If you’re someone who prioritizes both skincare and makeup, tinted sunscreens should be a go-to in your daily routine. These ingenious formulas deliver a lightweight base that evens out your complexion while shielding your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. With an array of SPF choices, ranging from 15 to broad-spectrum SPF 50, and available in mineral, chemical, and hybrid formulas, you’ll undoubtedly find the ideal match for your unique skin type.
A crucial part of any skincare regimen, sunscreen not only helps prevent melanoma—skin cancer—but also combats dark spots, fine lines, and loss of elasticity. Tinted sunscreens take it a step further, enhancing your complexion while simultaneously covering imperfections. As an added bonus, many tinted sunscreens provide extra benefits such as moisturization and reduced inflammation.
One drawback of traditional mineral-based sunscreens is the unflattering white cast they can leave on the skin, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones. Fortunately, tinted sunscreens offer a solution by providing the same level of sun protection without the ashy finish, as long as they adhere to the American Academy of Dermatology’s recommended SPF 30 rating.
It’s important to note that the availability of inclusive shades for tinted sunscreens is still limited, with many options catering to light-to-medium skin tones. However, several brands are leading the way in terms of protection, skin-perfecting, and shade range, and we hope more will follow suit.
To help you find the perfect tinted sunscreen for your skin, our team has conducted extensive research, testing top-rated formulas and consulting with expert dermatologists. We’ve compiled a list of the best tinted sunscreens that offer protection, correction, and radiance for every skin tone, ensuring a glowy, protected complexion that seamlessly fits into your daily routine.
- Contains mineral ingredients
- Help control shine
- Reef-safe
- Potential for white cast
You’re going to love this face sunscreen. It smooths your skin’s appearance, minimizes the look of pores, and offers broad spectrum SPF 40. Plus, it’s oil-free—that means no greasy residue or breakouts!
And it’s even better than that: wild butterfly ginger helps filter blue light, and bamboo extract offers antioxidant properties to help reduce the visible effects of free radicals.
The best part is you can use this as the last step in your skincare routine for a fresh, dewy glow that will last all day long—no matter what season you’re in!
According to reviews, “It’s everything I want in a sunscreen: smoothes my skin tone, reduces the appearance of pores, all without being shiny or greasy!”
- Enhanced sunscreen protection
- Even out skin tone
- Non-greasy
- Matte finish
ILIA’s Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation light, dewy coverage that gives you a fresh-faced look while protecting your skin with mineral SPF.
It contains skincare ingredients that hydrate and tighten the look of skin without clogging pores. The formula also contains plant-based squalane, which hydrates and tightens the look of skin without clogging pores. Niacinamide visibly smooths skin texture and refines uneven tone, while hyaluronic acid makes skin look plumper and replenishes moisture levels.
This product comes in 30 shades to match any skin tone. It’s perfect for those mornings when you just can’t be bothered with foundation!
“It’s great for comfortable, effortless, everyday workwear in my opinion! I don’t love foundations as my skin is textured and acne prone, but I have redness I like to cover and uneven pigment from acne scars that this skin tint helps even out,” explained one shopper.
- Environmentally friendly
- Sensitive skin
- vegan
- Potential for slight residue
Tower 28’s SunnyDays is a 2-in-1 mineral sunscreen that provides SPF 30 broad spectrum protection and light-medium coverage. It evens redness and soothes UV-stressed skin while maintaining a natural finish, so you can feel good about your look all day.
It’s formulated for problem and sensitive skin, so it’s great for those with acne-prone or rosacea skin. The tinted formula is also great for those who want to avoid the greasy feeling of most sunscreens.
With 14 shades that are easy to apply, buildable coverage, and a natural finish, SunnyDays is perfect for any occasion where you’ll be spending time in the sun!
“I get compliments on how good my skin looks! For my oily girls like me just use a powder after to really pack it into place,” wrote one reviewer.
- Anthelios mineral
- Allergy tested
- Fragrancce-free
- May require reapplication
We love a good sunscreen. Specifically, we love La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50.
This mineral tinted face sunscreen is formulated with titanium dioxide to protect your skin from free radicals and other UV damage. It’s also developed for sensitive skin, so it’s safe for you to use no matter how sensitive you are.
It absorbs quickly and leaves a tinted matte finish on the skin—a finish that can actually help reduce redness! And of course, it has all the antioxidant protection that you’d expect from a mineral sunscreen.
So if you’re looking for something that will keep your skin healthy and your makeup looking fresh all day long, check out this little gem.
“This is a great sunscreen especially to wear underneath makeup, and it isn’t greasy at all,” explained one wearer. “I wish they maybe had a few different shades because I like to wear it instead of foundation!”
- Total protection
- Easily blendable
- Water-resistant
- Expensive for regular use
This lightweight mineral sunscreen is the perfect way to protect your skin from the sun, without weighing it down.
The flecks of encapsulated pigments adjust to your skin’s natural tone, so you don’t end up with a weird blue or orange streaky mess. It also contains hydrating and antioxidant-rich ingredients, so your skin won’t feel dry and flaky after applying it.
It’s oil-free, so it won’t clog pores or cause breakouts—a major bonus when you’re trying to protect yourself from sun damage! And it’s SPF 50, meaning it’ll keep your skin safe from those harmful rays.
This formula offers medium coverage that will leave your skin looking naturally flawless while still protecting it from harmful UV radiation.
- 3-in-1
- Used as a primer
- Even out skin tone
- Oily skin types
From the moment you put on Live Tinted’s Hueguard, you’ll feel like your skin has been touched by an angel.
Hueguard is an all-in-one SPF 30 moisturizer, primer, and foundation that gives you a natural glow while protecting your skin from harmful sun rays.
Formulated with 18% zinc oxide, it’s a 3-in-1 product that offers triple protection: daily SPF 30 protection, a primer to help even out your complexion and make it look smooth and glowy, and moisturizer so your skin stays hydrated throughout the day. And best of all? There’s no white cast! So go ahead—put on some Hueguard and let your skin shine through.
- For dry skin
- Hydrating
- Vegan
- May not be water-resistant
Saie Beauty’s tinted moisturizer is a skincare product that doubles as both your daily skincare and SPF protection.
It’s creamy and smooth, with a light texture that melts into the skin without leaving behind any residue or a visible film. The product is formulated with hyaluronic acid and licorice root extract to deeply hydrate and brighten your skin.
The pansy flower helps fight free radicals, delivering antioxidants to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects. The 100% mineral zinc-oxide offers clean SPF protection, so you can enjoy the outdoors knowing you’re protected from UVA/UVB rays.
As one shopper states, “I am obsessed. I’ve never gotten more compliments on my skin. Perfect glowy finish, easy application, just enough (light) daily coverage.”
- Skincare benefits
- Improve skin's radiance
- Provides a tinted base
- Individual skin sensitivity
The most natural sun protection you’ll find on the market.
It’s not just your skin that needs protecting—your reef does, too. That’s why Alleyoop created a sunscreen that is 100% mineral and reef-safe. With this formula, you can shield from both UVA and UVB rays while also quenching skin and hydrating on impact with niacinamide, minimizing redness, strengthening skin’s moisture barrier with jojoba, and giving it a soft feeling. It’s even dermatologist-tested!
And it’s got one other thing going for it: buildable, light to medium coverage that lets you customize how much SPF is right for you.
- Vitamin C and E
- Oil-free formula
- Variety of shades
- Slight chemical smell
If you’re looking for a tinted moisturizer with a dewy finish, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector SPF 30 comes in 20 different shades.
This lightweight formula contains a hydrating complex of macadamia and kukui seed oils to increase moisture levels in the skin long-term, so you can say goodbye to dryness and hello to supple, hydrated skin.
It also contains antioxidant vitamins C and E to reduce the signs of visibly dry skin, making it perfect for any season.
- Hydrating
- Enhance Natural Skin Radiance
- Non-Greasy Feel
- Requires reapplication
We’re all about the glow, but we also love to protect our skin from the sun.
Kinfield’s Sunglow also has a light rose-gold tint that will leave your skin glowing and looking like you just got back from vacation. It’s SPF 35, so you know it’ll protect your skin from harmful rays.
Plus, it’s sheer, so you can wear it every day without feeling like you’re wearing makeup. This product contains antioxidants like glycerin, jojoba oil, and rosemary extract to nourish your skin as it protects it from damage.
It even blends seamlessly across all skin tones, so the sunscreen doesn’t discriminate—you’ll be able to look your best no matter what color your skin is!
How to Choose a Tinted Sunscreen
Iron Oxides
When searching for the ideal tinted sunscreen, consider a formula that contains iron oxides. These compounds offer an added layer of protection against blue light, which is emitted from electronic devices and can contribute to premature skin aging and damage. By selecting a product with iron oxides, you will not only shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays but also minimize the impact of blue light exposure, promoting healthier and younger-looking skin.
SPF Rating
It’s crucial to choose a tinted sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection with a minimum SPF 30 rating. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends this level of sun protection for daily use to effectively guard against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can cause skin aging and wrinkles, while UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and can lead to skin cancer. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen will help you maintain a youthful, radiant complexion while protecting your skin from sun damage.
Skin Concerns
Select a sunscreen that specifically addresses your unique skin type and concerns. The market offers a wide variety of products tailored to individual needs. For those with oily or acne-prone skin, oil-free and non-comedogenic formulas are ideal, as they help prevent clogged pores and breakouts. On the other hand, if you have dry skin, look for a formula that includes nourishing and hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or glycerin. By choosing a product that aligns with your skin’s specific requirements, you can enhance your overall complexion while keeping it protected and healthy.
Coverage
A good sunscreen should offer blendable and buildable coverage that can be easily adjusted to achieve your desired look. The product should allow for effortless blending, enabling you to create a natural, flawless finish or a more polished, full-coverage appearance as needed. This versatility makes it a valuable addition to your skincare and makeup routine, providing sun protection while catering to your individual aesthetic preferences.
