The 22 Best Sheer Sunscreens

Those with darker skin tones have every right to be skeptical of sunscreens. It's important to note, however, that Black patients are over three times more likely than non-Hispanic White patients to receive a late-stage melanoma diagnosis. Black women: We must protect our skin. No matter what the women in your family with the same skin tone as you have told you or not told you, the rich melanin in our skin does not make us immune to sun damage from harmful UV rays. Our melanin actually makes our skin more prone to hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and skin conditions like melasma when exposed to too much sun.

Craig Kraffert, MD, board-certified dermatologist and president of Amarte Skin Care, says that there are two classes of approved sunscreen ingredients in the United States: chemical and mineral. "While chemical ingredients can be used alone to create broad-spectrum high-SPF products, the problem is that they tend to be inelegant and sometimes irritating," says Kraffert. "Rather than that nice sheer, absorptive experience we all seek, these products tend to be thicker and sticky with poor absorptive properties." On the other hand, physical ingredient-based sunscreens can provide high performance while remaining relatively sheer. The problem? These products tend to leave an ashy or grayish-white cast on the skin, which is particularly noticeable on darker skin types, he explains.

Looking for sunscreens without a white cast? Check out the best sheer sunscreens that work on all skin tones, below.