9 Best Sunscreens For Black Skin 2025 – These Won’t Leave Chalky Marks

As a black person, finding sun protection that doesn’t leave my brown skin looking ashy and dry has always been a challenge.

Zinc Oxide is one of the main ingredients in the strongest sun creams.

While it is excellent for protecting the skin from harmful rays, it can cause a bright blueish white cast on the face of even the lightest of black people.

This unfortunate side effect leaves brown and black skin looking dull, dry, and chalky.

In my journey to find the perfect sunscreen for my variety of skin needs, I tested a myriad of different brands and types to suit all occasions and levels of protection.

Being dark-skinned made my challenges unique.

Some products coated my skin like a bad foundation, while others were gems that changed my perspective of sunscreen forever!

Here, I list and compare my best finds that worked flawlessly with my brown skin tone.

Kiss My Face SPF 30+ Sun Cream For Face + Neck Protection – Best For Black Women

Kiss My Face Face Factor Sunscreen comes from a classic natural skincare brand that has a long list of moisturizers, lotions, and skin creams for a range of uses and protection levels.

My favorite thing about this cream is how easily it blends into the skin.

It feels like a regular lotion and rubs in immediately!

There is no tint or whiteness left post application, and the skin is left soft and smooth once completely absorbed.

It is also a perfect solution for those of us with dry skin.

It is common for black women to experience flaking of the skin, especially in colder times of the year.

Because of its thickness and oil content, this lotion can double as a moisturizer or final step in any skincare regimen.

This will keep flakiness at bay even on days when your skin is feeling the most parched.

This product is sold in many beauty and health stores, or you can check out the brand here.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield Clear Stick SPF 50 – Great For African American Skin

The great thing about this sun cream is its not in cream form…it is a stick!

This feature gives the added benefit of portability and ease of use as well as providing strong SPF 50 protection against harsh rays.

Upon initial application, the roll-on leaves a slight white cast due to its zinc oxide content (the key protective ingredient in traditional sunscreens that leaves that infamous white glow) however, with a quick rub in the cream is transparent and absorbed into the skin.

MyChelle has the added benefit of being a conscious brand that is cruelty-free and reef safe making it easy on the environment and your skin!

Best Sun Screen For Brown Skin: Glossier Invisible Shield SPF 35

If there were one daily sunscreen I would recommend to the darkest of my sisters it would be this prize by everyone’s new fave…Glossier!

The Glossier Invisible Shield is a water-based gel that provides easy application and absorption with no greasy or sticky residue.

The formula is clear with a smooth consistency, so transparency and Casper glows are not an issue.

The cool thing about this formula is the combination of antioxidants within the gel.

They neutralize free radicals on your skin and smooth the texture leaving a soft even glow.

Along with the protective measures that come with this gel, the antioxidant cocktail does double duty to fight aging and keep you burn free.

See more from this growing beauty brand here.

Goldfaden MD Sun Visor Ultralight Oil Free SPF 30 Mist

Now, this item was an interesting pickup. Goldfadden SPF oil is a mist that is sprayed directly on the skin.

What I loved about this product is its designed use.

The oil is sprayed over foundations and BB creams giving more flexibility in how it is worn and layered with other products.

The mist sprays on white but quickly dries clear on all shades of makeup with no smearing.

The oil and fragrance-free formula keep from clogging pores and irritating sensitive skin while maintaining potent, active ingredients from a lab tested and dermatologist created skincare brand.

Supergoop! Sun-Defying Sunscreen Oil For Black Women (With Meadowfoam SPF 50)

The idea of using a body oil as sunscreen may seem counterintuitive to those of us who remember women dousing themselves in baby oil and laying in the sun to tan; however, this moisturizing body oil boasts an impressive SPF 50 in a lightweight, water-resistant formula that works perfectly for dry skin. The oil spreads quickly and absorbs fairly well, but does an incredible job at hydrating and locking in moisture as well as leaving the skin with a bright, effervescent glow. This is a pool bag necessity, with easy application and a hydrating formula that will nourish the skin before and after you take a dip. Check out more from the Supergoop! brand.

Another Top Sunscreen Choice For Black People: Clear Cover Invisible Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30

This sunscreen is another double-duty powerhouse. It is designed to protect from the sun as well as act as a fantastic primer under makeup. The consistency is reminiscent of serum, with a sticky finish that helps makeup bond to your brown skin and stay in place. Though it can be worn alone, I recommend layering it under foundation or lotion of some sort to remove the tacky film meant to bond products to the surface. Because the product is intended for use as a primer, it has the added benefit of filling in and smoothing fine lines for an evenly textured look. It is also great at controlling oil production eliminating the need to blot excess away throughout the day. It also does not hurt that Essence awarded CoverFX with its “Best in Black Beauty” award for 2017!

Palmer’s Eventone Suncare Moisturizing Sunscreen 30 SPF For Brown Skin Tones

The Palmer’s brand has been a mainstay in the black beauty community since its inception. Palmer’s cocoa butter has been a staple for black skin for ages, but many do not realize the quality products available in their other lines! This drugstore gem is shea and cocoa butter based moisturizer that gives broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.

It glides on smoothly and performs just as well as conventional moisturizing lotions while providing 80 minutes of high protection in and out of the water. The cocoa butter extracts help to prevent and even dark spots and hyperpigmentation on the skin as well as contributing to the delicious scent it leaves after applying.

Learn more about this and other Palmer’s products here!

Moroccanoil Sun Lotion SPF 50

Avid fans of argan oil will love this sunscreen! This lotion is water-based and uses a mixture of coconut and argan oils to provide softening and nourishing benefits to the skin.

It applies very lightly which differs from other similar skin lotions but allows layering on top of other favorite body lotions and sun oils.

The lotion is free of mineral oil which is perfect for those of us with sensitive skin or clogged pores, and the lack of heavy mineral sun protectants keeps the Casper cast at bay. Moroccanoil products can be found on their website or at a beauty supply store near you!

Clinique Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Fluid

The Clinique Broad Spectrum Mineral Sunscreen Fluid is one of the few wholly mineral based lotions included in this list because of how difficult it is to blend mineral sunscreens on darker skin. This lotion is a liquid consistency with the protection of a heavier traditional sun cream.

The thicker mineral base makes it a better option for people with normal or dry skin; however, oily skin types will find joy in using it in light amounts. Despite its heaviness, the fluid blends easily and dries completely transparent with fast absorption and no sticky finish. Clinique has created a non-comedogenic formula that is ideal for acne prone skin and decreases the number of breakouts experienced when layering with other makeup and products.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence 50+ PA++++ Sunscreen For Black Women

This Biore skin cream is a secret weapon in the Asian skincare community.

The fantastic thing about Asian skincare is its attention to innovation in ingredients and formulation.

Sun protection is a huge deal in Asian skincare, and many brands have found ways to provide reliable sun protection at an affordable price.

Upon first application, this cream feels smooth, light and is completely transparent making it perfect for medium to darker skinned black women who frequently experience white casts from even the thinnest of sunscreens.

Its texture makes it easy to layer under makeup or other moisturizers without leaving you shiny and clogged by the end of a long day.

This product has become a staple in my daily regimen, and I cannot imagine living life without it.

Top Sunscreens For Black Skin, Conclusion

Have you tried any of the products we loved above? Know of a great sunscreen that we missed? If so, please share your thoughts and tips in the comments below! And while you’re here, check out our moisturizer for black women guide too.