Growing up, I spent a lot of time wondering why certain skincare products looked so different on my deep skin tone, when so many I cam across were marketed as being “for everyone” and yet, didn’t feel like I was meant to be one of the people that can reap all the benefits of using it. Throughout my career as a beauty editor, I’ve been introduced to many notable, high-performing skincare formulas that are design to protect all skin against environmental aggressors, dirt, and debris but can’t deliver a flawless finish for people with skin with tones that resemble mine.
I can tell within the first few seconds of applying a skincare product to the back of my hand as a test patch, it becomes evident to me if it was create with the intention of looking as good on one skin tone as it does another. However, the fact that I’ve focused my livelihood on testing, reviewing, and writing about beauty as a way to explore provides countless opportunities for me to discover products that set a new standard for what skincare can be, and how it should work for everyone. It’s also helpful to have access to expert guidance at the push of a button, right?
So, when the announcement of a new skincare launch like Tatcha’s The Silk Screen Sunscreen ($64) lands in my inbox, you can bet I’m ready to go with a notebook in hand, ring light at the ready, and a few sky high expectations that must be met or, better yet, surpassed. This time around, I decided to snag a sample and test it over the course of four weeks just in time for the summer sun to give this sunscreen a chance to make it into my everyday skincare routine.
Tatcha
The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50
I’m sharing all my finding below from its formula’s texture and smell, to the finish on my skin and everything else it has to offer (which ended up being even more than I predicted). Scroll on for more about my experience, plus sunscreen tips and tricks from double board certified dermatologist and dermapathologist Dr. Morayo Adisa MD, FAAD.
My Sunscreen Journey
I received this one in the mail during the final days of preparing for another cross-country move from Manhattan’s Upper East Side back to my native Seattle, and all I can say is that my skin was going through it for weeks. I’ve struggled with dark hyperpigmentation around my nose, mouth, and eyes for years that become even more pronounced following my arrival in New York City last summer, and needed all the help from my aestheticians and dermatologists to restore my skin barrier to its healthiest state.
Months into my plight, my skincare cabinet was overflowing with serums, oils, and moisturizers that all promised to target my dark spots, but I still wasn’t seeing the results I was craving. That was, until, I began adding potent yet gentle vitamin C and mineral sunscreen to the lineup, and never left the house again without it. Then came the issue of finding a sunscreen that would protect my skin against the harsh environment of living in a city like New York (even with a few weeks left on the clock), without leaving the dreaded white cast in its wake.
