The Best Mineral Sunscreens for Dark Skin Tones

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Photo courtesy of Nicole L. Hill/The Licensing Project

The Best Mineral Sunscreens
for Dark Skin Tones

The good news: Mineral sunscreen (also called physical sunscreen) has evolved to the point that it now easily melts into the deepest skin tones. The unappealing white cast that mineral sunscreens used to leave behind was something people (of all skin tones, but especially people of color) put up with in exchange for avoiding all the problems associated with chemical sunscreens—potential carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and skin irritants. “It’s been a long time coming, but I always felt that once the industry as a whole began to consider the needs of people with darker skin tones, innovation in mineral formulas would come to life,” says Katonya Breaux, who founded Unsun, a mineral sunscreen company, when, as a Black woman, she felt glossed over by the sunscreen industry. “It wasn’t fair that the only convenient sunscreen options for people of color were chemical sunscreens,” she says. “I wanted something I knew to be safe for the user and also for coral reefs.”

5 New Favorite Mineral Sunscreens

Mineral sunscreen, the best-for-skin choice in clean circles, is made with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both—these should be the only ingredients listed in the active ingredients box; otherwise, it’s not a pure mineral formula. They act as a physical shield against UVA and UVB rays and have traditionally been harder to blend into darker skin tones. But mineral sunscreen tech has improved significantly in the last few years, and new methods of encapsulating and combining ingredients have resulted in silkier, more blendable textures.


  1. Ultraluxe Hand Protection Unsun Hand Cream, SPF 15, goop, $27

    Ultraluxe Hand Protection

    Unsun
    Hand Cream SPF 15
    goop, $27

    SHOP NOW


  2. Eleven Unrivaled Sun Serum SPF 35, goop, $50

    Featherlight Serum

    EleVen
    Unrivaled Sun Serum SPF 35
    goop, $50

    SHOP NOW


  3. Clark’s Botanicals Invisible Hero SPF 30, goop, $75

    Subtle Matte Finish

    Clark’s Botanicals
    Invisible Hero SPF 30
    goop, $75

    SHOP NOW


  1. Mara Algae + Zinc Sea Kale Sunscreen Serum, goop, $52

    Glowiest Sheen

    MARA
    Algae + Zinc Sea Kale
    Sunscreen Serum

    goop, $52

    SHOP NOW


  2. Supergoop PLAY 100% Mineral Lotion SPF 30 with Green Algae, goop, $36

    Water-Resistant
    (and Super Moisturizing)

    Supergoop
    PLAY 100% Mineral
    Lotion SPF 30 with Green Algae

    goop, $36

    SHOP NOW

Best Tinted Mineral Sunscreens

On top of these advancements, some of the best mineral sunscreens for dark skin tones are subtly tinted, a feature that ensures there’s never even a whisper of a white streakiness left behind, whether your skin tone is deep or fair. “The tint makes mineral sunscreen easier to use for darker skin tones,” says Breaux, whose tinted face sunscreen has become a cult hit at goop and beyond. What’s more, the touch of pigment can have a subtle blurring, skin-smoothing effect, softening the appearance of imperfections.


  1. Ilia C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40, goop, $64

    Vitamin C and SPF in One

    ILIA
    C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40
    goop, $64

    SHOP NOW


  2. Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen, goop, $29

    Skin-Boosting
    and Super Moisturizing

    Unsun
    Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen
    goop, $29

    SHOP NOW


  3. Saie Sunvisor, goop, $37

    Glowy-Sheer Finish

    Saie
    Sunvisor
    goop, $37

    SHOP NOW


  1. Saint Jane Luxury Sun Ritual Pore Smoothing SPF 30 Sunscreen, goop, $38

    Sunscreen and
    Primer

    Saint Jane
    Luxury Sun Ritual Pore Smoothing SPF 30 Sunscreen
    goop, $38

    SHOP NOW


  2. Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20, goop, $50

    Dewy No-
    Makeup Makeup

    Beautycounter
    Dew Skin Tinted
    Moisturizer SPF 20

    goop, $50

    SHOP NOW

Doesn’t Melanin Shield Darker Skin?

Although melanin offers some protection, dark skin tones absolutely still need sunscreen. Not only does it protect against sun damage, which shows up as premature wrinkles and fine lines, but it’s also one of the best ways to protect against skin cancer—which can be deadlier in people of color than in White demographics. Skin cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage in people of color, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. (Note: The AAD provides a brilliant gallery of photos that show what skin cancer can look like on skin of color, since medical textbooks have traditionally shown examples on White skin tones only, a practice which can lead dermatologists to overlook telltale signs in patients of color.)

Mineral Sunscreens for Summer-Body Glow

“It took me three years to approve our untinted sunscreen for body,” says Breaux. “Creating a formula without a tint requires a considerable amount of effort. We included moisturizing ingredients as well as sun protection, and we ended up with a beautiful, blendable balance.”


  1. The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 50, goop, $69

    Silkiest SPF 50

    The Organic Pharmacy
    Cellular Protection
    Sun Cream SPF 50

    goop, $69

    SHOP NOW


  2. Moisturizer and SPF in One Unsun Hydrating Full Coverage Body Lotion SPF 30, goop, $32

    Moisturizer and SPF

    Unsun
    Hydrating Full
    Coverage Body Lotion SPF 30

    goop, $32

    SHOP NOW


  3. Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 50, goop, $17

    Water-Resistant and
    for Sensitive Skin

    Babo Botanicals
    Sheer Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 50
    goop, $17

    SHOP NOW

Why We Avoid Chemical Sunscreen

No chemical sunscreens meet goop’s clean ingredient guidelines. Some of the most common active ingredients in chemical formulas—oxybenzone, avobenzone, and homosalate—have been flagged by the EWG as hormone disruptors. The EWG’s recent sunscreen report cites four separate studies from 2020 showing that oxybenzone can act as an endocrine disruptor and may increase the risk of breast cancer and endometriosis. Chemical sunscreen brands have justified formulating with these chemicals with the “dose makes the poison” argument, but endocrine disruptors are pernicious—there’s no known safe dose—and even very tiny amounts can interfere with our reproductive system, our metabolism, and more. Mineral sunscreen, on the other hand, carries none of these risks, and when you smooth it on, you get protection against harmful rays—all the mineral formulas in the goop shop are broad-spectrum, meaning they protect against both UVA and UVB rays—as well as a surge of skin-soothing ingredients (zinc oxide is the active ingredient in diaper creams and benefits sensitive skin types).

Sunscreen Support: Vitamin C

  1. Not only can vitamin C brighten, smooth, and boost glow and clarity; it can also help protect skin. A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C helps neutralize free radicals, which helps prevent sun damage that can show up as premature lines and wrinkles. This powder is one of the purest, most powerful topical vitamin C treatments: It activates when you mix it with water (just sprinkle it into your palm, add a few drops of water, and smooth over skin) or a serum, moisturizer, or mineral sunscreen.


  2. True Botanicals Vitamin C Booster, goop, $90

    True Botanicals
    Vitamin C Booster
    goop, $90

    SHOP NOW

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