Consumers are well aware of the importance of a daily application of sunscreen on their faces and bodies to protect from skin cancer, sunburn, and premature aging. But, for those with darker skin tones, that daily application of sunscreen can leave behind an unpleasant white or grey-tinted residue, commonly referred to as white cast, that’s beyond frustrating.
However, thanks to the innovations behind several new sun care brands with products specifically designed for people of color, sun protection has now become more inclusive than ever before. Check out these four innovative new brands that are shaking up the sun care industry, delighting consumers, and offering serious sun protection to a more diverse range of clientele.
Black Girl Sunscreen
Black Girl Sunscreen is officially the Internet’s sunscreen darling of the year! This brand new sunscreen brand went viral in May when a reviewer posted: “I believe it’s the best sunscreen for POC (people of color). It feels lightweight, moisturizing, has a natural finish and leaves absolutely no white cast or stickiness” in the obsessive Reddit SkincareAddiction thread.
Since that post, thousands of consumers have sworn allegiance to BSG’s eponymous sunscreen, formulated with natural ingredients like carrot seed oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, avocado, and shea butter. Clocking in at a travel-friendly 3 ounces, and garnering praise from everyone from Marie Claire to Teen Vogue, it’s no surprise Black Girl Sunscreen has everyone atwitter about sun care this summer!
Bolden
The Bolden skincare line was launched by two Nigerian sisters-in-law, Chinelo Chidozie and Ndidi Obidoa, after vacationing in sunny Key West, Florida. After becoming frustrated by the multitude of sunscreens that left behind white, filmy, and greasy residue, this entrepreneurial duo decided to launch their own sun care lined, specifically for consumers with darker skin tones.
The Bolden line features not only a sunblock with SPF 30, but also a facial care and shea oil product line as well. For Chidozie and Obidoa, Bolden also addresses a larger, educational need: “There’s an issue with education around sunscreen in the Black community. Even though skin cancer doesn’t affect people of color as much as it affects people with white skin, that makes it more dangerous because it’s often not caught until it’s in an advanced stage,” said Chidozie in an interview with NBC.
Extrashade
Extrashade is designed for consumers with Rich Complexions. What’s a Rich Complexion? “If you are of African American, Asian, Latin, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Native American, or mixed ethnic decent you are probably considered Rich Complexion,” says the website.
Extrashade offers two products: their Daily Defense Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion SPF30 and Protect & Nurture Sunscreen Lotion SPF30 For Children, and has quickly amassed legions of loyal fans.
In addition to offering sun protection, Extrashade’s two sunscreens are notably free of fragrances, dyes, propylene glycol, lanolin, and alcohol. Why? These substances are known to exacerbate uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and dark marks in individuals with darker skin tones.
UnSun
UnSun was created by famous singer-songwriter Frank Ocean’s mother, Katonya Breaux. With the tagline “the sun does not discriminate against skin tones or complexions,” UnSun offers a sunscreen, SPF infused hand cream, and variety of SPF 18 lip tints to provide sun protection specifically “for people of color, representing the beige to dark chocolate tones of the spectrum.”
Breaux, a longtime fan of natural sunscreens, was especially frustrated with the white tint left behind after application – and finally decided to do something about it! After two years of intensive research and testing, Breaux launched UnSun and her hero product UnSun SPF 30 Tinted Mineral Sunscreen.
Lauded by both users and the beauty media for its “universal tint” and hailed as “the ultimate Labor Day skin savior” UnSun is truly sun care for every skin tone.
