For many black women and men, applying sunscreen is not part of their daily skincare routine. Beauty myths like “Black won’t crack” or burn in the sun, along with lack of sun safety practices among people of color, often lead to sun damage, wrinkles, or even cancer. But Rihanna is working hard to rewrite this bogus narrative with the release of Fenty Skin.
The new skincare line includes a facial cleanser, toner serum, and SPF 30 moisturizer. Formulated with super hydrating hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, as well as fruit extracts and antioxidants inspired by her native Barbados, Rihanna has cured a 3-step system that addresses your basic cleaning and hydration needs.
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen (Photo courtesy of Fenty Skin)
But it’s your Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen that really stands out, i.e. because it doesn’t look gray or white in the deepest skin tones and is packaged in a beautiful way that would make anyone want to put it on.
Thinking of her childhood, Rihanna tells Yahoo Entertainment that sunscreen was not the most important thing. “Growing up on an island, you are exposed to the sun every day. So you always thought the SPF was a tourist thing, and especially not for blacks, ”she says. “I learned the hard way because over time the sun was not so kind to my skin and my skin was not so resistant. So I started to have hyperpigmentation in certain areas. ”
Fast forward a few years, the 32-year-old is much wiser now and understands why wearing sunscreen is important regardless of race or ethnicity. She explains: “Whether it’s hot or a cold gray winter day, those UV rays are always out. I think the biggest mistake with SPF, in particular, is that blacks don’t need it. And as a woman of color, I’m here to say it’s a lie. We need it and we need it every day. “
