The Black Girl’s Guide to SPF (Plus, the 7 Best Options to Get You Started)

I first came across Black Girl Sunscreen while on a product restock trip a few months ago. As I searched the aisles, a store associate approached me and recommended the brand, but quickly informed me that it wasn’t sold at that particular retailer. When half of my Instagram followers suggested Black Girl Sunscreen for this story, I knew that I finally had to try it out.

When I did, I instantly understood everyone’s obsession with it. You can tell that the founder, Shontay Lundy, created it to eliminate the stress associated with wearing sunscreen while Black.

It’s lightweight but not watery, and leaves no cast whatsoever. In fact, instead of an ashy appearance, Black Girl Sunscreen actually gives your skin a healthy-looking glow upon application. Who would’ve thought such a product existed? Free of irritant chemicals like fragrance and parabens, the tube comes packaged in a vanity-worth bottle and is available at Target. This is truly the Black girl’s sunscreen.

The Superscreen moisturizer is a fragrance-free hydrating cream that’s lightweight, yet noticeably nourishing. It applies to the skin smoothly, while invigorating it with nutrient-rich ingredients like blue-green algae and cerium to hydrate, nourish, and protect your skin.

Although cerium is a rare mineral and the main culprit for that dreaded white cast, this formula contains just the right amount to protect your skin from blue-light rays while remaining virtually undetectable on your face. And, with an SPF of 40, it’s definitely a worthy contender in your skincare arsenal.

The hundreds of raving reviews about SuperGoop’s Unseen Sunscreen had me itching to see what the hype was all about. Despite its name, the Unseen Sunscreen is actually more of a primer than it is a moisturizer. This makes it really great for layering under your daytime look by setting your make-up while providing a whopping SPF of 40.

Like most primers, the Unseen Sunscreen is slightly mattifying. This was a pleasant surprise to me since many SPF products tend to make me look a bit shiny. So, if you’re a makeup enthusiast with normal to oily skin, definitely try this one out.

If your skin is more on the sensitive side, this daily sunscreen is definitely worth a shot. Drunk Elephant specializes in high-quality, clean ingredients that naturally rejuvenate your skin. The product smoothly glided onto my face, unlike many other sunscreens which tend to require you to have to work the product into your skin.

Delivering moisture, color, and sun-protection, the Umbra Tint SPF is truly a triple threat. It's almost as though the formulators created this tinted version to cater to us melanated gals. I love how it seamlessly blends with my skin tone, but these results may vary depending on your range.

The Umbra Sheer version boasts the same incredible benefits as the Umbra Tinte, but without the added color. I tested it out while in the Dominican Republic, so the mini version that’s included in the travel size pack was perfect for on-the-go protection.

While my skin definitely felt protected, I’ll admit that it did leave behind a pretty visible white cast on my face. At one point, my mom said, “you look like you’re at the beach,” so I’d say this is a good option for the ladies with lighter skin tones.

Before embarking on this quest for the perfect sunscreen, Urban Skin Rx was my brand of choice when it came to sunscreen. While the consistency isn’t as thick as I’d prefer (I usually need two pumps for full coverage), I was immediately sold on the product when I noticed how undetectable it really is. On some days, I would even forget that I had it on.

At first, I was a little hesitant about the price point considering the fact that each bottle contains just 1.7 fluid oz and I had to use twice as much—but at $20, I’d say it’s worth having on reorder.

Even though it isn’t explicitly branded as an SPF product, this moisturizer is formulated with super ingredients like Titanium Dioxide & Zinc Oxide to naturally protect the skin’s barrier from the sun.

I was eager to test out its efficacy since it was created by a celebrity facialist and skincare expert. The first thing that stood out to me was its subtle fragrance. While really pleasant to my senses, this could pose a threat to sensitive skin. As for sheerness, I have to admit that it does go on clear! You could barely see any white residue leftover, which is always a plus for Black girls.

Several reviews revealed that the product tends to peel and I can confirm that this is true. I found myself having to wipe my face midday to eliminate the flakiness, but this wasn’t a huge deal breaker for me since I can just swap it out as a nighttime moisturizer. It provided intense hydration which I love, and since it isn’t technically an SPF product, I’ll be adding this to my lineup when the cooler months roll around.

The days of skipping sunscreen are over; but as we know, not all SPF is created equal. When preparing for your next skincare haul, make sure to do your research, ask questions, and read reviews so that you know exactly what to look for when it’s time to add to cart.