Best Tinted Sunscreens For Face

There are so many skincare products out there geared for different concerns but if there is one thing I’ve learned is that Sunscreen really is for everyone. Not only does it lower our risk for skin cancer, but it also has aesthetic benefits like preventing sun damage, wrinkles, and sunspots. Because I like to keep things simple, I lean toward tinted sunscreen options that work as both makeup and protection for my skin. 

I’ve rounded up all my favorite options that I rotate throughout the year in case you’re looking for something lightweight that looks great and WORKS!

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Sun Shield SPF 50

Mineral-based sunscreen • Price: $40

Shades: standard, bronze, glow

I’ve been a long-time fan of Colorescience sunscreens and skincare products, and have been using their Sunforgetable Sun Sheild for a few years now. In the past year, they decided to expand their shade range and add two more shades, glow, which is a champagne color, and bronze which, well, add bronze color to my skin. This was the first mineral sunscreen that blended seamlessly without leaving a ridiculous white cast on my face and looks just as good, if not BETTER than foundation on my skin. Because I have all three shades I mix them for the perfect color match throughout the year and excitedly recommend it to anyone willing to listen. It does have a higher price tag which can deter some buyers away but knowing how great the formula is makes it well worth its price tag. Colorescience Sunforgettable is mineral-based, non-nano, is water-resistant, protects against UVA/UVB, blue light as well as infrared radiation with its SPF 50 formula. 

Mychelle Dermaceuticals Sun Sheild Liquid SPF 50

Mineral-based sunscreen • Price: $24

Shades: non-tinted, light, light/medium, medium/dark

If you hate the feel of traditional sunscreen and prefer a totally matte finish then Mychelle’s Sun Sheild will suit you. To be honest, I didn’t even realize that this liquid sunscreen was matte and was worried how it would look on my normal/dry skin. I usually prefer something categorized as hydrating, dewy, etc so I was really surprised when I applied this sunscreen to see that it has a 100% natural finish without looking cakey, dry or chalky even hours later. I would also say that this sunscreen has a very sheer tint to it. Do not expect it to cover up blemishes or uneven skin tone completely, however, it does do some slight color washing of the skin and looks nice even to this dewy-loving girl. The formula includes bentonite clay which seems to help give it a very smooth application without settling in fine lines and will stay in rotation throughout the Summer. 

Cerave Tinted Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

Mineral-based sunscreen • Price: $14

Shade: only one

The first thing I thought about this sunscreen the first time I tried it was how nice and silky it made my skin feel. One of my favorite dermatologists that I love to follow on social media is Dr. Dray ( @drdrayzday ), spoke about this one and I ordered it off Amazon immediately. Dr. Dray has a pretty fair complexion compared to me who teeters between light in the winter and medium in the Summer. When I first opened this sunscreen the tint appears rather dark but blends nicely on my skin and better yet, plays nicely with foundations on top of it. I should add that it blended well on her fair skin too!  I Often just wear this sunscreen alone with some concealer in some areas but truly love how soft and silky my skin feels wearing this one. Cerave was also thoughtful enough to include niacinamide and ceramides in this formula to further strengthen the skin barrier and refine tone while protecting the skin and keeping it really affordable. Additionally, it has iron oxides which help further protect the skin from blue light radiation as well (think computers and phone screens.)

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30

Chemical-based sunscreen • Price: $28

Shade: Ivory, Bone, Cream, Light, Sand, Medium, Tan, Bronze, Deep

First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer is a great choice for those who don’t mind chemical-based sunscreens. This one in particular works well at soothing the skin. The whipped mousse texture of this sunscreen applies like a dream and treats the skin to a dose of hyaluronic acid, allantoin, and colloidal oatmeal while imparting a slightly luminous finish. I try to avoid the eye area to avoid any potential eye-stinging, but love the buildable color I get from applying 1-2 layers over my face and neck and have no fear of breakouts due to its non-comedogenic formula. I love pairing this with their Bendy Avocado concealer, and feel that SPF gives me sufficient sun protection for regular day-to-day use.

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

Mineral-based sunscreen • Price: $48

Shades: 30 options

I have a serious love for this formula and have two shades in my beauty cabinet. Ilia’s Super Serum Tint dispenses with a dropper and imparts a dewy wash of color that my skin appreciates. Not only does it have SPF 40, but it also has added skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, plant-based squalane, and niacinamide to hydrate, smooth and treat the skin while protecting it. It has no fragrance if that’s a potential sensitivity trigger for you, and works best when applied over minimal skincare. Ilia has the largest shade range making it more accessible to more skin tones but does have higher price tag. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint is an oil-free clean beauty option that omits fragrance and silicones. It is also vegan and cruelty-free. 

Pacifica Beauty CC Cream Radiant Foundation SPF 17

Mineral-based sunscreen • Price: $18

Shade: warm/light, natural/medium, warm/tan, cool/deep, neutral/fair, warm/medium

Pacifica’s CC Cream is the most foundation-like option since it’s actually a CC Cream, but I included it because I felt it still fit well in this category. The SPF is on the lower side but I tend to layer it over another sunscreen for better protection. I find this to be really hydrating for my normal/dry skin and the color correcting is on point. I never want anything to look mask-like on my face and this really just evens out and illuminates the skin perfectly for me. I can wear it all day without any weird creasing or cracking and fortunately, have two shades that can work for me depending on the season (warm/light and natural/medium). The SPF is mineral-based which I prefer (no stinging of the eyes) and is a vegan, cruelty-free formula. 

Sometimes words aren’t enough and you need to see the finish with your own eyes so I’ve compiled a swatch video for you to see how it looks after application. Hope this helps in choosing your next sunscreen!