SKIN OF COLOR
VOL. 109 NO. 4 I APRIL 2022 199
WWW.MDEDGE.COM/DERMATOLOGY
Sunscreens consist of chemical and mineral active
ingredients that contain UV filters designed to absorb,
scatter, and reflect UV photons with wavelengths up to
380 nm. Historically, traditional options do not protect
against the effects induced by VL, as these sunscreens use
nanosized particles that help to reduce the white appear-
ance and result in transparency of the product.
7
To block
VL, the topical agent must be visible. Tinted sunscreens
(TSs) are products that combine UV and VL filters. They
give a colored base coverage that is achieved by incorpo-
rating a blend of black, red, and yellow iron oxides (IOs)
and/or pigmentary titanium dioxide (PTD)(ie, titanium
dioxide [TD] that is not nanosized). Because TSs offer
an instant glow and protect the skin from both sun and
artificial light, they have become increasingly popular
and have been incorporated into makeup and skin care
products to facilitate daily convenient use.
The purpose of this analysis was to study current
available options and product factors that may influence
consumer preference when choosing a TS based on the
reviewer characteristics.
Methods
The keyword sunscreen was searched in the broader
category of skin care products on an online supplier
of sunscreens (www.sephora.com). This supplier was
chosen because, unlike other sources, specific reviewer
characteristics regarding underlying skin tone also were
available. The search produced 161 results. For the pur-
pose of this analysis, only facial TSs containing IO and/
or PTD were included. Each sunscreen was checked by
the authors, and 58 sunscreens that met the inclusion
criteria were identified and further reviewed. Descriptive
data, including formulation, sun protection factor (SPF),
ingredient type (chemical or physical), pigments used,
shades available, additional benefits, price range, rating,
and user reviews, were gathered. The authors extracted
these data from the product information on the website,
manufacturer claims, ratings, and reviewer comments on
each of the listed sunscreens.
For each product, the content of the top 10 most helpful
positive and negative reviews as voted by consumers (1160
total reviews, consisting of 1 or more comments) was ana-
lyzed. Two authors (H.D.L.G. and P.V.) coded consumer-
reported comments for positive and negative descriptors
into the categories of cosmetic elegance, performance,
skin compatibility and tolerance, tone compatibility, and
affordability. Cosmetic elegance was defined as any feature
associated with skin sensation (eg, greasy), color (eg, white
cast), scent, ability to blend, and overall appearance of the
product on the skin. Product performance included SPF,
effectiveness in preventing sunburn, coverage, and finish
claims (ie, matte, glow, invisible). Skin compatibility and
tolerance were represented in the reviewers’ comments
and reflected how the product performed in association
with underlying dermatologic conditions, skin type, and
if there were any side effects such as irritation or allergic
reactions. Tone compatibility referred to TS color similar-
ity with users’ skin and shades available for individual
products. Affordability reflected consumers’ perceptions of
the product price. Comments may be included in multiple
categories (eg, a product was noted to blend well on the
skin but did not provide enough coverage). Of entries, 10%
(116/1160 reviews) were coded by first author (H.D.L.G.)
to ensure internal validity. Reviewer characteristics were
consistently available and were used to determine the top
5 recommended products for light-, medium-, and dark-
skinned individuals based on the number of 5-star ratings
in each group. Porcelain, fair, and light were considered
light skin tones. Medium, tan, and olive were considered
medium skin tones. Deep, dark, and ebony were consid-
ered dark skin tones.
Results
Sunscreen Characteristics—Among the 161 screened prod-
ucts, 58 met the inclusion criteria. Four types of formula-
tions were included: lotion, cream, liquid, and powder.
Twenty-nine (50%) were creams, followed by lotions
(19%), liquids (28%), and powders (3%). More than 79%
(46/58) of products had a reported SPF of 30 or higher.
Sunscreens with an active physical ingredient—the min-
erals TD and/or zinc oxide (ZO)—were most common
(33/58 [57%]), followed by the chemical sunscreens avo-
benzone, octinoxate, oxybenzone, homosalate, octisalate,
and/or octocrylene active ingredients (14/58 [24%]), and
a combination of chemical and physical sunscreens
(11/58 [19%]). Nearly all products (55/58 [95%]) con-
tained pigmentary IO (red, CI 77491; yellow, CI 77492;
black, CI 77499). Notably, only 38% (22/58) of products
had more than 1 shade. All products had additional
claims associated with being hydrating, having antiaging
effects, smoothing texture, minimizing the appearance of
pores, softening lines, and/or promoting even skin tone.
Traditional physical sunscreens (those containing TD and/
or ZO) were more expensive than chemical sunscreens,
with a median price of $30. The median review rating was
4.5 of 5 stars, with a median of 2300 customer reviews per
product. Findings are summarized in Table 1.
Positive Features of Sunscreens—Based on an analysis of
total reviews (N=1160), cosmetic elegance was the most
cited positive feature associated with TS products (31%),
followed by product performance (10%). Skin compat-
ibility and tolerance (7%), tone compatibility (7%), and
affordability (7%) were cited less commonly as positive
features. When negative features were cited, consumers
mostly noted tone incompatibility (16%) and cosmetic
elegance concerns (14%). Product performance (13%)
was comparatively cited as a negative feature (Table 1).
Exemplary positive comments categorized in cosmetic
elegance included the subthemes of rubs in well and
natural glow. Exemplary negative comments in cosmetic
elegance and tone compatibility categories included the
subthemes patchy/dry finish and color mismatch. Table 1
illustrates these findings.
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