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- Tinted sunscreen can double as base makeup and eliminate the more annoying aspects of wearing sunscreen — white cast, chalkiness, and pilling.
- Our top pick, the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50, is a sheer fluid in a universal tint that evens out skin tone while protecting from harmful rays.
Tinted sunscreen is one of the main staples in my beauty routine. Most days I can’t be bothered with heavier foundation. It takes too long to apply, feels weird on my face, and settles in fine lines. A tinted sunscreen gives me just enough coverage to even out my complexion while remaining mostly undetectable on my face.
Plus, it protects the skin from harmful UV rays, taking several skincare and makeup steps and combining them in one bottle. It’s the perfect low-maintenance, money-saving addition to your lifestyle. Many tinted sunscreens are so subtle they don’t really read as “makeup” and can therefore be worn by everyone, regardless of beauty philosophy.
As an added bonus, tinted sunscreens help eradicate the white cast you get from certain sunscreen formulas. They’re especially useful for darker skin tones, though I think just about everyone can benefit from trying one. Here, I’ve rounded up a few of my personal favorites.
Here are the best tinted sunscreens you can buy:
- Best tinted sunscreen overall: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50
- Best tinted sunscreen for a glow: Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30
- Best tinted sunscreen for shade range: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20
- Best tinted sunscreen for sensitive skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer
- Best tinted sunscreen powder: Colorscience Sunforgettable Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Brush
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
The best tinted sunscreen overall
Why you’ll love it: The SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 is a sheer, lightweight sunscreen with a universal tint that blurs imperfections without disrupting makeup.
My personal favorite tinted sunscreen is the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50. It’s the only physical SPF that never seems to disturb the makeup I apply on top or pill up as I rub it in. The formula is smooth, sheer, and lightweight.
The compact, slim packaging has a nozzle on top that deposits the perfect amount of product and is spill-proof for travel. I’ve taken it on my flights without a problem. The formula is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, so it’s a great pick for beach days, too.
While it only comes in one universal shade, it’s pretty sheer and neutral. On my pale skin it blends out into a nice skin-tone evening finish but doesn’t have much discernible coverage. This isn’t a moisturizer, so make sure you hydrate before you apply.
This product has a 5-star rating on Dermstore, based on 279 reviews and has been featured by New Beauty and the website Beauty and Wellbeing.
Pros: Lightweight, neutral tint, SPF 50, physical sunscreen
Cons: Only one shade
Buy SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 at Dermstore for $34
The best glowy tinted sunscreen
Why you’ll love it: Drunk Elephant’s Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 gives skin a bronze glow alongside quality sun protection.
Beach bunnies will love the Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 from ingredient-conscious brand Drunk Elephant. On my fair complexion, it delivers a bronze glow thanks to the pigment and mica particles in the formula. Darker skin tones might find it comfortably blends in without oxidizing or appearing ashy.
Packed with zinc oxide, Astaxanthin-Rich Algae Extract, and sunflower sprout extract, it prevents from sun damage and free radicals. The product is formulated without any of the ingredients Drunk Elephant terms"the Suspicious 6,” which includes “essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical screens, fragrance/dyes, and SLS.”
The Cut specifically recommends this sunscreen for the breakout prone, since some sunscreens can cause skin aggravation. It has also been featured by New Beauty and The Skincare Edit. The non-tinted version is a top pick on The Strategist.
Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense has a 3.6 Sephora rating based on 319 reviews. One fan writes, “I personally love this stuff and it has helped me to incorporate spf into my facial routine. My skin is olive and it doesn’t leave a white cast to it. It provides a bit of glowiness as well.”
Pros: No white cast, gives a glow, Clean at Sephora label
Cons: May be dark on lighter skin tones
Buy the Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 at Sephora for $36
The best tinted sunscreen with multiple shades
Why you’ll love it: The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer comes in 15 shades, so you can find your perfect match.
Most tinted sunscreens have a “universal” tint. Granted, most are sheer enough that the color sort of blends away as you apply, but it’s true that no one skin tone shade will work for everyone. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer comes in 15 shades, each with SPF 20 for added sun protection.
While it doesn’t quite hit the recommended amount of daily SPF (recommends suggest going no lower than 30), it would be a great pick to layer over another sunscreen for added protection, or to use in a pinch. Plus, the lightweight, moisturizing coverage can’t be beat.
I find this sunscreen to be slightly higher coverage than most of my other top picks but it wears just as comfortably as more sheer options. I reach for this when I’m doing more glamorous makeup or dealing with a bad skin day. The shade Nude perfectly matches my skin tone.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer has a 4.4 Sephora rating based on 4,585 reviews. It’s been featured by Rank and Style, The Cut, and Glamour.
Pros: 15 shades, hydrating, light coverage
Cons: Not enough dark shades, expensive
Buy the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer at Sephora for $46
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