Like any multitasking skin care product, tinted SPF is a nice option for people looking to simplify a daily skin care routine without sacrificing their skin’s overall health. A great tinted sunscreen pulls double duty, making skin look fabulously glowy and evenly toned while also protecting it from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Luckily for us, there are tons of gorgeous formulations, both chemical and mineral, that will fool everyone into thinking you have perfect skin.
This popular beauty product is not without controversy. Many people do not apply enough product to help combat sun damage, making it important to remember to use more than you think you need. A well-made, elegant formulation will blend seamlessly into your skin, even when applied in the correct amount. And while color ranges can be limited or leave a white cast on deeper skin tones, some brands have made a conscious effort to expand their ranges to include more shades, making it easier for people to enjoy a tinted sunscreen.
Below, we’ve rounded up 11 fabulous tinted SPFs at a variety of price points. All of them are highly rated and beloved by skin care enthusiasts, with a few dermatologist recommendations thrown in as well. Keep reading and pick up a few for yourself; they’ll become a staple in your routine before you know it.
If you're looking to load up on high-quality skin care ingredients, deliciously dewy coverage and protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays, then Iris & Romeo's beloved daily tint is calling your name. It's formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to deeply hydrate and protect the skin's barrier, vitamin C and E for antioxidant protection against free radicals and reef-friendly zinc oxide SPF 30 protection. It's available in 12 lightweight shades to even out skin tone and give you the best complexion of your life.
In previous reporting, Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, board-certified dermatologist and dermatological surgeon and Real Self partner in California, said, "I’m really impressed by the new La Roche-Posay Anthelios mineral tinted SPF 50+ Fluid – it’s sheer, has a universal tint, and offers high UVA/UVB protection with 100% mineral filters. It’s ideal for sensitive skin and has a great, elegant feel." Available in four shades, it's perfect for those days when you don't want to wear makeup want an easy pick-me-up.
Perfect for using solo on no-makeup-makeup days or under foundation to help transform skin into the perfect canvas for other products, this tinted moisturizer offers sheer-yet-luminous coverage and promises to melt seamlessly into skin without setting into fine lines or appearing cakey. You can also use Lumi Glotion as a highlighter to bring out high points of the face, like the cheekbones, tip of the nose or beneath the brow bone. (For this type of application, the brand suggests opting for a lighter shade.) There are five shades to choose from.
This cult-favorite SPF is beloved by both HuffPost readers and editors alike. It's formulated with skin-loving ingredients to deeply moisturize and protect the skin while the tint evens out skin tone and perfects the look of your skin. It's a great option for people like me with sensitive and acne-prone skin. I turn to it anytime I'm going to be spending a lot of time in the sun or when I'm post-procedure and want to protect my skin without irritating it. It's available in two shades.
This sunscreen from the internet- and celeb-beloved beauty brand Merit is hot off the presses, and promises to be a lovely choice for those who want a sunscreen option that also offers a soft splash of color. It features a formulation that's designed to be lightweight and buildable with a silky, soft and velvety sheer finish to impart a natural glow, while also helping to smooth and blur the look of skin. It's available in 15 blendable hues. Be one of the first to check out this SPF; it recently sold out shortly after its debut, but it's back in stock, making it the perfect time to snap one up.
As a longtime fan of Beauty of Joseon's cult-fave sunscreen, I am thrilled to see that the brand has introduced a new tinted fluid SPF. No one does sunscreens like Korean brands, and this one is up there in the pantheon of the greats. The ultra-lightweight emulsion has the consistency of a serum while offering SPF 40 protection, hydrating the skin and depositing just the right amount of buildable color. It's like your skin, but more radiant. It looks fresh all day long and is available in 12 sheer, blendable hues that fit a range of skin tones.
This sunscreen is beloved by dermatologists and beauty enthusiasts alike. It is 100% mineral-based and infused with skin-loving ingredients that make it a great multitasker. It is one of the most comfortable mineral sunscreen formulas I’ve tried. It’s formulated with zinc oxide, DNA repair enzymes and vitamin E — so not only is it preventing sun damage, but it’s helping to nourish and repair the skin as well while also providing a subtle, evening tint.
The Isdin sunscreen is significantly lighter and easier to blend than traditional mineral SPFs, and doesn’t have that lingering zinc smell that personally drives me up the wall. It dries down to a soft matte and is a nice base for makeup. The combination of lightweight finish, formula and UV protection has made it worth the troubleshooting.
In previous reporting, Dr. Alexander Witkowski, MD, PhD, board-certified dermatologist and Melanoma Research Alliance Dermatology Advisor said, "I recommend Tizo 3 Facial Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 for individuals seeking both high-performance sun protection and anti-aging benefits."
It's enriched with powerful antioxidants that can help neutralize free radicals and support overall skin health, while the gentle formulation makes it well-suited for sensitive and post-procedure skin. It has a subtle, sheer tint that smooths out the skin and adds just the right amount of coverage.
High on my personal list of sunscreen essentials is Supergoop! Glow Screen. It's what I reach for when I want a hint of tint and shimmer. It's basically your skin, but better — plus sun protection. It's available in four different shades and has a slightly heavier finish than other chemical sunscreens, in part because of the tint component. But since it essentially replaces foundation for me. The pearlescent finish gives skin an immediate glow while hyaluronic acid and niacinamide hydrate and nurture skin.
This is the tinted moisturizer and sunscreen that tipped the scales for me, and it has since come highly recommended by dermatologists who have spoken to HuffPost as well as my personal dermatologist. In previous reporting, New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick pointed out that as an all-in-one sunscreen and moisturizer, it's great for daily use, but also contains some antioxidant benefits to help protect skin from daily stressors. It feels silky smooth, lightweight and nourishing. It has a universal sheer mineral tint that brightens and evens out skin tone, making it a great foundation replacement for anyone looking to simplify their morning routine. It's the best way to get a healthy glow.
It's possible that you've probably already heard of this much-buzzed-about skin tint that's perfect for anyone who is opposed to thick full-coverage foundations that mask your own skin. Ilia's Super Serum is an all-in-one skin tint featuring a moisturizing formula that's infused with mineral SPF 40, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and squalane — all really great hydrators.