Mindy Kaling Says She 'Wasn't Educated' on Sunscreen Growing Up But Now She Swears by This SPF (Exclusive)

The Lion Pose investor and ambassador says she didn’t take sunscreen seriously until she was in her thirties. Now her skin would “be happy” with her face facing the eye

Mindy Kaling has a new MVP (Most Valuable Product) on her vanity.

Last week, Kaling, an investor and ambassador for skincare brand Lion Pose, along with its founders Madhu Punjabi and Nisha Phatak, unveiled Ghost-Buster Broad Spectrum SPF 42, a non-nano zinc oxide SPF that has been clinically tested on women of color to ensure that there is almost no ugly fallout.

Kaling — who has a double desk covered in products she’s constantly testing — says the formula is a winner. “It doesn’t leave an ashy white mark on my skin. I think they nailed it,” the 44-year-old actress and producer tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Kaling is also proud of the fact that Ghost-Buster is a multitasker. The vegan formula also contains antioxidants to protect against free radical damage and squalane to hydrate throughout the day.

Kaling admits her sunscreen journey is recent. She started using it regularly only in her thirties.

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Lion Pose Ghost-Buster Broad Spectrum SPF 42.

Lion pose

“Growing up, I wasn’t educated about sunscreen. I thought it was only for white people. I didn’t think I needed to worry about it, and I would have relatives who said, ‘It’s not something we have to worry about because we have dark skin.’ So that’s something I believed in.”

As a result, “sunscreen wasn’t something I even thought about or used until I was in my thirties,” says Kaling. Then while working on The Mindy Projectthe actress’ makeup artist told her, and it changed the course of her routine.

Nisha Phatak, COO and co-founder of Lion Pose, Mindy Kaling and Madhu Punjabi, COO and co-founder of Lion Pose attend a Diwali celebration hosted by Mindy Kaling on November 6, 2023 in Culver City, California.

Natasha Campos/Getty

Partnering with Lion Pose has helped her skin in more ways than one.

“A lot of products that are really trendy that everyone else loves make me break out or don’t address my issues, what [include] hyperpigmentation and keloid scars,” says Kaling.

“When Madhu and Nisha approached me a few years ago to somehow get involved in the brand, it was the first time I met someone in a beauty salon. [also] The Indian was doing exactly the same thing.”

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As impressive as the duo was, Kaling knew the proof was in the product. “So I tried theirs [debut product] No stains [an exfoliating serum] and I loved it.”

Now, the self-proclaimed “reckless beauty junkie” says that if her skin could talk, “she’d probably tell you she’s happy with me,” she says.

Mindy Kaling attends the 2023 ChainFEST Gourmet Chain Food Festival VIP Dinner on December 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Kaling wears many hats in the entertainment industry. It still comes down to the fact that she is also a beauty boss.

“I think one of my good qualities is that I really know how to recognize people who are good at what they do and let them do their thing. So I like that they asked me for my opinion on how we should launch the product, what the packaging should look like, how I personally like the product,” she says.

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Kaling is big on giving credit where credit is due. “[Madhu and Nisha] they hired an amazing team. They work with dermatologists of color. One is Indian, one is black. And their knowledge is pretty incredible.”

“In my job, I’m just incredibly excited to meet talented heads of different departments and things like that. I get the same thrill when I see the team. I said, ‘Oh, they know exactly what they’re doing.’ If nothing else, they’re the bosses of skincare, but I feel lucky to be around them.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education