Mineral sunscreen has always been a no-go for me as a Black woman, because its active ingredient — zinc oxide — makes me look ghostly white, no matter how long I rub it in. Still, for years I tried my best to make it work. After all, in most respects, mineral sunscreen is superior to chemical sunscreen. It requires fewer reapplications and is gentler on sensitive eyes; often, when I applied chemical sunscreen (my go-to was Unseen Sunscreen from Supergoop), I wound up in an endless loop of eye irritation as I tried to wipe my eyes and inevitably got more sunscreen in them. A few years ago, I thought I might have luck with Neutrogena’s mineral-based Sheer Zinc, but it was far from “sheer” on my skin. That’s when I gave up the hunt. I didn’t want to spend more money experimenting with products that would make me look like Casper.
But last year, RMS Beauty sent me a bottle of its new mineral sunscreen, the SuperNatural Radiance Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen, in a PR package. When I saw it, I was so convinced the product wouldn’t work for me that I almost threw the entire box out. But my curiosity was piqued when I noticed that the sunscreen was tinted and came in multiple shades. The darkest shade, Rich Aura, looked like it actually might match my skin. I was also impressed with the level of sun protection and appreciated that the product had a few other helpful ingredients, like niacinamide, which helps reduce water loss and increase skin’s hydration level, and radiance-boosting peptides quinoa-seed extract and pea extract.
I stood in front of my bathroom mirror and squeezed out roughly two teaspoons of the product into my hand, drawing two lines down the length of my pointer and middle finger. (Charlotte Palermino, founder of Dieux Skin, taught me this trick for making sure you’re putting on enough sunscreen.) The lotion had a caramel-colored hue, and at first glance, I suspected it wouldn’t be dark enough to blend in with my skin. As I applied it to my face, that familiar zinc-based white cast appeared. But as I continued to rub, the tint in the serum began to blend, deepening into a brown color with a slight shimmer that left my face dewy and radiant. I was excited and decided to put the product to the final test: a selfie in direct sunlight. Even the best mineral sunscreens can leave a slightly gray film in the light, but when I stepped out into the sun and lifted my phone, no product could be detected. It didn’t look like I had any sunscreen on at all. I immediately posted the selfie.
I’m obsessed with this sunscreen now, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily for everyone. It only comes in three shades, and I wish there were more; after a week in the sun, I could use a shade or two deeper. For me, the sunscreen looks best when I layer it over moisturizer as a final step in my morning skin-care routine. When I wear it under makeup, it adds a subtle glow to my foundation, which I appreciate. All in all, this is the first mineral sunscreen I’ve found that I can wear with confidence — and as long as it’s available, I’ll be steering clear of the chemical variety and using this instead.
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