Six POC girlies share their favourite facial sunscreens
IMAGE VIA SHANAYA PETERS/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY PARTH RAHATEKAR
No white cast scaries here.
There’s no argument about it: sun protection is essential. As the Antipodean temperatures (and UV levels) soar, so does our spirit of adventure. But before we start planning the road trips and dust off the thongs for our next main character arc, let’s talk about sunscreen.
As a POC myself, there have been times in my life where I’ve come face to face with the nastiest sunscreen scary of them all: white cast. Also known as the dreaded ‘ashy’ look that a lot of traditional, zinc-heavy sunscreens impart. The tussle between sun protection and slay central is real, and us melanin-rich baddies need to talk about it.
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So, when I reached out to some melanin-rich Fashion Journal readers and asked for their favourite facial sunscreens, I wasn’t surprised to see a stream of strong opinions land in my inbox. The girlies aren’t gatekeeping! Nothing beats a personal recommendation, so if you’re looking for your next holy grail sunscreen, stock up on these options.
Diya Shahaney, founder of Junglo skincare
I’ve always found sunscreen shopping for melanin-rich skin to be a gamble – it’s a choice between a chalky white cast or something overpriced. Beauty of Joseon sunscreen has been my recent holy grail. After feedback on its original Relief Sun formula, the brand responded with Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh, removing Tinosorb M to avoid the dreaded white cast on darker skin. It’s lightweight with a semi-matte finish, and they even publish their test results, surprisingly rare in the world of sunscreen. For deeper skin tones, this is the one.
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Ashleigh Williams, actor, model and writer
My forever favourite sunscreen is the Elta MD UV Clear. It’s super lightweight, non-greasy and most importantly, it’s one of the only ones I’ve tried that has no white cast. I have super oily and acne-prone skin and it never breaks me out or causes irritation. It leaves a very subtle, hydrated glow and it’s perfect for laying under make up. The only con is the price point, at roughly $70 I consider selling feet pics to be able to afford it since it’s a daily use product, but honestly, it’s worth the investment.
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Nikita Chaithoo, makeup artist
I have tried many sunscreens over my time and as a POC, I find it extremely difficult to find a SPF 50+ that provides enough protection but also doesn’t turn my skin tone ashy, white cast or purple. We have definitely come a long way and now there is a lot more variety. Also as someone who wears makeup almost every day, I need my SPF to sit well under my makeup without disturbing the finish or durability of my makeup.
I have narrowed my selection to a top three: The first is the Abib Quick Sunstick. It’s so convenient and compact, and super easy to carry with you. I also love the glow this gives my skin. It’s the lowest price point out of my top three – I love it so much that I would happily pay more. The second, is an Ultra Violette sunscreen. This brand as a whole had so many options and finishes but the Ultra Violette Supreme Screen is my favourite. It is a more hydrating formula but definitely not greasy. Lastly, L’Oréal Paris Anti-UV fluid is a new favourite for me. It has a super thin consistency making it perfect for someone with a slightly oiler skin type. It also leaves a beautiful glow on the skin and sits beautifully under makeup.
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Whitney Appiagyei, makeup artist
As a Black woman living in Melbourne, Australia, where the UV rays can be incredibly strong, I’ve faced a real struggle finding a sunscreen that not only protects my skin but also doesn’t leave that dreaded white cast. That was until I discovered La Roche Posay suncreen. Their Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF 50+ is a product I genuinely love! It offers excellent protection from the harsh summer sun, absorbs beautifully without any visible residue, and works perfectly underneath my makeup. It’s been a game-changer for me.
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Shanaya Peters, model
Sunscreen is a staple in my skincare routine all year ’round! Finding a sunscreen that delivers ultimate protection, leaves no white cast and stands the ever-changing Melbourne weather conditions has been a journey to say the least. I recently fell into the Korean beauty side of TikTok, which has led me to change my whole skincare routine to Korean products. I started with cleansers, then serums and finally settled on a sunscreen (after the algorithm kept showing me rave reviews of this one particular brand). The Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum by Skin1004 is by far my most loved sunscreen I’ve ever tried. It’s a moisturising serum-like product with hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica extract that soothes and hydrates your skin without leaving a white cast. It leaves my skin plump, glowing and feels seamless under makeup.
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Parth Rahatekar, poet and writer
I love being out and about in the sun but you won’t catch me looking like a sugar-dusted pastry, ever! I had my reliable sunscreen favourite back home in India, but ever since I moved to Australia, this girl’s had to be on a budget. I’ve come to love the Cancer Council sunscreen, their Daily Moisturiser Water Resistant SPF 50+ is affordable and backed with plenty of research. As someone with sensitive skin, it’s not caused me to breakout either.
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For more on why sunscreen is important, head here.
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