There’s a misconception that Black people don’t need
sunscreen or SPF protection. And while I sometimes can’t help but give a little
inner side-eye whenever I hear this or the surprise I get from people when I talk
about wearing sunscreen (after all, there was a long period of time that even I
was unaware that I need it), it’s about time word got out that SPF is needed
for ALL skin types, tones and colours. Welcome back to the last day of Sun Week
where I’ll be talking about SPF for Black skin.
Let’s first start with the WHY which comes from the fact
that melanin-rich skin doesn’t react to sun the same way those with lighter
skin does, and that skin cancer isn’t as prominent. But that said, we still
need to protect our skin from pollution, discolouration burning and drying –
all side effects of sun exposure.
Like most things, when it comes to Black people (hair care,
skincare even laser treatments), it’s not always as easy as simply going to
your nearest shop and picking up whatever SPF they have, as our skin IS
different and sometimes requires different ingredients. I must say that I’ve
been lucky with my sunscreens of recent years, but I do remember a time when
using sunscreen would leave me with a blue-like stain on my arms before turning
a weird white/grey colour (I later found out this was because of titanium oxide and zinc oxide which is supposed to reflect sunlight, but shows up on dark skin). My sunscreen of choice? Nivea’s Sun Protect &
Moisture 50+, which though a little on the thick side, does a great job of
protecting me from the sun without painting all kinds of crazy colours.
And to help with the fight, two sisters have developed a
sunscreen specifically for dark skin that protects Black skin from the sun
whilst also moisturising skin without breaking the bank, using a key
ingredient: vitamin. For more on that, you can check them out
here.
With the summer solstice, almost upon us (only two more
weeks) meaning the official arrival of summer and hotter temperatures, you can
expect more Sun Week’s and sun-related content.
alice
xo
Labels: black skin, dark skin, skin, skincare, spf, spf for black people, sun, sun protection, suncream, sunscreen
