Sunscreen is supposed to help protect you from harmful UVA and UVB rays and with proper use can slow down some signs of aging, so why is it so many of them make us look ashy? *sigh*
So I tested a bunch and came up with a list of eight that won’t give you a greyish cast.
If you have some to add, drop them in the comments :)
Tocca Beauty Stella SPF 30+
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock
Clarins UV Plus Day Screen High Protection SPF 40
Peter Thomas Roth Uber-Dry Sunscreen SPF 30
Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Powder SPF 45
Clinique Sun SPF 30 Face Cream
Dr. T’s Supergoop! Everyday Face and Body SPF 30
Clinique Sun SPF 30 Body Cream
For prices and availability, see the gallery below:
May 10, 2011 11:16 am
Neutrogena is my go-to sunscreen every summer. It doesn’t leave you ashy at all nor too shiny.
May 10, 2011 11:20 am
For my face, I really like Mary Kay sunscreen. It’s great for the face because it isn’t heavy. A lot of sun screens are heavy and make your face breakout. This doesnt…
For the body, I like Target’s Up & Up line, which has different SPFs. SPF 70 was handy for the hot Coachella sun!
Neither one of these make me ashy :)
May 10, 2011 11:36 am
I like Clinique Even Better Moisturizer SPF 30; it is great! However, you have Nutrogena Ultra Sheer on your list and I have found it totally leaves you looking ashy.
May 10, 2011 11:41 am
LOL. I died laughing at the title for some reason.
May 10, 2011 11:52 am
I absolutely love mark (by Avon) For Goodness Face Antioxidant Skin Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30. It leaves my skin moisturized and protected, but it’s light and refreshing.
May 10, 2011 11:53 am
@Sharee must have been a fluke because I’ve used Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock for the last 2-3 summers and got no ash at all. The formula is designed to disappear into the skin and have a dry finish like DevonM alludes to in her/his comment.
May 10, 2011 12:20 pm
i use aveeno positively radiant spf 30 or ambi even and clear spf 30 for my face, because they are combination moisturizers/sunscreens that are good for sensitive skin. neither has made me look ashy and ambi is specifically formulated for skin of color. they are also supposed to actively help with any hyperpigmentation and even out your skin tone. both are also inexpensive.
May 10, 2011 12:50 pm
I encountered the same result as Sharee with Neutrogena. It left me looking super ashy. My dermatologist recommended Solbar SPF 38 and I love it. Very absorbent & not greasy, best of all, no ash. She recommends it because it contains zinc oxide which is an extra layer to help prevent skin cancer. Try it, I think you might like it! I get mine from her office, but I know you can also order from Amazon.com.
May 10, 2011 1:10 pm
@La Davidson WELP…lol. Are we talking about the same Neutrogena sunscreen? They have a bunch. I’m going hard for Ultra Sheer Dry Touch like my mama makes it…lol. I love that stuff.
Glad Solbar is working for you! The point here really is making sure we all wear sunscreen (and reapply as necessary) as we’re not exempt for having more melanin :)
May 10, 2011 2:15 pm
I use the La Roche-Posay Athelios Melt-in Sunscreen Milk SPF60. Leaves no ash on me, I think the key with sunscreen is to really rub it into your face so it’s absorbed by the skin. I find that if I do this, wait a bit, and put a bit of lotion on afterwards…. I can’t even tell I had suncreen on to begin with.
May 10, 2011 2:18 pm
i use nuetrogena dry touch as well. that ashy film that most leave behind has not been a problem for me… SN i am really interested in getting a spray tan. most complexion is close to the second pic and i would like to look even with a little shimmer like her. any recommedations?
May 10, 2011 2:56 pm
@Elle Wills your best bet is to find a spray tan salon (not a tanning bed) that has a machine that you step into and then sprays a custom colored look all over your body. You’ll have to do a little research to find a salon in your area that offers it.
There are a number of spray tans you can just buy from either your drugstore or Sephora but chances are many of them won’t get you dark enough to match the skin tone of the model in the second pic. So as an alternative, you can use a lightweight waterproof foundation like Make Up For Ever Face and Body (get it here: http://www.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=2740781&pid=uid6849-1077543-60) to even out your legs or other areas of your body and then apply a luminizer like Sephora Illuminating Bronzing Oil (get it here http://www.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=233883282&pid=uid6849-1077543-60) or if you have any shimmer powder in your stash, mix it in with some baby oil gel.
Hope this helps :)
May 10, 2011 5:03 pm
Wow Danielle, thanks for the info.
May 10, 2011 5:25 pm
great info, I need to step up my sunscreen game and get out of the mindset that I don’t necessary need sunscreen or making it last on my regimen, I know I know…lol. but I will check out these
May 10, 2011 10:32 pm
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May 11, 2011 6:02 pm
alba is a really good one too. i have oily skin so i use just that on my face instead of moisturizer since its so moisturizing.
June 11, 2011 5:30 am
There is EUCERIN FLUID (oily and combined skin), MELASCREEN…..
August 5, 2011 12:50 pm
I have to disagree with the Neutrogena picks; they totally make me ashy and I have become so fed up with it that I did a Google search to find some alternatives – that’s how I came to this site. i will try the others on the list; the PTR uber-dry sunscreen looks worth trying. I have oily skin and my face is literally a hot mess in the summer that i don’t even bother with makeup anymore :(
December 1, 2011 9:58 am
[...] Since high amounts of zinc oxide, an ingredient found in some sunscreens, can often create a greyish cast on skin of color, take a look at eight sunscreens that won’t make you ashy. [...]
December 1, 2011 5:06 pm
[...] Since high amounts of zinc oxide, an ingredient found in some sunscreens, can often create a greyish cast on skin of color, take a look at eight sunscreens that won’t make you ashy. [...]
December 13, 2011 9:16 am
[...] See 8 Sunscreens That Won’t Make You Ashy [...]
December 30, 2011 9:58 am
[...] And you know those pesky brown spots we’re prone to? They’ll only become more noticeable without proper sun protection. Needless to say, slather (or powder with a mineral sunscreen) up. See 8 Sunscreens That Won’t Make You Ashy. [...]
December 30, 2011 10:49 am
[...] And you know those pesky brown spots we’re prone to? They’ll only become more noticeable without proper sun protection. Needless to say, slather (or powder with a mineral sunscreen) up. See 8 Sunscreens That Won’t Make You Ashy. [...]