Aside from immediately having Olivia Newton John’s “Physical” in my head, when typing this post I’m thrilled to get into the nuts and bolts of what’s fast becoming one of my favorite sunscreen brands.
But before we do, let’s first remind ourselves of just how important sunscreen is.
I especially want to remind you that you should wear sunscreen. Every. Single. Day. Regardless of where you are on the planet, and what skin type or tone you have.
The sun’s rays burn us all.
So, if you’re not, I want you to take just one thing away from this article.
Please start wearing sunscreen every day!!!
Okay, matronly rant over, and now I can get back to business.
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Why is Black Girl Sunscreen Important?
Remember even just a few years ago?
You’d slap on some sunscreen (shout out to my Aussie friends ;), and your skin would have that glow-white/blue tint for the rest of time.
Well, there are finally high-quality solutions to the white cast caused by a number of sunscreens that are still available to this day.
And what I love about Black Girl Sunscreen is exactly that.
They have solved these sunscreen issues and provided us with sun protection that absorbs instantly and leaves not a trace of blue-white cast.
So, how do they do it?
Understanding Sunscreen Types
Now, if your knowledge of sunscreen types is minimal, never fear. Let’s go through it together.
Mineral Sunscreen
A mineral sunscreen provides a physical (or mechanical) barrier on the surface of your skin that protects it from the sun’s rays.
This barrier on your skin also reflects UV rays as well.
The most commonly used minerals that you may or may not be familiar with in sunscreens are zinc oxide and titanium oxide.
Physical Sunscreens
While a mineral sunscreen can be classified as a physical sunscreen, not all physical sunscreens are mineral sunscreens.
Confused?
The Reader’s Digest version is that, yes – a mineral sunscreen does act as a physical sunscreen on your skin.
But the term physical sunscreen is a bit broader. It can include both mineral sunscreens and non-mineral sunscreens.
These non-mineral physical sunscreens tend to use different materials to create a protective shield on your skin.
Chemical Sunscreens
Now, chemical sunscreens work a little bit differently.
Instead of using minerals to shield your skin from the sun’s rays, they use different chemicals to protect your skin.
These chemicals work like little sponges on your skin’s surface to absorb the sun’s rays, convert them into heat, and release them from your skin, to prevent damage to your skin.
It is more common for people to react to chemical sunscreen than mineral or physical sunscreens. So if you have particularly sensitive skin, be sure to patch test any chemical sunscreens you might be going to use.
Black Girl Sunscreen
It’s astounding to think that this phenomenal brand was founded only a few short years ago, in 2016.
Black Girl Sunscreen came out of necessity.
To help people with darker skin tones, use sun protection that leaves no white residue on their skin.
And Black Girl Sunscreen was born.
With a perfect range of products that we’ll explore shortly, I, for one, am a convert.
I keep the original Black Girl Sunscreen in my kit, I travel with it, and keep it at home as well. Oh, and Make it Matte and the Kids Sunscreen as well, to name a few.
Black Girl Sunscreen Products
Here’s the Black Girl Sunscreen products for you.
Black Girl Sunscreen spf 30
Oxybenzone and Paraben Free
SPF 30
Ultra Sheer
Make it matte Spf 45
Ultra Sheer Sunscreen
Fragrance Free
Clear Gel Formulation
80 Mins Water Resistance
black girl sunscreen kids
Hypoallergenic.
Fragrance Free.
Silicon Free
Aluminium Free
Paraben Free.
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Is BlackGirl Sunscreen Mineral or Physical?
That’s a very good question.
The Black Girl broad-spectrum sunscreen Make It Hybrid SPF 50+ is a mineral hybrid sunscreen. It contains zinc oxide to protect your skin. Yet still leaves no residue behind.
The remaining products within the BGS range all rely on chemical filters to protect your skin from the sun.
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Remember these points about chemical, mineral, and physical sunscreens:
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Benefits of Mineral/Physical Sunscreens:
As we’ve mentioned, Black Girl Sunscreens are available in both mineral and chemical formulas.
- BGS products are gentle on your skin as they contain healing and nourishing natural ingredients such as jojoba seed oil, shea butter, avocado oil, cocoa seed butter, and carrot seed oil.
- Being free from both oxybenzone and octinoxate, Black Girl Sunscreen products are reef-safe, won’t damage coral reefs, and are environmentally aware products.
- Formulated for diverse skin tones, Black Girl Sunscreen finally allows women with darker skin to protect their skin easily without any need to worry about residue or white cast after application.
- Each Black Girl Sunscreen product is formulated to leave a sheer finish on your skin, that avoids even the slightest hint a white cast on dark or deeper skin tones.
- A mineral-based sunscreen will also do double duty as moisturizers and are all formulated with hydrating properties to not only protect your skin, but nourish and hydrate it as well.
- BGS provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.
Inclusivity and Empowerment
I love that Black Girl Sunscreen caters very specifically to the needs of people with dark skin tones. BGS acknowledges the very real need to protect their skin form the sun’s rays with options that are more than suitable for diverse ethnicities.
I picture the little girl that finally has a sun protection cream that she can apply and rub in directly. And just have it work, instead of being left with that ashy gray/blue cast after rubbing and rubbing, waiting for it to go away.
And also that notion that this very new brand has a focus purely on inclusivity, and it’s aims to empower people of color, not only with sun protection, but with skin health as well. Long overdue.
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Tips for Effective Sun Protection:
- Be sure to apply 15 minutes prior to sun exposure
- Re-apply after 80 minutes of swimming, or lots of sweating
- Apply your sunscreen at least every 2 hours
- Don’t forget to pair your sunscreen with a good quality hat and protective clothing for full sun protection
- Seek shade when you can
- Avoid the sun at the peak UV times of day
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So I hope this sunscreen class have been invaluable in helping to clear up (pun intended!) the differences between mineral (and physical) and chemical sunscreens.
And moreso, I hope I’ve introduced you to a really important brand and name in the sunscreen world.
These products are really worth trying if you haven’t already, and if you are on the Black Girl Sunscreen train already, well, I’d love to know which is your go to sunscreen under the Black Girl umbrella.
And don’t forget, you won’t need it anymore x
