Skincare with Friends Ep 73: The Best Sunscreens for Brown Skin UK

This week’s podcast is all about sunscreen products that work for darker skin, we have compiled an amazing list of sunscreen for brown skin with no white cast available in the UK and worldwide. Check out our list down below to find your perfect match. Check out our previous episode on black skin and pigmentation for tips on treating melasma and hyperpigmentation particularly if you have brown skin.

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Does Dark Skin Even Need Sunscreen?

Yes.

We know that the darker your skin is, the less likely you are to suffer with skin cancer and UV related skin aging but it does still happen. Skin experts, researchers and dermatologists are all in agreement, everyone should wear sunscreen

It’s thought that very black skin offers an spf of 13.4 (Kaidbury et al, 1979), which isn’t very high. So when exposed to UV radiation you should wear a broad spectrum spf and top up regularly. 

Why Does Sunscreen Look Bad on Dark Skin?

The white cast issue is a big one because it’s a barrier to people wearing a healthy amount of effective spf. There are 2 main types of spf- chemical or physical aka mineral. The main active ingredient in mineral spf is Zinc Oxide, often paired with Titanium Oxide. Zinc Oxide is very white in colour (Titanium oxide has a yellow colour). Tiny amounts of the Zinc Oxide compound suspended in the sunscreen create a white colour on the skin. So in fairness, it’s very difficult to make a mineral spf that isn’t white but it is possible and we have these rare non white cast mineral spfs included in our list.

We talked a lot on the podcast about The Ordinary’s Mineral Filters, it’s the disappointing poster child for what a sunscreen shouldn’t be. Heavy, greasy, uncomfortable and an alarming shade of purple/white. The sunscreens on our list are the ones that succeed where The Ordinary fail.

Chemical sunscreens are great because it tends to be clear in colour so you’re less likely to get a white cast but they may be irritating and cause eye stinging. According to @Scamander14, silica in chemical spf products can also contribute to white cast. I’ve included silica in my spf list below.

The best spf is the spf you can wear every day, so try and find something you find comfortable and wearable. Physical barrier methods like avoiding sun and wearing clothes and hats are even more effective than spf so sunscreen should just be part of your arsenal.

Can I Wear Too Much Sunscreen ?

Actually yes!

Having sun on your skin is actually healthy in one regard- it is involved in the creation of vitamin D. Vitamin D is very important for bone and heart health and it has lots of other functions in the body.Vitamin D deficiency is very common. If you are feeling low or tired, it could be that you are lacking in vitamin D and you should get your levels checked.

You are more at risk if you are

• Overweight
• Over 70 yrs old
• if you don’t get much sun or
• if you have dark skin and live in a northern country (eg black people living in the UK).

The NHS recommends that everyone supplement their Vitamin D levels with 600iu a day.

The Best Sunscreen for Brown and Black Skin UK

I’ve put together this list of the best spfs for brown and black skin (they also work for all skin colours). I’ve tried to get a good range of different products- mineral and chemical, matte and glossy, creams and sticks… so there are plenty of great products to choose from depending on your needs. As we don’t have black skin we’ve gone the recommendations of black skincare experts and put them together in this handy table. Thanks to (on Instagram)- @Scamander14, @Dija_Ayodele, (on YouTube) Lateef Saka, Dr Nosa and Dr Alexis Stephens. Julian (of @Scamander14 fame) is a fantastic resource of suncare for dark skin knowledge, thoroughly recommend you check out his site where he has a database of spfs and his Insta for videos of the products.

The prices are approximate and correct at time of writing. Each country uses a different way of notating UVA protection (we’re going to have to do a separate podcast on this!) so if a product has no +’s it doesn’t mean that there is no UVA protection eg USA doesn’t use the star or + system, they just write “Broad Spectrum” on the product. All products listed are broad spectrum to some degree. The links may be affiliate, so if you click and buy you will be helping out the Skincare with Friends podcast, which we really appreciate.

My personal favourite spf brands are-

• Ultra Violette– this British brand does wearable, cosmetically elegant products. They feel absolutely gorgeous and leave the skin hydrated and glowy. Great for under makeup.
• Altruist– I recommend Altruist to everyone. Their products have high UVA and UVB protection, they’re cheap, easy to wear and comfortable. They are my go to for face and body when the sun is out and I need serious protection.