Having tan skin doesn’t mean you aren’t vulnerable to sun damage. Although you’re better off than your paler friends, protecting yourself from the sun is still a must!
The Skin Cancer Foundation makes it clear that it is necessary to use sunscreen even if you have tan skin. And fear not – the sun will still enhance your tan even if you wear sunscreen, you’ll just have to give it a little more time and patience. So there really is nothing to lose!
The most important way to protect yourself in the sun is to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen. There are many varieties that will suit your different needs. It’s simply a matter of tailoring your search properly.
Let me be the one to help you with your search for sunscreen for your golden tan skin.
A quick couple of caveats. This guide is not recommending a sunscreen for the activity of tanning. For that, you’ll want a tanning sunscreen. This is just about protecting tan (brown) skin. On that note, this article isn’t about sunscreen for black skin – that’s a separate guide altogether.
After doing thorough research into how to protect tan skin, SimplySunSafe recommends Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 30 as the best sunscreen for tan skin. Keep reading for a detailed buyer’s guide, comparison table, and in-depth reviews of the top 5 sunscreens for tan skin.
Buyer’s Guide
Your tan skin will be best protected if you take the time to search for certain must-have features in your sunscreen:
Broad spectrum protection
No matter what the occasion, broad spectrum protection is the only way to go.
Broad spectrum means that you are being protected against both types of the sun’s rays, UVA and UVB, which is important because they work in different ways.
- UVB rays are the ones that cause you to tan or burn by damaging the outer layer of your skin. These are the ones that you notice the most when you have tan skin.
- UVA rays penetrate the deepest layer of your skin (the dermis) and cause premature aging. You won’t notice these until it’s too late!
You need to remember that exposure to both types of rays increases your risk of skin cancer which is why it is vital that you are continuously and properly protected!
Luckily, broad spectrum protection is something that does not require a lot of effort to find. These sunscreens are available everywhere and clearly identifiable. Just take a look at the label and the ingredients list.
I’m sure you’ve seen sunscreens with the words ‘broad spectrum’ or ‘UVA/B’ during your shopping. Now you know exactly what that tells you!
Another place to check is the ingredients list. What you want to look for is zinc oxide, it’s a wonder ingredient! Sunscreens with zinc oxide protect against the full range of UVA/B rays so you can’t go wrong choosing one of them!
Best SPF for Tan Skin
I’ll venture to guess that Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is something you deem important in a sunscreen even though you might not fully understand what it means.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Generally, the message has been delivered without explanatory facts. Understanding how SPF works will enhance your sunscreen search, so let me put it simply:
SPF tells you what fraction of the sun’s rays will reach your skin if you have properly applied the sunscreen. For example, if you’re wearing a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 50, then only 1/50th of the sun’s rays will reach your skin.
Wait, before you get over-excited, let me make something totally clear – wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 doesn’t mean that you can stay in the sun 50 times longer than if you weren’t wearing sunscreen.
It’s easy to fool yourself that you’re not affected if your tan skin doesn’t burn, but the fact is your skin is plenty vulnerable. There are a lot of things that can affect SPF like what time of day it is or if the sunscreen was properly applied. So you always need to be careful!
Key above all is to reapply your sunscreen at least every two hours, no matter what!
But to decide on an SPF, let’s take a look at this table. It helped me when I was trying to understand SPF:
| SPF Rating | UVB Protection |
| None | 0% |
| 2 | 50% |
| 15 | 93% |
| 30 | 97% |
| 50 | 98% |
| 100 | 99% |
Do you find this table surprising? As you see, there is a small difference between an SPF rating of 30 and one of 100. So which is the right rating for your tan skin?
The AAD suggests that you always choose sunscreens with SPF ratings no lower than 30 and no higher than 50. It’s hard to disagree with the experts on this… so I just agree with them.
And yes – that means no lower than 30, even for tan skin!
Physical is better than chemical
It’s always helpful to know that sunscreens can be broken into two main groups – chemical and physical. If you weren’t sure whether or not the difference between the two types is important, I’m here to tell you that it is!
The core difference lies in the active ingredients. These then determine how the sunscreen works to protect your skin (along with some other key features – see below).
- Chemical sunscreens soak into your skin and absorb UV rays as they reach your skin.
- Physical sunscreens reflects UV rays before they reach your skin.
Which sounds safer to you?
There are many reasons to choose physical sunscreens over chemical ones for your tan skin. Physical sunscreens:
- Work immediately upon application
- Last longer
- Are less likely to cause irritation
- Have a longer shelf life
Don’t those sound like great reasons to choose physical sunscreens?
If you’re still not sure, listen to this:
Chemical sunscreens often contain ingredients that mess with your hormones. The worst one is called oxybenzone. There have been concerns expressed by the EWG, but despite this it is still legal (though they’ve banned it for children under 6 months).
Steer clear of this ingredient (along with chemical sunscreens altogether) and stick to physical sunscreens for your tan skin!
Invisible finish
One of the most problematic parts of finding a great sunscreen when you have tan skin is finding one that doesn’t leave you with an obvious white cast. There are sunscreens which provide quality protection without leaving white cast.
As you search for these sunscreens, you may find that they even specify on the packaging whether or not they are provide an invisible finish. If you are participating in athletic activities or exercising, a white cast may not bother you, but for daily use, the best sunscreen for brown skin will have an invisible finish.
If you usually struggle to get an invisible finish with sunscreens (and it’s important to you) check out the SimplySunSafe guide to tinted sunscreen. Some of those products might have the cosmetic properties that’ll suit your needs perfectly.
Moisturizing formula
When you have tan skin, it comes naturally to sit longer in the sun than some of your paler friends because you feel less likely to burn. But there’s another risky side to this. When you get too much sun, your skin can quickly become very dry.
You can apply creams and lotions after your time in the sun to help any dryness that occurs, of course. But why not combat the dryness from the very beginning?
By using a formula that provides extra moisturizing through its ingredients, you will receive protection while conditioning your skin at the same time!
Best Sunscreen for Tan Skin Comparison
 Vanicream Sunscreen |
 Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector |
 Solbar Shield Sunscreen |
 Blue Lizard Sensitive |
 EltaMD UV Pure |
|
| SPF | 30 | 50 | 40 | 30+ | 47 |
| Broad spectrum | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Active ingredients | Zinc Oxide (6%) & Titanium Dioxide (3.4%) | Titanium Dioxide (7%) & Zinc Oxide (6%) | Zinc Oxide (7.5%) & Titanium Dioxide (5%) | Zinc Oxide (10%) & Titanium Dioxide (5%) | Zinc Oxide (10%) & Titanium Dioxide (5.5%) |
| Water resistance | 80 minutes | None | 80 minutes | None | 80 minutes |
| Price | See it at Amazon | See it at Amazon | See it at Amazon | See it at Amazon | See it at Amazon |
5 Best Sunscreens for Tan Skin
After deep research into what works best for tan skin which included discussing issues with customers, reviewing customer feedback, examining manufacturer specifications, and participating in skincare forums, SimplySunSafe has compiled a list of the 5 best sunscreens for tan skin.
Rest assured that each sunscreen provides physical, broad spectrum protection with an SPF rating of 30 or greater. There are a range of options to fit your unique lifestyle!
1. Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 30
- MINERAL SUNSCREEN: Now reformulated with only one active ingredient, zinc oxide, to provide broad spectrum protection.
- NON-COMEDOGENIC SUNSCREEN: Our mineral sunscreen for sensitive skin is non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) and is suitable for face and body.
- WATER RESISTANT: This fragrance-free sunscreen is water resistant for up to 80 minutes.
- FREE OF COMMON IRRITANTS: All our products are free of dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens and formaldehyde releasers.
- CREATED FOR SENSITIVE SKIN: Our unscented sunscreen formula is lightweight, easy to apply and non-greasy.
Last update on 2023-02-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
SimplySunSafe’s recommends Vanicream Sunscreen as the best sunscreen lotion for tanned skin. This reliable product provides broad spectrum protection with reasonable amounts of active ingredients zinc oxide (6%) and titanium dioxide (3.4%).
Vanicream is an excellent choice for your tan skin because it allows you the protection of the best ingredients, while still providing you with an invisible finish.
Not to mention that the formula is thick and very moisturizing to counter and dryness!
You will be pleased to know that Vanicream Sunscreen provides 80 minutes of water resistance so it can be adapted to fit your lifestyle throughout the year. Vanicream is a great choice for daily use.
- Invisible finish
- Moisturizing ingredients
- 80 minutes of water resistance
- Thick formula
2. Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector SPF 50
No products found.
Another option to consider is Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector. This sunscreen will provide you with broad spectrum protection through its active ingredients titanium dioxide (7%) and zinc oxide (6%).
Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector is the best face sunscreen for tan skin. It works excellently under makeup and is very lightweight. No white cast to be found!
The formula contains ingredients such as green tea and Vitamin E which are very moisturizing and nourishing for your skin. You may mistake your sunscreen for a conditioning face cream!
One thing to consider if you decide to use Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector is that it does not provide water resistance. This means that it won’t work so well during the hot weather or for exercise.
It is also quite expensive. Although this might stop you from wanting it as a full body sun protection option, it’s still a great choice as a daily sun protection option for your tan face!
- Invisible finish
- Moisturizing for face
- Works well under makeup
- No water resistance
- Expensive
3. Solbar Shield Sunscreen SPF 40
- Treat and protect your skin to a smooth perfectly clear zinc oxide sunscreen formula that glides over your skin and dries as invisible zinc. Feels so amazing it doubles as a daily facial sunscreen for the best daily spf face.
- Solbar sunscreen is an exclusive non-comedogenic sunscreen formula with double duty protection for facial sunscreen sensitive skin. The 4 oz tube is packed with the protection power of 7.5% Zinc Oxide (Z-Cote HPI). PABA Free.
- Enjoy the Persōn & Covey, Inc. innovative formula that is poured into every tube of this clear sunscreen formula for ultimate protection from sun rays.
- This amazing daily sunscreen face cream is pamper-packed with aloe, vitamin E, for moisturizing and antioxidant power. Fragrance free. Dye free. Apply and play in the sun 20 minutes later. Re-apply every 2 hours.
- Persōn & Covey formulates top-of-the-line dermatological care and sun protection products. Family-owned since 1941. Based in California, USA.
Last update on 2023-02-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Solbar Shield Sunscreen is another solid option for your tan skin. It provides broad spectrum protection through its active ingredients zinc oxide (7.5%) and titanium dioxide (5%).
You will not experience any white cast with Solbar Shield Sunscreen, it has a transparent finish!
The formula is gentle and sensitive enough for daily use and your skin will receive the nourishing and moisture it needs after time in the sun from the sunscreen’s thick formula which has pure aloe vera and vitamin E!
Solbar Shield Sunscreen also provides 80 minutes of water resistance so that you can use it year-round if you so choose.
It also works well under makeup, and you will find it to be an overall reliable choice for your tan skin.
- Invisible finish
- Moisturizing ingredients
- 80 minutes of water resistance
- Thick formula
4. Blue Lizard Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30+
- AUSTRALIAN-STRENGTH SUNSCREEN – Our classic Regular sunscreen: Born in Australia, made in the USA
- ALWAYS MINERAL-BASED – Combining mineral and chemical UV protectors for water-resistant performance you can trust
- DERMATOLOGIST-RECOMMENDED BROAD SPECTRUM UVA/UVB SPF 30+ – Mineral active Zinc Oxide provides true broad spectrum protection
- WATER RESISTANT AND SWEAT RESISTANT – Up to 80 minutes water resistance, so you stay protected longer
- ANTIOXIDANT-RICH – Vitamin E conditions skin and helps restore supple texture
Last update on 2023-02-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Blue Lizard Sensitive is the perfect choice for you if you have tan and sensitive skin. This gentle formula provides broad spectrum protection through its active ingredients zinc oxide (10%) and titanium dioxide (5%).
With Blue Lizard Sensitive you receive the ultimate assurance that your skin will be treated delicately. There is no chance of irritation and the formula is safe for use all over your face and body.
Blue Lizard Sensitive leaves no white cast and can be used under makeup.
While this dermatologist recommended sunscreen does not provide water resistance, it is a great choice for daily use when you know water resistance is not necessary.
Your tan skin will thank you for treating it so gently if you choose Blue Lizard Sensitive!
- Invisible finish
- Safe for face and body
- Recommended by dermatologists
- No water resistance
5. EltaMD UV Pure Broad Spectrum SPF 47
- EltaMD UV Pure SPF 47 kids sunscreen lotion is made with chemical-free active ingredients for kids and adults who want effective, long lasting sun protection
- This product is non-sealed
- This kids mineral sunscreen with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide reflects and scatters harsh UVA and UVB rays to help prevent sunburns and offer better sun protection for families
- Gentle kids sunscreen formula glides over wet or dry skin, rubs in quickly and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes, making this a great water resistant sunscreen for kids and adults
- Lightly rub in this oil free sunscreen for kids face and body and reapply often for all-around sun protection
Last update on 2023-02-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
To finish off the list, SimplySunSafe recommends EltaMD UV Pure for protecting your tan skin. You receive broad spectrum protection with the combination of active ingredients titanium dioxide (10%) and zinc oxide (5.5%).
EltaMD UV Pure is a great formula, especially for use on the face. It is lightweight and will not leave your skin feeling greasy. Another plus is that the majority of customers report that they do not experience a major issue with white cast.
EltaMD UV Pure works great under makeup and provides 80 minutes of water resistance, making it versatile for a variety of purposes with your tan skin!
- Lightweight formula
- 80 minutes of water resistance
- May leave slight white cast
Conclusion
The guide you just read was written for people actively searching for the best sunscreen for tan skin. Hopefully, by reading this guide you were able to gain a better understanding of what it takes to protect tan skin properly. I hope you found a product that suits your unique needs, as well!
SimplySunSafe recommends Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 30, but all 5 listed products will be wonderful protectors of your tan skin.
The next thing you need to do is start testing a few products. You want to give your skin a chance to react and tell you what it needs and wants. Then you can make a final decision.
I love learning new things and hearing about different products from the people around me. If you use or know of another sunscreen that’s great for tan skin, share it in the comments below. I’ll be so grateful, check it out and maybe even add it to the list!
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