If you’re subscribed to my Youtube channel (and if you’re not, you should be), you’ll know that I have a series where I try mineral sunscreen for dark skin to see if they blend into the skin without leaving that ashy cast.

But why MINERAL sunscreen (also called physical sunscreen) you might ask? It’s because there is a population of people out there who are either allergic to many of the chemical sunscreen options or who prefer the type of ingredients (zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide) found in mineral/physical sunscreens.

The problem though with mineral sunscreens is that because they use titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide (both of which are WHITE pigments) to protect from the sun, some of them make even white people look ashy :/

I’ve been trying out a bunch of mineral sunscreens and you can watch my full listings in the Youtube playlist which I also have embedded at the end of this post, but I wanted to highlight some of the best mineral sunscreen for dark skin I’ve tried so far!

NOTE: There is a sunscreen out there for EVERYBODY. There are pluses and minuses for both mineral/physical sunscreen and chemical sunscreens, but I will leave that up for you to decide which ones you’ll add to your routine. I just want to show you the choices out there so you get closer to finding one you like. I’m not out here to persuade you to try one formula over another—I JUST WANT YOU TO WEAR SUNSCREEN. Because if you find one you love, you’ll wear it and wear it properly. It may take some trial and error to find one you love, but hopefully I can make the process a little easier for you with my videos and blog posts. If mineral sunscreens aren’t for you, I’ve tried out tons of chemical sunscreens here on the blog and you can check out my general sunscreen for dark skin playlist on Youtube here.

Also, keep in mind that while whether or not the mineral sunscreen leaves a cast might be a big factor for you, it shouldn’t be the ONLY factor. How it feels on your skin, your skin type, the climate where you live (including any changes in season), your budget, your lifestyle, etc. should all factor into your sunscreen choice.

These are only in the order of when I first tried them—this is not a ranking list.

PURITO Comfy Water Sun Block SPF50+ PA++++ ($14.50)

Update: This product is no longer available as the brand had issues with their SPF ratings. Initially it was the brand’s Centella sunscreens that tested way below the SPF listed, but they took all of their sunscreens off the market including this one.

Typically people with oily skin love Korean mineral sunscreens because the formulas tend to be lightweight and non-greasy. This is true of Purito Comfy Water Sun Block SPF 50+ PA++++.

You have to give this one a few minutes to “settle” as you might see a slight tint at first. After a few minutes the tint is less noticeable although I think if you wear this and take flash photos, that tint will tell on you more. (But I’m of the natural light only pics so that’s not an issue for me personally).

Another thing is you may want to put this on in layers. If you put too much on at first, it’ll be much harder to blend. Instead work in a few layers—this way it blends in better. But be sure you’re overall applying enough to cover every inch of your face, neck, behind the ears, etc.

Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish SPF 50 ($9.50)

This is another lightweight feeling Korean mineral sunscreen. Give it a few minutes to “settle” as it leaves a slight tint on the skin at first, but after some time it does tend to not be as noticeable. It has a nice satin matte finish that can work well on most skin types.

BIOSSANCE Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ ($30)

I really enjoyed how easily this one blended in. There is a bit of a dewy sheen to it, so it might be better suited for normal to dry skin types when it’s warmer out. If you have oily skin, you might like this better in the cooler months.

Supergoop! Zincscreen 100% Mineral Lotion SPF 40 PA+++ ($42)

This isn’t my top favorite and it takes a bit of time to blend into my skin, but it does have a nice satin finish to it. Honestly, a lot of mineral sunscreens are like that by nature. This article on the Supergoop site will explain why. But this one is still better than a lot of the other ones I’ve tried.

Cotz Flawless Complexion Spf 50 ($25)

This one is a little tinted, but it blends nicely into the skin once you rub it in carefully. It has a nice satin matte finish that I think most skin types would like.

Versed GUARDS UP DAILY MINERAL SUNSCREEN BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 35 ($21.99)

This one glides nicely on the skin (my own skin hates extra friction so I appreciated that I didn’t have to rub too much with it) and has a nice satin finish. This one might be liked more by those with normal to dry skin. I have oily skin and while I didn’t find it to be heavy or greasy, it wouldn’t be my first choice for warmer temps.

PETER THOMAS ROTH Instant Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Sunscreen ($30)

I’ve used this powder mineral sunscreen for years as my reapplication method when I’m wearing makeup. I still wear my regular sunscreen (or moisturizer with SPF) so I don’t rely on this being my only SPF.

But this helps to touch-up your makeup throughout the day while you’re also reapplying your sunscreen. I remember this one being for combo to oily skin and they had another version in blue packaging for normal to dry skin, but I no longer see the normal to dry version being sold. Just this one which says it’s for all skin types so maybe there was an upgrade in between.

Replenix Sheer Physical Sunscreen SPF 50 Plus ($24.45)

This is a mineral sunscreen spray that you spray into your hand and then apply to your face with your hands. This is NOT something that you can spray over your makeup. I REPEAT. This is NOT something that you can spray over your makeup. The way this sprays will leave deposits of product on your face if you spray it directly to your face. But when you use it correctly (by spraying it into your hand and then applying to your face with your hands) this is a really nice mineral sunscreen that blends well into dark skin. It feels weightless and seems like something that most skin types would enjoy.

Replenix UltiMATTE Perfection Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50+ ($25.74)

Replenix seems to know a thing or two about mineral sunscreens for deeper skin! This one has a nice satin matte finish and blends nicely into the skin. Apply it in thin layers but ensure you’re applying enough for your face. You may need to give it a few minutes to “settle” so it doesn’t look ashy (it can look a bit cast-y when you first put it on. It also works really well with makeup.

MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 ($25.60)

This one glides on the skin nicely and has a pleasant texture and feel. If you have oily skin, you’ll be happy to know this has a soft matte finish. It’s a bit more matte than the Replenix UltiMATTE, but not that casket-sharp matte that can make the skin look dry.

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation ($46)

This is a hybrid makeup and skincare product and has one of the best shades ranges I’ve seen so far if you can classify this as a tinted mineral sunscreen. I have a whole video that goes through the pros and cons as well as shows it applied to my skin. Watch it below!

One thing to note is that the product looks lighter when you first apply it and then after about 30-60 seconds it will appear darker. You might wind up picking a shade that looks too light, but it will adjust. My shade is 16.

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 | PA++++ ($68)

This has a peachy tint to it and blends into the skin beautifully. This sunscreen has a lot of great things going for it particularly if you’re dealing with persistent pigmentation like melasma or hyperpigmentation (mineral sunscreen, iron oxides, tinted, fragrance-free, etc). It works nicely with makeup, but with my oily skin I would prefer this in cooler temps (early spring, late fall, maybe winter) as I feel like it would be a bit too heavy for me. But this is a really amazing and cosmetically elegant mineral sunscreen.

Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Ultralight tinted mineral sunscreen SPF 50+ ($66)

The price tag might give you pause, but you’re actually getting 3.4 fl oz of product here. If you’re the type to buy $25-30 sunscreens at Sephora which are typically 1-1.7 fl oz, then the Isdin price is comparable. But this is a really nice sunscreen that has a number of good things going for it when it comes to those with persistent pigmentation (it does have fragrance, so if that is an issue for you, you may want to skip this). It’s also water resistant up to 40 minutes. There is a very slight cast but it goes away a bit after application. I would say although this is really nice for oily skin, I wouldn’t rule it out if you have dry skin—if you live in a warmer climate or during the warmer seasons, this might be a nice option if you wear the right moisturizer underneath.

Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Daily mineral sun protection SPF 50+ ($55)

This is also a nice, lightweight sunscreen that is great for oily skin, but not necessarily something to rule out if you have drier skin for the reasons I mentioned in the last paragraph. This one isn’t tinted, but is formulated to repair and protect skin from sun damage. It blends nicely into the skin, wears well with makeup, and is water resistant up to 40 mins.

You can see more of my thoughts on the Murad and Isdin sunscreens in this video below.

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Olay Regenerist Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 + Supergoop Mineral Sheer Screen SPF 30

Listen, these two definitely SHOOK the mineral sunscreen table. While the Olay one has no cast on me when I rubbed it into my skin (and I even used WAY more sunscreen than you need in my Youtube demo to demonstrate just how beautifully this blends in the skin), the Supergoop one isn’t too far behind it, but it does have a teeny, tiny bit of a cast on my darker skin. Learn more about both of these in my video below.

Dr. Dennis Gross All Physical Wrinkle Defense SPF 30

@stylenbeautydoc

I might be a little shocked — how about you? #sunscreen #sunscreeneveryday #sunscreenforblackpeople #mineralsunscreen #sunscreenfordarkskin

? deja vu – Olivia Rodrigo

This one is probably better suited for drier skin as it can be really shiny on oily skin from jump (and if you have oily skin, you know a look like that will be hard to maintain ALL day…lol). But if you have oily skin and really want to wear this, try applying a powder foundation on top which can also help to blend the very slight cast this one gives. See more about this in this video.

Bea Skincare Solar Defence (SPF 30, SPF 50)

This is freaking amazing! The cast is almost invisible–like you really have to have a microscope to see it and even then you’d still need to squint. The formula is really lightweight and leaves a satin finish. The only caveat is this is from a UK-based brand so you’d have to order it online and shipping can make it a bit pricy. You can find out more about it and see a demo in the video below.

Sonrei CLEARLY ZINQ™ MINERAL GEL SUNSCREEN SPF 60

This is nice on the face—the cast is very slight. It feels a bit greasy when you put it on, but this actually wore nicely on my oily skin—no excessive greasiness even in warmer weather. It also might be one of the best-looking mineral sunscreens on the body. It’s not invisible, but most mineral sunscreens look like white panythose on the body. The only thing with using it as a body sunscreen is the price. You can learn more about this in the video below.

Sonrei Kids Zinq Mineral Face and Body Gel Sunscreen SPF 60

This seemed pretty identical to me at the previous Sonrei product. You can see more about it linked in the video below.

Sonrei Clearly Zinq Tinted Mineral Face and Body Gel Sunscreen SPF 45

This is one of the better tinted mineral sunscreens I’ve tried. It has iron oxides in it which can be great for visible light protection. It feels a bit oily when you put it on, but wears pretty nicely with a satin finish. You can see more about this in the video below.

Ghost Democracy Invisible Lightweight Daily Face Sunscreen SPF33

I wouldn’t go so far as to call this invisible. It still left a bit of a cast on my skin, but the formula is lightweight. You get a satin finish and it wore pretty nicely on my oily skin in warmer weather. You can see more about this in the video below.

See full reviews and demos for the Bea, Sonrei, and Ghost Democracy sunscreens below.

Absolute Joi Daily Hydrating Moisturizing Cream with Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40 1.7 fl oz $42

This formula was created by a Black dermatologist and comes in two tints: Cafe au Lait (lighter) and Mocha (deeper). The formula is lightweight yet moisturizing on the skin. It also contains iron oxides which will provide some protection against visible light (find out more about this here). See more about it in the video below beginning at the 9:40 mark.

Dr. Gio Cosmetics Ultra 7 Brightening Foundation Cushion SPF 50+ PA+++ 0.45 oz $34.99

Although this is a makeup compact, it can count as your sunscreen protection as long as you apply enough (2 mg/ cm 2), but I feel like most people won’t do that so apply your base sunscreen first.

This is a black-owned Korean brand and I am extremely impressed by the shade options for deeper skin (considering cushions have typically come in beige and beiger. I tried this out in Bisi in the demo below (it plus Chioma are what the brand sent me), but Funmi is probably a better shade for me.

See my full review and demo in the video below beginning at the 4:28 mark.

Live Tinted Hue Guard HUEGUARD SPF 30 1.7 FL OZ $32

This tinted mineral sunscreen is fragrance-free (if that’s something you look for) and also contains iron oxides (see below for why this is important if you have melasma or other persistent pigmentation issues) and while I can’t say this is completely invisible, it’s definitely nice on the skin and doesn’t have a noticeable cast. See more about it in the video below.

Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen 1.7 oz $36

This is reformulated (I haven’t tried the original so I don’t have anything to compare it to). While the cast isn’t completely invisible, it looked decent on my skin. You can find out more about it in the video below as well.

Dr. V InZincable SPF 50 50 ml $34.72

Hard to clock a white cast with this one, but the formula is very, very shiny. Not my favorite finish for my oily skin, but if you set it with powder after 15 mins, it’s not so bad. Shipping to the US is pretty high at the moment though. See full review here.

Bergen Dermatology Sheer Joy SPF 50+ 1.7 oz $36

Another sunscreen that’s hard to clock a white cast, but it is REALLY dewy. You can set with powder after 15 mins to take down some of the shine if you have oily skin. Check out the full review here.

Buttah Skin Tinted Mineral Facial Sunscreen SPF 30 2 fl oz $24

This one has a veryyyy slight cast on my skin and has some sheen to it, but it also contains iron oxides for additional protection against visible light. This is also a black-owned brand. Check out the full review here.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50 1.7 oz $34

This is a hybrid sunscreen. I’m adding this to the list because it does look good on, but I did find some issues with it personally—namely the smell. You can hear more about it in this video.

Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Hybrid with Zinc and Lavender Sunscreen – SPF 50 – 3 fl oz $15.99

This is a hybrid sunscreen. I love how lightweight this and how nice it works for oily skin. You can hear more about it in this video.

Solara Suncare Daily Defense Mineral Sunscreen – SPF 30 – 1.7 fl oz $25.49

Lightweight, great texture, and the cast is undetectable. You can hear more about it in this video.

Solara Suncare Vacation Glow Mineral Sunscreen – SPF 30 – 1.7 fl oz $27.49

I’m adding this although I find it to be too golden for me, but you may like it. You can hear more about it in this video.

Native Unscented Mineral Face Lotion – SPF 30 – 1.7 fl oz $15.99

Lightweight, blends in well, and the price is nice (for a mineral sunscreen). You can hear more about it in this video.

Cotz Flawless Complexion SPF 50 Richly Tinted 2.5 oz $27.50

The original tinted looked nice, but this Richly Tinted looks even nicer on my skin. See it in action and full review here.

Good Molecules Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 1.7 oz $12

I’ve tried probably close to a hundred mineral sunscreens over the years, and it’s pretty hard to come across an affordable mineral sunscreen that also looks good on deeper skin. This is one though! See it in action and full review here.

Fenty SkinHydra Vizor Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen Hand Cream 1.35 OZ $22

I thought RiRi lost her damn mind making a MINERAL sunscreen hand cream, but this actually looks amazing and smells good (at least to me…lol). See it in action and full review here.

Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Mineral SPF 30 Refillable Moisturizer 1.7 oz $39

Rihanna done did it again! This looks amazing on my skin and smells good (to me at least). See it in action and full review here.

Fragrance-free version sold here.

Olay Sensitive Mineral Face Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide – Fragrance Free – SPF 30 – 1.7 fl oz $29.99

This is made with sensitive skin in mind with collodial oats to help soothe. The formula on this is very thick and creamy, so it’s likely better suited for drier, sensitive skin, HOWEVER, don’t count it out if you have oily skin as it could be great for you in the winter.

Cast is hard to clock here, though I did realize after the fact in the demo section of this video that I didn’t rub the sunscreen in all the way :/

See it in action here.

A Few Mineral Sunscreen Tips

• Because zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (the actives in mineral sunscreens made in the USA) are WHITE PIGMENTS, you may find it necessary to do a little more in your cleansing routine. You might want to do a double-cleanse. There’s a video on double cleansing here.
• Apply mineral sunscreen in thin layers until you have the adequate amount of protection (2 mg of sunscreen per cm 2 of skin) for better results. This won’t save every mineral sunscreen because sometimes that white cast is TOO STRONG, but it can help with some. Applying a big glop of mineral sunscreen all at once will make it extremely hard to blend out.
• Mineral sunscreen and makeup don’t always see eye-to-eye. Give yourself 15 minutes after applying your mineral sunscreen before applying your makeup. Then when you apply your makeup, try to use sponges or other tools that you can dab into your skin.

Have melasma or other persistent hyperpigmentation issues? Watch this video below for info on iron oxides and visible light

Looking for more sunscreens for dark skin? Watch the playlist below and see even more mineral sunscreen videos below!