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This post was originally published in October 2024. It was last updated in April 2026.
For many decades, people of color have been left out of the sunscreen conversation. There’s a common misconception that black or brown skin can forgo sunscreen, which is far from the truth. Admittedly, when I moved to Los Angeles almost 11 years ago, I didn’t wear sunscreen, and the options at Target and CVS were slim to none for people of color. Sometimes, people would tell me, “you have a white cast on your face.” 😔😔
Now that I’ve found the right sunscreens, I wear them religiously every day.
Unfortunately, the FDS in the US regulates sunscreen as a drug, and there hasn’t been approval for new filters since 1999. Many of these brands are available in the U.S., but they’re more expensive and offer less protection than their European counterparts. Since sunscreen is treated as a drug in the U.S., the approval of newer UV filters has been slower compared to other countries, where sunscreen technology is constantly evolving. If you look at sites like Pharmacie City Pharma, located in Paris, 99.99% of sunscreens you will find are SPF 50 because they adhere to the highest standards of protection — whereas in the States, finding sunscreens with SPF 30, 35 or 40 is perfectly normal.
That said, Elta MD is the most reliable option I’ve tried when it comes to American sunscreens.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid Fragrance-Free SPF50+
If you walk into a pharmacy in Spain or France, this sunscreen dominates the display shelves. It’s widely known that French skincare reigns supreme in European pharmacies. Every time I go back to my hometown of Spain, I buy at least 2 bottles. Growing up in Spain, I always saw my mom, a Black Dominican woman with impeccable skin, using La Roche’s sunscreens. Every time I go back to Spain, I buy at least 3 bottles.
As the name implies, this sunscreen has a fluid consistency that quickly absorbs into the skin without feeling greasy or leaving any white cast. When La Roche Posay was created in 1975 in a laboratory, sensitive skin was at the forefront, hence the brand’s close partnership with dermatologists. My dermatologist office in LA also has La Roche (U.S. version) on their display shelves.
I’m an avid driver who spends a lot of time outdoors, and this sunscreen does wonders protecting me against the UV rays, especially when I go to the beach and the desert. With a UVA protection factor of 46 (most sunscreens don’t exceed 30), La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 reigns as the sunscreen with one of the highest UVA coverage on the market. The highly effective formula of La Roche Posay Anthelios is also due to a cutting-edge UV filter, Mexoryl 400, which is banned in the U.S.
Stephannie Karlsson wrote on Frenchpharmacy:
“I started using this European formulated sunscreen after having a Co2 resurfacing laser last year and doing homework on Euro sunscreen formulations vs American. I used to tan no matter how high American SPF I used. This stuff blocks it all out. I’m a 45 year old fair skinned woman and my sun damage (caused by years of exposure in the California desert) that was eviscerated by the laser is gone, and has stayed gone because of this exceptional sunscreen. Wonderful serum texture soaks in the face and doesn’t foul up or negatively impact makeup application or look. Stock up! This one sells out fast. I go for 4 bottles at a time.”
EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 – Tinted
I wonder if doctors and celebrities are on Elta MD’s payroll because this sunscreen is always coming up!
A few celebrities that have raved about Elta MD sunscreen are the Kardashians, Emma Stone, Sydney Sweeney, Nicola Petz, Emma Chamberlain, Hailey Baldwin and Drew Barrymore! If this isn’t enough, the EltaMD UV Daily SPF 40 is also the best-selling sunscreen on Amazon.
Elta MD was my go-to sunscreen between 2018 and 2021. Even though the airless pump bottle is not that big, it will last you for a few months of daily use! I always made sure to apply three pumps on my face and upper neck.
This sunscreen was specifically made for those with skin conditions, like rosacea or eczema. Whenever I look back at pictures of me from that time, my skin always looked glowy and radiant — and applying it felt like a warm hug on my face.
Elta MD UV Daily is formulated with a low percentage of zinc oxide and powerful filters that help block out the UV rays. Other skincare ingredients include; niacinamide, which is a form of vitamin B3 that helps improve skin texture; hyaluronic acid for hydration; and lactic acid, which increases cell turnover and treats skin conditions. The texture feels like a weightless mousse. It’s not formulated with any oils, so it’s not greasy and won’t clog your pores. It’s also scent-free and works VERY well under makeup!
Before the sunscreen was available on Amazon, I had to drive to doctor’s offices in LA to get it.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics (SPF50 + PA ++++)
Note: The ingredients in the reformulated sunscreen for U.S. consumers (available at Sephora and the Beauty of Joseon U.S. website) differ from the original Korean formula, which is available at Stylevana. This review is for the original version. 🙂
With so many beauty products going viral on TikTok nowadays, it’s hard to discern which ones are actually worth the money and which ones are a fad.
However, this viral Korean sunscreen sold me on the fact that their SPF and PA tests were completed in their labs in my hometown of Spain.
On the website, they disclose the SPF and FA conversion to the European UV Index. Unlike some Korean brands that are only catered to white skin, Beauty of Joseon is brown / dark skin friendly.
The Rice + Probiotics sunscreen feels like you’re putting on a luscious silky moisturizer that quickly absorbs into the skin. After applying it, my skin feels nourished and soothed. Think of a lightweight creamy moisturizer packed with excellent ingredients while also providing you SPF 50 protection throughout the day!
This sunscreen is formulated with rice extract, an ingredient that stimulates collagen production, protects against UV damage and diminishes hyperpigmentation, among other things. Additionally, all the ingredients in this sunscreen are non-comedogenic, which means they are less prone to cause breakouts.
With rice extract being the most prominent ingredient and the elegant aesthetic of the brand, Beauty of Joseon’s sunscreen reminded me of the Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen SPF 35, which comes with the hefty price tag of $70.
ISDIN Fusion Water Magic SPF 50
Note: If you decide to purchase this product from the link above, I’ll earn a small commission 🙂
Although ISDIN is a brand from Spain, they’ve successfully established themselves as a top-tier sunscreen brand in Europe and Latin America thanks to their cutting-edge formulas. For this, ISDIN works in tandem with dermatologists and scientists to develop the best products.
Some sunscreens are way too oily, but since ISDIN is water-based, it feels like you’re putting on a silky, lightweight moisturizer. There’s no fragrance and no white cast, which is a big deal for people of color. Other ingredients include hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.
I got two bottles at a pharmacy in Madrid, and the pharmacist even told me that ISDIN was her sunscreen of choice! Coincidentally, when I got the sunscreen in July, Hailey Bieber was featured in one of Vogue’s famous Beauty Secrets videos. My jaw dropped to the floor when she pulled out the ISDIN sunscreen! She uses the Fotoprotector version, which has added antioxidants to protect the skin from everyday city stressors. This version is not available for purchase in the United States due to FDA regulations on active ingredients, but you can get it from French Beauty Hub.
Hailey said: “Whenever I go to Paris or Europe, I love to go to the pharmacy and raid the skincare section. I think sunscreens from Europe are so much better than in the US. They’re my favorite. This one I got at the pharmacy when I was in Paris the last time. I’m obsessed with it and I wish that I had bought five.”
In 2025, the U.S. version of the ISDIN Fusion Water Magic won the award for Best Chemical Sunscreen by the prestigious Allure Magazine.
Thank you for reading! 🧴
What do you think?