1 HUGE Thing You Absolutely Must Not Forget This Summer: Sunscreen

We dove into trying out this season’s hottest sunscreens so you wouldn’t have to. When we say we dove in, we mean a deep dive. Not only did we look at how the product performed, we also took a hard look at the ingredients lists for any toxicity issues or sparkling benefits. Take a look and judge which sunscreen might be right for your next beach day.

NEOGEN DERMALOGY DAY-LIGHT PROTECTION AIRY SUNSCREEN SPF50+

Sunscreen for oily and combination skin at $32

They Claim: “This lightweight sunscreen includes 20 types of plant extracts soothes, moisturizes and controls sebum and keeps your skin hydrated and rejuvenated even under harsh sunlight. The non-greasy formula will give an airy finish without stickiness, protecting your soft skin from harmful UV rays.”

The Product: This sunscreen comes in a lotion formulation with a citrusy scent. It absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling silky.

Highlight: Uses a porous powder to help control sebum and cut down on greasiness throughout the day. While it was initially worrisome to not find the ingredients to their porous powder on their site, some deep digging turned up this ingredient list, containing all natural ingredients.

Active Ingredients: Octocrylene, Homosalate, and Avobenzone

What We Thought: This product comes off as a great sunscreen - fast absorbing, silky feel, amazing smell, and cost. However, missing ingredient information, active ingredients in the middle of the toxicity scale, and learning that the ingredients break down and lose effectiveness when exposed to sunlight, make it a “no”. Will we finish the bottle? Girl, yes, it was thirty dollars! Will we buy it again? Pass.

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Sunscreen for acne-prone skin at $39

They Claim: “Oil-free EltaMD UV Clear helps calm and protect sensitive skin types prone to discoloration and breakouts associated to acne and rosacea.”

The Product: This sunscreen comes in a non-scented lotion formulation. It takes a while to absorb and leaves behind a moderately sticky skin-feel; as well as the lightest of white films.

Highlight: Contains 5% high-purity niacinamide (vitamin B3) to help reduce the appearance of blemishes, discoloration, and photo-damaged skin.

Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 9.0% and Octinoxate 7.5%

What We Thought: Although it takes some time to absorb, this non-greasy formula is lightweight and great for acne-prone skin. We noticed breakouts and hyperpigmentation became less frequent and less pronounced after 6 weeks when using it as part of an skincare regimen for acne-prone skin. The product website was also easy to navigate, and all possible ingredient information and studies were available. Overall, a new favorite.

**“The American Academy of Dermatology always recommends an SPF of 30, because it is clinically proven to be a sufficient amount of protection to reduce or minimize the adverse effects of sunlight.”**
- David Colbert, a New York City board-certified dermatologist Via Allure Magazine

SUGAR COSMETICS Goddess Of Flawless SPF30 Mattifying Sunscreen

Sunscreen and primer for oily skin at $18.99

*We received this sunscreen as part of a monthly box subscription. The sunscreen, in the formulation we tried, is currently unavailable for purchase. But it’s twin Goddess of Flawless SPF30 + BB Cream seems similar by all means, just tinted. The price is reflective of the available sunscreen.*

They Claim: “This SPF 30 is totally invisible on all skin tones, doesn't have that sunscreen-y smell, feels like nothing on your skin, and stops excess shine in its tracks.”

The Product: This sunscreen comes in an unscented clear gel formulation. It glides on easily and absorbs quickly, leaving a satiny skin-feel.

Highlight: Leaves you with a weightless and all-day matte look thanks to it’s inclusion of the ingredient Isododecane. This ingredient is a solvent and an emollient, meaning it helps retain moisture, glides on easily, and minimizes the transfer of color.

Active Ingredients: Isododecane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Hexyl Laurate,

What We Thought: Well this sunscreen was downright fun! The clear jelly, easy spreadability, and quick drying formulation eased the stress of our 10-step morning routine. Even more exciting than the product itself was the ingredients list. Short(er) and simple, each ingredient had a clear function. PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone to condition and soften the skin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane to reduce oxidative stress, Cyclopentasiloxane for that quick dry, Polymethylsilsesquioxane to help repel water (hello beach day!), and Mica for a fun little shimmer moment. So now that we’ve caught our breath and you’ve finished trying to figure out if we really do have a 10-step morning routine, off to the beach with us all!

Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30

Everyday Sunscreen at $18.99

They Claim: “We have created a sunscreen for every day use, filled with natural ingredients, that will protect your skin from the sun and doubles as a moisturizing lotion.Black Girl Sunscreen dries completely clear so it’s perfect to use before any outdoor activity or even under your favorite makeup products.”

The Product: This sunscreen comes in a non-scented and thick lotion formulation. It glides on easily and takes time to absorb, leaving behind a slightly tacky finish.

Highlight: Well Hello! Black Girl sunscreen made BY black girls FOR black girls. More seriously, it is infused with ALL natural ingredients and is for both the face and the body.

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, and Octocrylene 2.75%

What We Thought: While the color, texture, and absorption of this product are rather generic and like most suncreens, we have to admit this sunscreen packs a particular punch. Not only do we love supporting a black business, we also love this ingredient list and the accessibility to information on the product page. Non-hormone-disrupting ingredients like avocado, jojoba, carrot juice, and cacao supported by facts and fun tips, important sun safety information, and an easy to decipher mission made this a knockout and new medicine cabinet mainstay. “Sunscreen made by women of color for people of color, because we get sunburned too.”

Asides from your face, sunscreen should be applied to the neck, ears, hands, and lips daily. These are all areas of concern, but especially the lips, and sun cancer on that area can be particularly aggressive. Your lip balm should always have SPF. We like the **Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30** **by Winnie Harlow.**

Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation

Tinted Sunscreen at $30

They Claim: “A 2-in-1 mineral sunscreen with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 30 protection and light-medium coverage. SunnyDays evens redness and soothes UV-stressed skin while maintaining a natural finish so your freckles, moles, and real skin can have their moment in the sun! Designed for problem/sensitive skin.”

The Product: This sunscreen comes in an unscented liquid formulation that takes time to absorb and leaves behind an oilier finish. It provides sheer to buildable coverage and is best applied with a sponge.

Highlight: The brand Tower 28 was founded by Amy Liu, a woman of color who has suffered with skin sensitivity issues, like eczema. Also, the products natural ingredients - prickly cactus, aloe, white sage - were sourced from California deserts and the packaging is made from recycled plastics!

Active Ingredients: Non-Nano Zinc Oxide 12.6%

What We Thought: We were so excited to try this sunscreen we practically shredded the packaging. What could sound better than a product made by a woman of color for people with sensitive skin issues. Unfortunately, while made for people with sensitive skin, it does not seem to be made for those with oily skin. With no sebum control, by the end of the day our pores were magnified, as well as what was coming out of them, and the sunscreen easily smeared off on the back of the hand. While we are still super excited to try other products in the brand, this sunscreen spelled out “Oh no” for us.

Use SPF 30 or more and reapply every 2 hours or use sun protective clothing with a high UPF.
Avoid the sun or seek shade during peak hours of 10am-4pm.
Choose a water resistant sunscreen & reapply after getting wet.
Protect your scalp! Hats, hats, hats!
SPF 100 might be better at protecting against sunburn that SPF 30-50.
If you have sensitive skin, try a mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Wear sunscreen indoors as well, windows do not shield you from UVA rays.