Yes, There Are Actually SPFs That Blend Into Melanin-Rich Skin
I've tried hundreds (!!) of them—these are the best.
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For years, sunscreen and melanin-rich skin have had a complicated relationship—one full of ashy finishes, formulas that refuse to blend, and an overwhelming lack of representation in marketing. And those are just the most dramatic highlights.
The real struggle starts with the ingredients. In mineral sunscreens, that usually means zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—two substances great for UV protection but notorious for leaving behind a dreaded white cast, especially on darker skin. And chemical sunscreens, while typically more sheer, often contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, which might cause skin irritation, hormone disruption, or environmental damage.
So over the past nine years, I’ve made it my personal mission to test as many SPFs as possible, hunting for ones that keep us safe and are safe to use. And, maybe most importantly, that are really intentional. Because in truth, a good sunscreen experience isn’t just about efficacy—it’s about how the product makes you feel. When a brand tells me I need to protect my skin but doesn’t create a formula that blends effortlessly into that skin, what I’m really absorbing is that my experience doesn’t matter.
Things have been getting better. More brands are acknowledging that Black and brown skin needs sunscreen too, and they’ve started to step up, creating formulas that work for everyone, including tinted sunscreen options that cater to a range of skin hues and innovative mineral SPFs that blend seamlessly into any type of skin.
The marketing narrative is also shifting. Melanin-rich faces interacting with SPF? Yes, please! Case in point: Lancôme tapped Wednesday actress Joy Sunday—whose stunning chocolate brown skin is the perfect testament to Black girl magic—as the face of its latest and greatest sunscreen.
This is the kind of progress report we deserve. And now that we finally have formulas that don’t make us feel like an afterthought, check out a few of my absolute favorites below. Then go forth, melanin-rich beauties: Soak up the sun, but make sure it knows who’s boss.
Undefined R&R Sun Elixir Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Glow Oil
A sunscreen oil? Say less. This Sun Elixir is unlike anything I’ve tried—a broad spectrum chemical SPF 50 that’s literally sheer magic on melanin-rich skin. Glides on like silk, hydrates like a serum, and protects like a boss. This is next-gen sun care.
Good Weather Skin The One Daily Sun Cream SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen
The name says it all—The One. A mineral SPF that blends like skincare with no ghostly cast? Yes, please! I love how lightweight and silky it is. Plus, it’s packed with skin-loving peptides. Daily must-have status: confirmed.
Lancôme UV Expert Supra Screen SPF 50
This isn’t just sunscreen—it’s skincare in disguise. The chemical formula feels like a luxe serum, packed with antioxidants and niacinamide. No white cast, no pilling, just smooth, protected, radiant skin. My brown skin stays glowing and guarded. It’s an everyday essential —and an everyday obsession.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Suntouchable Invisi-Stick SPF 50
This stick chemical sunscreen is my on-the-go MVP! Glides on clear with no mess and is perfect for touch-ups. You can even gently apply it over makeup without smudging your beat. Affordable, effective, and chic—e.l.f. nailed it.
Finally—a tinted mineral-meets-chemicalSPF that really gets melanin. EltaMD’s Deep shade melts beautifully into a good range of deeper skin tones. It’s skincare-meets-sun-care, packed with niacinamide and lactic acid for extra glow. Everyday protection never looked (or felt) this good.
This 2-in-1 foundation tint with a chemical SPF 50 cooked-in is a total game-changer. The buildable formula smooths and evens my skin while delivering serious sun protection. When I’m doing my makeup I don’t have to always remember to put on SPF when I’m using this. Streamlined, effective, and glow-boosting. I’m hooked.
This whipped butter crème is the sunscreen innovation I’ve been dreaming about! It’s a luxurious, velvety balm that melts into skin, offering SPF 50 protection in a mineral formulation. Infused with brand’s signature tulip complex, it hydrates, nourishes, and leaves my skin looking and feeling super yummy.
Mary Kay is a beauty industry OG, so they know what they are doing. This chemical SPF 50 is a multitasking queen—lightweight enough for your face, strong enough for your body. No chalkiness, no heaviness, just smooth, breathable protection. A total win-win-win!
Elemis Pro-Collagen Skin Protection Fluid SPF 50
This chemical SPF 50 fluid is pure elegance in a bottle. The milky texture glides on effortlessly, powered by marine algae and antioxidant-rich actives that hydrate, firm, and protect. It’s a skincare-first sunscreen that leaves skin smooth, radiant, and makeup-ready. Everyday luxury, unlocked.
Vacation Orange Gelee Sunscreen Gel SPF 30
This chemical SPF 30 gel is a retro dream revived -- the original Orange Gelee launched in 1925. The juicy orange scent gives serious throwback vibes, while aloe, coconut oil, and vitamin E hydrate and protect. Sun safety with a side of nostalgia!
This is luxury in a tube. With SPF 50 and a silk protein base, this chemical sunscreen glides on like a serum, blurs like a primer, and protects like a pro. Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid keep my skin calm, hydrated, and glow-ready. Effortlessly chic protection.
Julee Wilson is Beauty Editor at Large at Cosmopolitan. Previously, Julee was Beauty Director at Cosmo and Global Beauty Director at Essence and has held various editorial positions at Huffington Post and Real Simple. She counts herself lucky AF that she gets to play with beauty products for a living and tell dope stories. And if you’re as obsessed with beauty as she is, make sure to follow her on Instagram for plenty of product recs, natural hair inspo, skincare testing, and Black girl magic shenanigans.
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