As someone with dark skin, I didn’t even think I could get sunburns. A couple of years ago, after a few days at the beach, I was proven horribly wrong. The embarrassing part: I had sunscreen in my bag the entire time! In the past, I always had access to sunscreen. I was hesitant to use it because of the strange white film that it left on my skin.
Most people are familiar with the not-so-invisible nature of sunscreen. It generally has a strong smell, and most annoyingly, leaves behind a pseudo-sheer white layer on top of your skin after you apply, which shows most dramatically on people with darker skin. And no matter how much I rubbed it in, I couldn’t seem to escape it.
So, for a while, I dealt with it. I mastered rubbing in my sunscreen until you could barely see it. No matter how much time and effort I put into applying the lotion, I could still see the gentle outlines of where I applied it. I didn’t want to feel self-conscious, but I wanted to protect my skin.
After I saw a few advertisements for invisible sunscreen, I didn’t have to choose. This summer, I’ve been using Neutrogena’s Invisible Daily Defense Sunscreen, and I will never turn back. I use it in SPF 50, but there are many options available. It leaves behind no odors or whiteness, and it feels incredibly lightweight. It’s very discrete and does not feel overly oily (which is especially kind to my sensitive face). Black Girl Sunscreen is another brand that offers discrete sunscreen which is excellent for daily use. Both of these options, and a few others, are relatively accessible and can be found at a local Target (that’s where I stocked up on mine).
After using invisible sunscreen, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back to using the old-fashioned stuff. This summer I learned that I didn’t have to choose between my style and my safety after finding lotions that worked for me. This option is incredibly discrete and equally as protective as your typical lotion. I couldn’t think of a reason not to switch to invisible sunscreen.
