Dear Black Girl: Run Towards The Sun
Dear Black Girl,
It is time to run toward the sun instead of away from it. To applaud the deepening of our shade as the magic that only our skin can so easily do, rather than a punishment from the sun, meant to be avoided.
Of course, those of us with darker skin tones have no need to lay out in the sun for hours on end to glow, but now is our time to embrace the brightness of the summer months. I, personally, can bloom a few shades darker within mere minutes of sun exposure—and I’m thankful that my upbringing groomed me not to think twice about it. But somewhere along the way, I learned that others of my shade didn’t share this sentiment.
I’m not trying to go outside and get black! Girl, get out of that sun or you’re gonna get too dark. I’m black enough already, I don’t need to be in the sun.
If you are melanin-rich, you’ve heard these things, and maybe you’ve even said these things. This summer, let’s release our fear of the sun instilled by Euro-centric ideals. And Lord, please, let’s not pass colorism down to our children.
Growing up as a brown-skinned African American girl, I never overthought my skin color. I had friends lighter than me, I had friends darker than me, and I knew that my shade was pretty middle of the road, as far as Black folks go. Most importantly, I looked like my mother, who was the epitome of beauty for me. My grandmother and her siblings were a fair vanilla that I found beautiful, and my aunts and uncles ranged from toffee to chocolate; it was no big deal. But as adolescence approached, things began to change.
As a kid in the colorist South, being “mixed” was a badge of pride, leaving dark-skinned Black girls with a unique battle for self-esteem and acceptance. But I won’t blame the American South solely for perpetuating this narrative. It was in 2018 when a New York City Dominican man I was dating told me that I should feel proud that he was dating me since he “usually only dates women lighter than him.” That, of course, was our last date.
The colorist accounts could go on and are most often found within our communities. Colorism doesn’t just exist in communities of the African diaspora. We see this same problem mirrored in Asian communities; dark-skinned Desi girls are constantly pushed out of the limelight, and it also plagues the Latinx community. As the liberation of Black and Brown people continues, we must also break free from the colonization of our minds that taught us that lighter skin is the most beautiful. All shades under the sun should be celebrated, from fair and freckled to dark and sultry. This summer, like every summer, I will continue to wax deeper and browner, and I will love every minute of it.
Now, as a mother, I make sure that I instill pride in my son for his Black features. His nose, his hair, and his brown skin that darkens after a sun-filled stroll or a morning at the park are all so beautiful. I want him to appreciate his skin and the differences that make him unique without feeling pressure to look like anyone else.
I invite you, too, to embrace your summer shade, and here are a few sunscreens that will help you get the job done! We all need SPF to protect us from sun damage, no matter our skin tone, and these sunscreens will help you do it without that frustrating white residue. So go ahead, Black girl, get a tan!
Do Black People Need SPF?
Before we get into the best sunscreens for dark skin tones listed below, yes, Black people still need SPF protection. Here’s why:
REDUCE PREMATURE AGING: Even if you’re not prone to burning, UV rays can still cause damage that leads to premature aging, wrinkles, age spots, and hyperpigmentation.
REDUCE ACNE SCARS: If you are prone to acne scars, unprotected sun exposure can increase your hyperpigmentation.
PREVENT SKIN CANCER: Though rare, Black people can still experience skin cancer, and a quality SPF is your first line of defense.
Keep reading to find your new favorite sunscreen that is brown skin approved.
Best skin-caring sunscreen: Black Girl Sunscreen
Of course, we couldn’t talk about sunscreen for dark skin without mentioning Black Girl Sunscreen. This product was made by a black woman with people of color in mind, so no chalky residue here. Fellas, don’t let the name fool you, this is for you too! Infused with jojoba oil and avocado, this sunscreen doubles as a moisturizer.
For those with oilier skin, try the Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Matte SPF 45. Use it as a primer under makeup or wear alone.
For kids, I love the Black Girl Sunscreen Kids.
All BGS products are reef-friendly, water-resistant, and of course, leave no white caste.
Best Smelling sunscreen: Hempz Sweet Pineapple and Honey Melon SPF 50
This sunscreen has everything you love about high-quality, hydrating SPF without the chemical smell that we’ve grown accustomed to in most sunscreens. The scent is addictive without being overwhelming, and the hydrating hemp seed oil really makes you feel like you’re putting on a lotion or moisturizer, not just a sunscreen. I was also pleasantly surprised when it absorbed quickly into my skin without any white residue.
It also comes in an SPF 50 for the body.
Best Tinted Sunscreen: Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted spf 30
This 2-in-1 mineral sunscreen foundation is the best of both worlds. Using mineral sunscreen has plenty of benefits, especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. Mineral sunscreens are more likely to leave a white cast, but this tinted foundation blends in with your skin and provides light to medium buildable coverage, so it’s virtually undetectable.
This gets brownie points from me for its beautiful shade range.
Best Cult-Favorite Sunscreen: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen is one of the original no-mess, no-fuss, no-residue sunscreens. We love it for all of the ingredients that it doesn’t include, and it’s oil-free, scentless, and weightless. It works great as a makeup primer and it’s also beard-friendly, so feel free to smother it all over your boyfriends that refuse to wear SPF.
Remember! SPF isn’t just for those days at the beach. This sunscreen is great for every single day that you’re exposed to sunlight.
Best Mineral Sunscreen: Biossance
S QUALANE + ZINC SHEER MINERAL SUNSCREEN
This product might be quite the splurge, but when you see the work that they’re doing to keep our skin and our oceans healthy, it feels worth every penny. Made of squalane and zinc, you can trust that this mineral sunscreen is nontoxic, super hydrating and goes on completely invisible.
BONUS: If you love our planet and the animals in it, you’ll especially love Biossance for deriving squalane from sugarcane, a product normally derived from sharks.
Best lightweight sunscreen: Glossier Invisible Shield
We’re huge fans of Glossier, and this Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen with SPF 35 is another home run. It’s non-greasy, non-whitening formula plays well with makeup and it’s POC friendly, of course. Reviewers rave that it’s super lightweight and doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a sunscreen at all.
Has this story made you reflect on your own relationship with the sun? Let me know how you’re feeling in the comments below! I’m also down for recommendations. Share a residue-free sunscreen that you’ve loved on your skin.