On a mother-daughter trip to Costa Rica, I noticed it in her toiletry bag and, out of curiosity, tried it myself. To my surprise the liquidy sunscreen blended into my skin leaving nothing behind but sun protection and a light glow. In 2024, Tatcha upgraded the packaging to a taller, slimmer tube (still 50 ml or 1.7 oz), but the formula still has the same luminous finish. The SPF initially applies a bit purple-ish but after some rubbing, it completely blends into my skin.
In addition to the active SPF ingredient zinc oxide, this formula includes allantoin to soothe the skin, niacinamide to help promote even skin tone and minimize the appearance of pores, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin. The sunscreen has a very liquidy texture, making it easy to rub in in less than 30 seconds, and it doesn’t leave my skin too greasy, which I appreciate as an oily skin girlie.
SPF level: 50 | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (10%), hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, silk extract
Dr. Few Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
I came across the Dr. Few Tinted Mineral SPF when one of my coworkers handed it to me in the office and asked me to try it out for our Best of Beauty Awards (Spoiler: It won). I was immediately intrigued by the heavy black bottle—it felt luxurious. I pumped a few drops on the back of my hand and was surprised at how fast it blended into my skin. I skeptically assumed the same wouldn’t be true for my entire face—and I’m so glad this Black-owned sunscreen proved me wrong.
When I finally applied it all over my face, the peach-tinted cream melted into my skin quickly, and after a few seconds of rubbing it in, became completely invisible. Not only that, but it also left my face feeling soft and supple—likely due to the jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate which hydrate and smooth the skin. Now I reach for it almost every morning, though I’ve started using it more sparingly, considering that it is a hefty $85. (It’s worth every penny though.)
SPF level: 30 | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (25%), jojoba oil, sodium hyaluronate, shea butter
Hero Force Shield Superbeam Sunscreen SPF 30
I’m already a big K-beauty fan (most of my favorite chemical sunscreens are K-beauty) so it didn’t take much convincing to try out the Hero Superbeam Sunscreen. The light orange tint (a commonality in all three sunscreens) gave me hope that this wouldn’t leave a white cast and I was right.
This sunscreen has an airy (almost whipped) texture that feels lightweight and blends easily. The tint does appear a bit purplish when I first start rubbing it in but with a little bit more blending with my fingers, it evens out leaving behind a sheer finish—though those with complexions darker than mine may find that leaves a visible white cast.