The Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 was the best value winner in my larger tested best face sunscreens review. Ahead, learn more about how this product moisturizes and protects without leaving a white cast.
Many sunscreens take work to blend in. Some never quite do, leaving visible streaks of white, chalky residue behind. That’s why some of our main criteria for the best face sunscreen were how easily it applies and its finish. If it left a white cast on our skin or facial hair, or if you had to rub and rub to get rid of it, we eliminated it.
The Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 was the easiest to apply, felt great on and had the most affordable ... [+]
I tested 11 chemical, mineral and combination sunscreens from different brands to name the Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 my top pick for its value. It was the easiest to apply, felt great on and had the most affordable price point by far. Read on to learn more about why it scored high marks among our panel of testers.
Black Girl Sunscreen Features
Quick, Easy Application
A classic creamy sunscreen lotion consistency is exactly what you get with this one. The tube lets you squeeze out as much or as little as you need. (Though we found in testing that it can dispense a little more than you intended if you’re not careful, so squeeze gently.) The sunscreen smooths effortlessly over your skin and absorbs easily—no rubbing or mirror check required. We liked the fragrance-free aspect too, particularly those of us with sensitive skin.
The Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 has a classic creamy lotion consistency.
A Rich, Hydrating Texture
This product comes out of the tube like a thin (but not watery) lotion and feels cooling and moisturizing on skin. It takes a few minutes to absorb, and feels more moisturizing and heavier than other contenders, including our best face sunscreen overall from Coola. Once it dries, your skin feels soft, plump and nourished. No testers reported greasiness or oiliness.
A Dewy Finish
This versatile sunscreen left our testers with well-hydrated, glowing skin that didn’t look slick or oily. “Like my skin, but better” is how I put it in my notes. We saw no trace of white residue, either.
Our combination skin tester agreed. “I like the finish,” she said. “Initially it felt like I was wearing face cream or heavy moisturizer, but after a couple of hours my skin still had a slight glow but didn't look oily.”
How Does Black Girl Sunscreen Compare?
Compared with our best overall sunscreen pick, the Coola Classic Face Organic Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, the Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 costs $6 less per fluid ounce and comes in a tube that’s nearly twice the size (3 fluid ounces versus 1.7 fluid ounces). Our testers really liked both but agreed that BGS feels richer when you first put it on, which might be something you prefer, especially if you have drier skin. It sets to a hydrated, dewy finish that lasts, unlike Coola, which is so sheer you might forget you have it on.
The Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 was the best value of all six of our best face sunscreen winners.
It’s also heavier than our best luxury sunscreen pick, Dr. Loretta Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen and is a fraction of the price per fluid ounce. It was less expensive than all but one of the sunscreens we tested and less greasy feeling to boot.
How I Tested The Best Face Sunscreen
To supplement my own feedback, I gathered five additional testers of different skin types and tones to test all 11 tubes and bottles I considered for the best face sunscreens. For skin types, they self-identified as normal (one), dry (one), combination (two) and sensitive (two, including me); one had facial hair. We relied on the Fitzpatrick Skin Score, the system dermatologists use to describe how skin responds to UV exposure, to self-identify our skin tone:
- Type I: Skin always burns, never tans and is most sensitive to UV exposure.
- Type II: Skin burns easily and tans minimally.
- Type III: Skin burns moderately and tans gradually to light brown.
- Type IV: Skin burns minimally and always tans well to moderately brown.
- Type V: Skin rarely burns and tans quickly to dark.
- Type VI: Skin never burns, is deeply pigmented and is least sensitive to UV exposure.
I consider myself a type II. Our other five panelists ticked type I, III and IV. We tested each one the same way: We applied a nickel-size dollop and rated it on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (amazing) for ease of application, feel, finish and scent. Then we snapped a quick photo. We checked in on the feel and finish 2 hours later.
My Expertise
I’m a veteran journalist who served as health and wellness editor at O, The Oprah Magazine and Martha Stewart Living. I’ve also covered the beauty industry throughout my career. But sunscreen isn’t just a professional interest of mine; it’s a personal one too, due to my family history of skin cancer. While researching this story, I spoke with cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong, PhD, of Lab Muffin Beauty Science and dermatologist Dr. Steven Q. Wang, MD, chair of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s photobiology committee and director of dermatologic oncology at the Hoag Family Cancer Institute, asking for their guidance and advice. (Neither provided specific product recommendations.) I also pored over online sunscreen guides and comments for bestsellers at major beauty retailers like Ulta Beauty, Sephora and Amazon.
Is Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 Good For All Skin Types?
Our testers of diverse skin types—dry, combination and sensitive—found it to be a non-irritating and protective face sunscreen. It does contain hydrating ingredients including some richer, heavier plant oils that may feel a bit too heavy for some oily skin types.
Is Black Girl Sunscreen Mineral Or Chemical?
This Black Girl Sunscreen is a chemical formula containing avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene. It doesn’t contain oxybenzone or octinoxate, which some people prefer to avoid because they can be irritating.
Does Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 Leave A White Cast?
No, it is designed to be “ultra sheer” with “no white residue,” per the bottle, and our testers found that to be true. Because it’s a chemical formula, it doesn’t contain zinc oxide, which is one of the active ingredients in some sunscreens that tends to leave a thicker white residue.
