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As a beauty editor, I know that a few things are taboo to admit—confessions that would make a whole room gasp in horror. Mine is that I didn’t start wearing sunscreen until I was about 20 years old. Despite having enough conversations to understand how essential sun protection is to skin health, I couldn’t care less throughout my teen years.
Fast forward to today and I’m somewhat of an SPF connoisseur—my collection is stacked, if I do say myself. While most of my favorite formulas are chemical, I switched to mineral sunscreens at the start of my pregnancy because of the American Academy of Dermatology’s recommendation that pregnant people use mineral sunscreen. “Mineral sunscreens sit on the skin surface and reflect UV rays off the skin surface [whereas] chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the skin and convert UV rays to heat energy, which then dissipates from the skin surface,” says Brendan Camp, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.
Annie's Top Mineral Sunscreens
- Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50, $64
- Dr. Few Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, $85
- Hero Force Shield Superbeam Sunscreen SPF 30, $20
Before beginning my hunt for the perfect mineral sunscreen, I knew I had to prepare for a ghastly reality: white cast. “The UV filters in mineral sunscreens, titanium, and zinc, can leave a white residue on the skin because they are opaque, meaning they remain visible on the skin surface after application,” says Dr. Camp, adding that this white cast is more visible on darker skin by contrast.
So what’s a pregnant, dark-skinned, and soon-to-be mama to do but soldier on and attempt to find a mineral sunscreen that doesn’t make me look like Casper. I tried mineral sunscreens from high-end luxury formulas to drugstore staples and three emerged as champions. Ahead, discover the only three mineral sunscreens I use that never, ever leave a white cast.
Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50
When Tatcha launched this sunscreen in 2021 and sent me a sample, I immediately put it in my donation pile. I saw the word "mineral" on the short purple bottle and assumed it would leave that dreaded white cast. My mom ended up rummaging my donation pile for gold before I sent it off and not before long, I began noticing it in her beauty stash.
On a mother-daughter trip to Costa Rica, I noticed it in her toiletry bag and, out of curiosity, tried it myself. To my surprise the liquidy sunscreen blended into my skin leaving nothing behind but sun protection and a light glow. In 2024, Tatcha upgraded the packaging to a taller, slimmer tube (still 50 ml or 1.7 oz), but the formula still has the same luminous finish. The SPF initially applies a bit purple-ish but after some rubbing, it completely blends into my skin.
In addition to the active SPF ingredient zinc oxide, this formula includes allantoin to soothe the skin, niacinamide to help promote even skin tone and minimize the appearance of pores, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin. The sunscreen has a very liquidy texture, making it easy to rub in in less than 30 seconds, and it doesn’t leave my skin too greasy, which I appreciate as an oily skin girlie.
SPF level: 50 | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (10%), hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, silk extract
Dr. Few Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
I came across the Dr. Few Tinted Mineral SPF when one of my coworkers handed it to me in the office and asked me to try it out for our Best of Beauty Awards (Spoiler: It won). I was immediately intrigued by the heavy black bottle—it felt luxurious. I pumped a few drops on the back of my hand and was surprised at how fast it blended into my skin. I skeptically assumed the same wouldn’t be true for my entire face—and I’m so glad this Black-owned sunscreen proved me wrong.
When I finally applied it all over my face, the peach-tinted cream melted into my skin quickly, and after a few seconds of rubbing it in, became completely invisible. Not only that, but it also left my face feeling soft and supple—likely due to the jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate which hydrate and smooth the skin. Now I reach for it almost every morning, though I’ve started using it more sparingly, considering that it is a hefty $85. (It’s worth every penny though.)
SPF level: 30 | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (25%), jojoba oil, sodium hyaluronate, shea butter
Hero Force Shield Superbeam Sunscreen SPF 30
I’m already a big K-beauty fan (most of my favorite chemical sunscreens are K-beauty) so it didn’t take much convincing to try out the Hero Superbeam Sunscreen. The light orange tint (a commonality in all three sunscreens) gave me hope that this wouldn’t leave a white cast and I was right.
This sunscreen has an airy (almost whipped) texture that feels lightweight and blends easily. The tint does appear a bit purplish when I first start rubbing it in but with a little bit more blending with my fingers, it evens out leaving behind a sheer finish—though those with complexions darker than mine may find that leaves a visible white cast.
SPF level: 30 | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (17.53%), mica, niacinamide, citric acid
Discover more of Annie's favorites:
- Pattern Just Launched an At-Home Hair Steamer, and It Makes My Washdays So Much Shorter
- 15 Best Gifts for Pregnant Women That Aren't for the Baby
- 19 Black-Owned and -Founded Skin-Care Brands That'll Elevate Your Routine
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