Hey Beauties!
As a POC with sensitive and allergy-prone skin, my relationship with SPF has definitely been love/hate for most of my life. When I was younger, I had so many people ask me if I even needed SPF since I had a darker complexion *eye roll*. Thankfully, my mother knew better and always lathered me up in SPF ignoring my complaints that I looked like a ghost. While I understand and appreciate the benefits of wearing SPF for sun protection, I have always hated the white cast on my skin at the beach or even the flash back in pictures. Also, not wearing SPF can even make hyperpigmentation look even worse. Nowadays, more and more companies are making products with POC in mind (finally!).
I have done the leg work by trying out many different SPF formulas over the years to find the best ones that will work for People of Color (POC) without leaving a white cast or a chalky look on the skin. Word to the wise, you need to reapply SPF throughout the day, especially when you’re laying out by the pool or having an awesome beach day.
Here are some of my absolute favorite SPF for the body when at the pool or on a tropical vacay, as well as my trusted favorites for my face:
My trusted and favorite SPF for the face is also my daily moisturizer – Supergoop! Triple Prep Weightless Multitasking Moisturizer SPF 40. This product has a hydrating finish so it’s better suited for those with dry or combination skin. My favorite refresher is Supergoop! (Re)setting Refreshing Mist SPF 40 because it’s so light that it won’t mess up your makeup.
The EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 option is also great under makeup and won’t give you a flashback in pics! In addition to shielding you from both UV-A and UV-B rays, it’s also fragrance free – my sensitive skin baddies can rejoice!
The fragrance-free, non-comedogenic Fenty Beauty Hydra Vizor Fragrance-Free Invisible Moisturize Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen with Niacinamide + Kalahari Melon is incredible under makeup because there is no pilling.
The Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 with Sunflower Extract is awesome because it’s sweat and water resistant (for 80 minutes)! The sunflower extract gives it a really nice light scent.
Black Girl Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is infused with all natural ingredients and has no white cast. It also has no synthetic fragrances!
Ok, so the CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Body Lotion SPF 50 is last on my list because it’s amazing, it is a scary product when you first put it on because it goes on chalky white. BUT as long as you really rub it in your skin really well, it has a lightweight feel and zero white cast. This is a 100% mineral sunscreen and provides SPF 50 protection with zinc oxide and titanium oxide.
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