Ask any dermatologist, beauty editor, or just about anyone who's into skincare, and they'll preach about the benefits of using sunscreen daily. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sunscreen helps to protect your skin from both painful sunburns and skin cancer. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests that everyone use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day to protect their skin from harmful sun rays.
Yet, so many people make the mistake of skipping daily sunscreen simply because they don't like the look or feel of it on their skin. Many sunscreens have, to say the least, lackluster formulas. Quite a few of them leave a sticky, tacky feel and white cast on the skin, which is especially frustrating for deeper skin tones.
Thankfully, a few brands now have tinted formulas that offer an alternative to plain white sunscreen. Though many of them aren't as universally skin tone-compatible as they claim, these tinted formulas do help to create an invisible veil that works with your complexion rather than against it. Plus, many of them come in numerous shades for everyone to enjoy.
We can't reiterate this enough: You need a broad-spectrum SPF! As stated earlier, make sure you grab a sunscreen with the AAD's recommended broad-spectrum SPF rating of at least 30 and reapply every two hours. You should also check if your sunscreen's formula is waterproof and/or sweat-resistant, and if so, check for how long their effects last.
Sunscreen Shade
Think about your tinted sunscreen options the same way you'd approach foundation — try to find the closest match to your skin tone. Although many tinted sunscreens are limited in their shade ranges in comparison to conventional complexion products, they're much more flexible, and most can be used across three or four different skin tone shades because of their sheer formula.
Skin Type
Tinted moisturizers have the amazing added benefit of, well, moisturizing your skin while evening your tone. Just like your usual moisturizer, you want to find one that works with your skin. That means oily skin types should opt for formulas that have mattifying benefits, and drier skin should be soothed with ultra hydrating properties. Greasier skin types should look for oil-free formulas with balancing ingredients like vitamin C, while dry skin types should opt for sunscreens with quenching hyaluronic acid.
If you're sick of using unflattering traditional sunscreens, switch over to one of these tinted formulas for a barely-there look and feel.
This tinted sunscreen from Supergoop! is by far the best formula on the market. One of the biggest reasons why is its extensive shade range, which features 15 shades to choose from to find your perfect pick.
But it's not just the shade range that's impressive: This CC cream-sunscreen hybrid gives the perfect amount of medium coverage to even out your complexion, and its clean formula is oil-free. It uses an all-natural zinc oxide for its broad-spectrum SPF 50 that keeps your skin guarded against harmful sun rays.
If you have dry skin, then it's time to break out a tinted moisturizer — well, this one in particular.
Not only does First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer have an impressive shade range, but it also protects skin with broad-spectrum SPF 30. It provides essential moisture through skincare ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E.
PSA: No matter what you do, your skin will eventually mature, and that’s okay! But if you want to take some preventative measures against the first signs of maturing skin (think: fine lines, wrinkles, sagging), then you should incorporate this tinted SPF 50 in your beauty routine ASAP.
This sunscreen from Isdin Photo stands out for its impressive formula that's filled with 100% mineral SPF filters, peptides, antioxidants, and their proprietary DNA Repairsomes. These ingredients help to repair existing sun damage while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.
Think of this tinted sunscreen from Avène as an alternative to your usual foundation compact. Its light and airy texture feels weightless on skin, and it simultaneously provides light coverage and non-irritating UVA/UVB protection. This pick is also infused with vitamin E and is safe for sensitive and allergy-prone skin to use freely.
Bonus: Its formula is safe for the environment and coral reefs, so you won't have to worry about any excess damage to the ecosystem.
Is this pick a serum, sunscreen, or foundation? It's actually all three, which is exactly why we love it so much. This 3-in-1 skin tint is filled with complexion-nurturing ingredients like niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to work with your skin rather than against it. Plus, it also uses reef-safe, mineral-based zinc oxide SPF to guard your skin.
What we truly love about this tinted sunscreen serum is its extensive shade range, which has a whopping 30 shades to choose from.
I have pretty oily skin, especially in the summer. So, when my skin is feeling greasy, I break out the Versed Skincare Guards Up sunscreen, which I've loved since it came out last summer.
This tinted sunscreen is one of my favorites for its mattifying power that instantly gives your complexion a much-needed oil control treatment. It's a truly sheer mineral formula that works with just about any skin tone, and it's free from parabens, silicones, sulfates, and over 1,300 other toxins.
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Water-Resistant Formula
EltaMD UV Elements Tinted Face Moisturizer With Broad-Spectrum SPF 44
Taking a dip in the pool? Then you're going to need this EltaMD sunscreen. Its tinted formula and broad-spectrum SPF 44 will keep your complexion on point, and it's also water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, so you can enjoy the beach or go on a sweat-filled run without worrying about sun protection.
Bonus: It's also gentle enough for sensitive skin types to enjoy.
Powdered sunscreen formulas are perfect for easy sun-protection touchups throughout the day, and this one is our favorite.
Colorescience's Sunforgettable Brush-On Shield has a seal of approval from the Skin Cancer Foundation, and its blend of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide provides broad-spectrum SPF 50 coverage. Plus, it comes in four different tints to choose from.
We all love a clean, green beauty product, and this Drunk Elephant sunscreen is by far one of the best clean skincare picks on the market. It's certified Clean at Sephora and is formulated without over 50 questionable ingredients like sulfates, parabens, essential oils, fragrance, and phthalates.
But what does it include? Chemical SPF-alternative zinc oxide, plus nourishing raspberry seed oil, algae extract, and sunflower extract.
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Best Under Makeup
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Daily Tone Correcting Primer
We get it: Some sunscreens can create a terrible base for your makeup if they're thick, goopy, and won't dry down. Well, luckily for my fellow makeup lovers, this tinted sunscreen from La Roche-Posay is also perfect as a priming base for your complexion products.
This broad-spectrum SPF 50 is also packed with antioxidants for an anti-aging benefit too.
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Best Mist
Beautycounter Countersun Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Mist SPF 30
Get every nook and cranny on your body for an even, sun-protected glow with this mist formula from Beautycounter. Formulated with non-nano zinc oxide and California poppy extract, this mist helps provide head-to-toe protection while creating an even-toned finish on your skin.
This tinted sunscreen also comes in two shades (light-medium and medium-deep) for you to get the perfect match for your skin tone.
Jennifer HusseinBeauty EditorJennifer is the Beauty Editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse.
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