It's a total myth that if you have Black skin, you don't need sunscreen, but finding one that works for dark complexions has never been easy. From ghostly white casts to tinted formulas that could at best be described as "beige," the options have long been limited. "We have this data showing that the best sunscreen to protect against melasma and dark spots, which we as a population are more affected by, is a tinted mineral sunscreen," says board-certified dermatologist Elyse M. Love, MD, in the video above with Cosmo beauty editor-at-large Julee Wilson. "But there were no tinted mineral sunscreens that looked good on our skin tone."
That's all in the past now, though, and Love can confidently point her patients toward EltaMD UV Clear Deep Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, which she's dubbed "the best tinted sunscreen I've ever used, in terms of blending into the skin tone." The new oil-free product features a flexible tint that's designed for and was tested specifically on deep skin tones. Formulated with 5 percent niacinamide, it's also clinically proven to help smooth texture and even tone. "What I love about the EltaMD UV Clear Deep Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 is that, from start to finish, I feel like I was thought of," says Julee.
Finding a quality sunscreen you can actually look forward to using is a welcome change from those disappointing foundation launches and lackluster blush and bronzer shades that are still around in the year 2024. "This is such a great step," says Julee. "I want to see more formulations that work for us."
Learn more about why the beauty editor and dermatologist now swear by this SPF in the video above.
