another, with type 6 skin, said that after using the product, her skin was “very glossy and very moisturized as well.” Some said that it left their skin a little sticky or oily. Note: The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates sunscreens, doesn’t make a distinction between sunscreens for babies or children and those for adults. They all contain the same active ingredients and must meet the same criteria for safety and effectiveness. An adult can use a kid’s product and vice versa.

“Usually sunscreens . . . are very obvious on my skin tone. This one looks seamless,” said a woman with type 7 skin. Many of the women commented on how lightweight and sheer this sunscreen felt, with some describing it as more like a body lotion than a sunscreen. “It made my skin feel silky. It had a sheen and a little gloss to it,” a woman with type 5 skin said.

Some of the women said that while this lotion goes on very white, it doesn’t take much rubbing to make the whiteness disappear. “It doesn’t leave harsh clumps of white like other sunscreens do,” said one with type 5 skin. Most thought it had a lightweight feel.

Participants generally described this product as being lightweight and easy to rub in and not leaving a white cast. “Historically, sunscreen would leave an ashy residue on African American skin,” said a woman with type 6 skin. “This one does not, and I am glad.” A participant with type 7 skin said that she’d definitely use the sunscreen again, praising the product for not being greasy or shiny, while another with type 8 skin said, “I feel like I would be comfortable wearing this every day.” The participants described the scent as very light or non-existent. (Note that, unlike many of the sunscreens we tested, this one isn’t water-resistant. It would be a good choice for everyday use, but not when you’ll be swimming or sweating.)

The participants appreciated the sunscreen’s nongreasy texture and the fact that it gave the skin a “natural” and moisturized appearance. When asked about how well the sunscreen looks on their specific skin tone, they were extremely satisfied because the sunscreen enhanced their skin tone without leaving a white cast. “I loved it! It was easy to put on and absorb. I didn’t have to spend an eternity rubbing it in,” said a woman with type 8 skin.

Of all the sunscreens in this review, this was the crowd pleaser. Several of the participants said they “loved it” or that it was “perfect.” Everyone who tried it was highly satisfied with the way it looked on their skin tone—no white cast or visible streaks—and said they would definitely purchase the sunscreen again. “My skin tone doesn’t work well with all sunscreen. I usually end up looking gray,” a woman with type 5 skin said. “This sunscreen doesn’t alter my skin tone at all.” Others said that it “would play nicely with other face and body skin care products,” was smooth and hydrating, and smelled “really awesome.”

Mineral sunscreens like this one are notorious for leaving white patches. The titanium dioxide and zinc oxide they contain are white, and they protect the skin by sitting on top of it. This one is no exception. Most of the participants said the product didn’t blend into skin easily and left a white, ashy, or gray cast. Once the product was absorbed, however, a few people said the effect was less noticeable. “If left on the skin for a long time and rubbed in thoroughly, [this sunscreen] could be useful for African American skin, perhaps for a beach day or a day out activity, but definitely not for everyday wear,” a woman with type 6 skin said. Another said that she wouldn’t be as concerned about the “purplish” appearance on her arms and legs, but she wouldn’t use it on her face.

This is the top-scoring mineral sunscreen in CR’s ratings. Only one participant specifically said that the product left a white cast on her skin. But others said it didn’t absorb very well—taking more than 10 minutes to rub in in some cases—or it left streaks. Many said the sunscreen was “thick,” “greasy,” and “similar to Vaseline.”

There were some mixed feelings about this sunscreen. “I like how it makes my skin look but wish there was no white cast,” said one woman with type 8 skin. In fact, many of the women noted that it left skin hydrated and glowy but said that it didn’t absorb well, and they were concerned that the white residue would be noticeable.

Compared with the Eucerin spray, fewer women who used this lotion said that it left white streaks on their skin, although one with type 6 skin complained of a silvery look. The main issue was that it was “thin,” “runny,” and “messy.”

Many of the volunteers appreciated that the sunscreen did not leave a white residue, making it suitable for various skin tones, including darker skin. However, some thought it was too shiny and that it left their skin feeling tacky or oily. “It looks as though I applied some grease or something like that to my skin,” said one woman with type 6 skin.