Tinted Sunscreens for Dark Skin Tones that Provide Excellent Coverage

But, my friends, it doesn't have to be that way. There are plenty of options that do the job of protecting you from sun damage, come in a decent shade range, and provide amazing coverage for darker skin tones (while color-correcting, blurring, and priming skin). Don't believe us? We spoke to dermatologists and makeup artists about their favorite tinted sunscreens for dark skin to save you a whole lot of anguish and trial and error.

Before we dive in, know that SPF 30 guards against 97 percent of UVB rays, and SPF 50 is about 98 percent effective at shielding you from sun damage. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist David Colbert previously told ishonest that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 or higher because it is clinically proven to provide enough protection to reduce the adverse effects of sunlight. You'll find that all of these picks offer at least SPF 30 protection, and unlike sunscreens that use chemical UV filters to protect your skin, all are physical sunscreens with a mineral zinc oxide or titanium dioxide base. Mineral sunscreens sit on the surface of your skin, physically scattering and reflecting UV light, and are favored by dermatologists for sensitive skin types because they have hypoallergenic formulas that reduce your risk of skin irritation. Here, 11 tinted sunscreens to help you look and feel your best in the sun, with plenty of skin benefits to their credit.

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Sheer Tint

Board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry who is based in New York City and a clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College recommends CeraVe's Hydrating Sunscreen Sheer Tint if you're looking for an affordable sunscreen for daily use. 'The best SPFs are not necessarily the most expensive, and you can always find an effective product at whatever price range you want to spend', says Henry, who has partnered with CeraVe in the past. It has a physical base of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which are both great skin-care ingredients for anyone with sensitive skin, plus soothers like niacinamide and ceramides to seal in moisture. Makeup artist Nydia Figueroa is also a fan, calling it a 'brown girl-friendly product that creates a beautiful glowy finish to the skin.'

iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 40

iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 40 is a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen that works hard to protect skin against both UVA and UVB rays, and also has a bronzed tint to counteract any white or gray undertones. 'This one dries ultra- sheer', explains New York City-based makeup artist Neil Scibelli, and contains antioxidant-rich Centella asiatica, plus vitamin E, to protect against free radicals. An added bonus? It's water-resistant, meaning you can maintain your glow even after a quick dip in the pool.

Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen

A couple of dermatologists have recommended Isdin's Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen in the past, which Hartman calls 'a crowd favorite' for anyone seeking a broad-spectrum physical sunscreen that's lightweight and made with iron oxides to protect against blue light. Its oil-free formula includes star ingredients like peptides and plankton-derived enzymes called photolyase, which, the brand says, can repair damage caused by the sun. It also boasts a non-greasy finish that's ideal for keeping acne-prone skin matte and shine-free.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50

This powdered sunscreen from Colorescience is perfect for tossing in a travel bag, since its twist-up, brush on packaging pretty much guarantees mess-free applications throughout the day. A light touch of the Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50, all over your face, adds a subtle glow and 80 minutes of water-resistant sun protection (just remember to work the powder evenly into skin to get good coverage). Colorescience offers a variety of shades to choose from, including darker options for melanated skin, which we love to see. Other things we love to see: SPF 50, which is hard to find in a tinted sunscreen.

Skinbetter Science Sunbetter Tone SPF 75 Sunscreen

It's not often that you hear the word 'elegant' applied to sunscreen, but here we are. Henry recommends Skinbetter Science's Sunbetter Tone SPF 75 Sunscreen because it's 'quite elegant' and, most importantly, doesn't leave a white cast on darker skin tones. Not only does it contain deeply moisturizing ingredients like squalane that give it a smooth consistency, but it also provides excellent protection against UV rays. SPF 75 in a tinted sunscreen? Sign us up.

Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF 30

Drunk Elephant's Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF 30 won an ishonest Best of Beauty Award for its hydrating formula filled with a blend of skin-friendly ingredients. It sinks into all skin tones, thanks to a cocktail of botanical oils like virgin marula oil and raspberry seed oil, whose antioxidants work to keep free-radical damage and other environmental aggressors at bay. Sadly, you'll only find one universal shade here, but on the plus side, this sunscreen glides on with such a sheer finish that it doesn't leave a trace anyways.

Unsun Cosmetics Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

This Best of Beauty-winning sunscreen from Black-owned beauty brand Unsun Cosmetics was specifically created with darker skin tones in mind. The Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 acts as a primer and color corrector all-in-one, with two shades to choose from (light/medium and medium/dark). Soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, vitamin E, and shea butter help this sunscreen sink into skin with a weightless feel. Best of all, it's primed for the sweatiest of activities, too, since it offers up to 80 minutes of water resistance.

Sonrei Clearly Zinq Tinted Mineral Gel Sunscreen

Sonrei's Clearly Zinq Tinted Mineral Gel Sunscreen has a lightweight, airy texture that blends into skin in seconds. There's virtually zero residue or white cast left behind. What's even better is that the formula includes potent antioxidants, including brightening vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid all of which protect skin from environmental stress, while the SPF shields against sun damage.

Cotz Flawless Complexion Tinted

At first squeeze, you'll notice that Ctz Flawless Complexion Tinted has a slightly thicker consistency, but it only takes few rubs for the cream to blend right into skin. The sun protector leaves a nice glow on skin without looking or feeling too shiny and greasy. There's also moisturizing glycerin in the SPF to hydrate skin while it protects.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 50

French pharmacy favorite La Roche-Posay makes some of the most portable sunscreens out there. Take this La Poche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 50, which packs a lot of goodness in a small, ergonomic tube. Its broad-spectrum protection shields skin against UVA and UVB rays, and has a wonderfully sheer, matte finish to it, thanks to its oil-free formula. As an added bonus, it's also non-comedogenic, meaning you won't have to worry about it clogging your pores.

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