Beauty Of 5: Our Favorite Sunscreens For Black Girls

2 of 5

❯

❮

EleVen by Venus Williams Sunscreen and Sun Serum

Source: The Sunscreen CompanyTM / Eleven by Venus Williams

I would say it’s that time of year again, but truthfully, sunscreen is something we all should wear year-round. Still, most of us only think about this protective step during the spring and summer when UV rays hit their peak and we’re having more fun in the sun.

The warm weather and crowded gatherings we saw this past weekend as several states opened their beaches up showed us folks are ready to get back to “normal” despite the pandemic. And to that I say, if you’re not going to protect yourself from covid-19, at least protect yourself from skin cancer.

We know when it comes to melanated skin the struggle to find the right sunscreen is a little bit different — make that harder because who wants to walk around with a white caste all over their body in their bikini –which is why every year we try to put you on to new products that won’t put a damper on your fun (or complexion) while you’re out in the sun. Check out the new launches and newly tried sunscreens and serums that are perfect for Black women (and your whole families).

Source: The Sunscreen CompanyTM / Eleven by Venus Williams

EleVen by Venus Williams Unrivaled Sun Serum

Could this name be any more perfect for a product released by tennis champ Venus Williams’ brand EleVen? Created in collaboration with The Sunscreen Company^TM, this lightweight vegan, cruelty-free serum “combines sun protection with silky hydration.” Formulated with 25% Zinc Oxide, the SPF 35 serum is 100% mineral based and created for daily use over your moisturizer or under makeup. Both the serum and sunscreen the brand just launched promise clean protection without a trace on the skin.

Source: Black Girl Sunscreen / BGS

Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30

We can’t talk about sunscreen for Black girls without talking about Black Girl Sunscreen. Launched in 2017 by Shontay Lundy, BGS has been the answer to our prayer for a product that protects us from the sun, moisturizes our skin, and dries completely clear. Lundy even launched an SPF 50 product for kids that protects against harmful UVA/UVB rays and is water resistant for 80 minutes.

Source: Urban Skin Rx, Nars / Lancome

Urban Skin Rx Complexion Protection Moisturizer SPF 30

Urban Skin Rx is my favorite skincare brand, hands down, so when I got called out for not regularly using sunscreen to protect my skin, their website was the first place I looked for options. I liked that the Complexion Protection Moisturizer was touted as a non-pore clogging moisturizer that tones and hydrates skin while providing advanced broad-spectrum sun protection, but what most caught my eye was the no white residue guarantee. Sure enough, when I applied the creamy product it soaked right into my skin and the only thing that was left was a dewy glow.

Source: Urban Skin Rx, Nars / Lancome

Nars Smooth & Protect Primer SPF 50

One of the reasons I had an aversion to sunscreen was because I couldn’t find anything that worked well under makeup. That’s when my sister recommended Nars. The Smooth & Protect Primer works exactly like other products — minimizing fine lines, wrinkles, and pores as it preps skin for makeup application — but it has the added bonus of environmental protection against UVA/UVB rays and pollution.

Source: Urban Skin Rx, Nars / Lancome

Lancôme Bienfait UV Super Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+

One of the people who called me out about my lack of sunscreen use was a Black woman I went to high school with who had her own skin cancer scare. She now swears by Lancôme‘s lightweight oil-free formula which has one of the highest SPFs around, which it retains 40 minutes after perspiring or entering water.