Do Brown Girls Need Sunscreen?

Do brown girls need sunscreen? That’s a question that I’ve debated my whole life. In fact, the only time that I can remember using sunscreen growing up was when we went to the beach. And, I really think the only reason we used it then was that, well, you’re supposed to use sunscreen at the beach, right? When you’re in Rome, you do as the Romans. Period.

But my understanding of sunscreen, until very recently, was that it was designed to keep light skin from burning due to prolonged exposure to the sun. That was pretty much the extent of my knowledge of sunscreen. So, I waltzed right through most of my life without including sunscreen in my daily beauty regimen.

After visiting Skin Wellness Dermatology for some unrelated skin concerns that I’ll save for another post, I had a conversation with Dr. Hartman about sunscreen. He quickly debunked every myth that I used as my excuse for not wearing sunscreen:

1. I have dark skin; I don’t need sunscreen.
2. If I wear makeup that contains SPF, I don’t need additional sunscreen.
3. I don’t need to wear sunscreen if it’s cloudy outside or cold.
4. The higher the SPF, the higher the level of protection.

Here is what I learned from my conversation with Dr. Hartman:

1. Dark-skinned people DO need to wear sunscreen.
2. SPF in makeup alone is not enough.
3. You DO need to wear sunscreen, even when it’s cloudy outside or cold.
4. Higher SPF does NOT equate to more protection.

On Dr. Hartman’s recommendation, I set out to find the perfect sunscreen for my face. SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense Sunscreen is the one that I chose to incorporate into my morning routine. And boy, am I glad I did. I can’t say enough about how much I love this product. Having the security of knowing that I am protecting my skin from harmful UV rays is just one of the many benefits of this product.

Now, I’ve tried many other sunscreens on my face before, and let me just tell you, that’s part of the reason that I haven’t been wearing sunscreen. All of the ones that I have tried previously on my face either made me look ashy or left some weird-looking residue on my face that made my makeup look as if I was auditioning for the remake of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video.

All of that changed when I met SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense! This thin fluid slides on my face easily and quickly absorbs into my skin. It only takes a small amount of product to do the job. This sunscreen doesn’t leave a greasy residue like some other brands that I’ve tried. It also doesn’t clump or flake, nor does change the look of my makeup.

Here’s a link to learn more about this product or to purchase. https://www.skinceuticals.com/sheer-physical-uv-defense-spf-50-sheerphysicaluvdefense.html