If you grew up in a household with a Black mother, it’s likely she would not let you out of the house unless you did two things. Firstly, you had to take a jacket with you (even in the depths of summer) and secondly, you had to moisturise away any signs of ashy skin on your entire body.

But how often did she stress the importance of SPF? Most likely never. We’ve been brought up to think we don’t need it, thanks to our magnificent melanin. Luckily, times are changing and we’re learning more about our skin. So, we need to move away from the Black skin myth that deeper tones don’t need sun protection.

It’s fair to say that there is a lack of education on melanomas in darker skin tones. People of colour are often left out of the conversation, meaning we don’t know the risks or the sort of skin changes to look out for.

“I like to educate patients and clients about the need for sun protection from two angles: UVA and UVB,” says Dija Ayodele, founder of Westroom Aesthetics and the Black Skin Directory, who has always been vocal about the need for sun protection on darker skin. “Some skin cancers can even develop in areas not typically exposed to the sun, like toe nails, palms, and the soles of feet.”

Then, there are the formulas. During a holiday in the Algarve, I bore witness to a few tan-to-darker skinned individuals experiencing mild sunburn on the tips of their noses, eyelids and shoulders. I’m Portuguese, so I’m used to that type of sun exposure – but I still knew to protect myself. However, the one travel-sized bottle I had to hand was terrible. It was so white and I even tried to mix it with my foundation to disguise those grey-blue undertones.

After that, I decided to do some research and rounded up some of my favourite beauty experts to share their go-to SPFs. Here’s what they said.

“I’ll admit, I used to avoid using sunscreens under make-up as they often left a white cast or left my combination skin super greasy. But thankfully, new innovations within SPF have made these concerns a thing of the past and Thank You Farmer’s popular Sun Project Water Sun Cream SPF50+ is a prime example of that. Hailing from South Korea, it has a gorgeous lightweight texture (like the name suggests) that leaves skin look dewy not chalky, adds a dose of hydration and, of course, delivers that all-important sun protection.”

“I’ve always loved the sun and tanning, but being a make-up artist has made me more aware of how important it is to protect your skin. I absolutely love La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios XL Ultra-Light Fluid – it doesn’t leave a white cast (even at factor 50), its texture is super light without feeling oily on the skin, and it’s also perfect as a base before moisturiser and foundation. It’s an essential in both my personal and client make-up kit.”

“My skincare non-negotiable is my sunscreen. The one I’m currently using is the Murad City Skin. The formula protects against UVA, UVB and blue light. Plus they’ve added niacinamide into it as well. It’s a smart, mineral-based sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white-cast on my face which is another total plus for me.”

Dija had a few recommendations for some go-to SPFs depending on your skin’s needs. We like the sound of Ultrasun’s Face Anti-pigmentation SPF50+:“If you’re tackling pigmentation issues, this will help in the long run. A clever ingredient called ectoin works to quell excess pigmentation. Nice texture, and you can skip moisturiser on this one.”

“Because I’m an athlete, I spend a lot of time in my outdoor office. I am not very prone to burning, but long hours in the sun leave my skin feeling dry, plus I know its effects on premature ageing. I love using Rituals’ The Ritual of Karma SPF 50 Face Cream to counteract that. It’s very light on the skin, hydrating, doesn’t feel greasy, no white-cast as you’d expect in an ordinary SPF, so I’m happy to wear it on its own or as a make-up base.”

“My go-to SPF has to be Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40*. It’s my absolute favourite because it has no white cast (obviously!), doesn’t smell like sunscreen, and has a really nice texture that gives such a great base for make-up.”

*currently available in the UK with SPF 30.

“My favourite SPF is the La Prairie Cellular Swiss UV Protection. It is on the pricey side of things but I see it as an essential step in my skincare routine. The veil offers SPF 50 to protect my skin against harmful UV rays and also contains an herbal extract blend that helps with brightening which is great to help with my hyperpigmentation. Unlike most SPFs I’ve used, this one doesn’t leave a white cast and aids my skin, which is a bonus.”

“From working in beauty PR I’ve been lucky enough to try many beauty and skincare products including sun creams and products that contain SPF. One of my absolute favourites has to be Glossier’s Invisible Shield SPF30, it melts into your skin and also applies smoothly under my skin when I wear makeup without feeling caked or clogging my pores.”

“This is my favourite spray-on SPF. It’s incredibly moisturising and sets as an oil, giving you a really healthy, glowy finish. Although it’s designed to be a ‘spray and go’, I prefer rubbing it into the skin, for an even finish. All in all, this one is a winner.”

Main image: brands