Finding an SPF you want to slather all over your face every morning isn’t easy—but the best tinted sunscreen can truly change the game. The ideal formula not only protects your skin from the sun’s (annoyingly harmful) UV rays, but also gives you that just-got-a-facial, back-from-the-beach, ready-for-my-next-spicy-read glow. It blends in like a dream, evens out discoloration, and acts as a perfect base for light makeup or simply looks great on its own. And we have 10 stellar options for every type of skin concern below.
Our top picks:
- Best for Light Coverage: Saie Slip Tint SPF 35
- Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 50
- Best for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin: EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
- Best for Dry Skin: Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40
- Best for Mature Skin: Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
- Best Tinted SPF Moisturizer: DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
- Best Complexion Brightener: Iris&Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow
- Biggest Shade Range: Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted SPF 30
- Best Multitasker: Clearstem YouAreSunshine Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+
- Best for Reapplication: Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50
- Best Splurge: Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart Broad Spectrum Hydrating Shield SPF 50
- Best Tinted SPF Lip Balm: Supergoop! Lipshade 100% Mineral SPF 30 Hydrating Lipstick
How to choose the best tinted sunscreen for you
Like any ol’ sunblock, tinted sunscreens are formulated with chemical filters (which absorb and release heat from UV rays) or mineral filters (which sit on the skin and physically block UV rays). Because they have a tint to them and are usually made for the face specifically, they’re like a typical sunscreen’s more elegant sister. Some formulas have a tan or peachy hue that’s designed to offset a potential white cast, while others come in a variety of shades to match your complexion as closely as possible and offer a little coverage. (Mineral sunscreens are notorious for that dreaded white cast, especially if you have a deeper skin tone, but newer formulas have come a long way.)
But the most important thing to look for in any sunscreen is the amount of SPF it has—ideally, a minimum of SPF 30 with broad-spectrum protection, which means it’ll block UVA rays (linked to premature skin aging) and UVB rays (the ones that cause sunburns), both of which have been tied to skin cancer.
To get the full protection your SPF promises, you should apply a nickel-sized dollop to your entire face as the last step in your morning skin care routine, according to Mona Gohara, MD, board-certified dermatologist, skin of color expert, and associate professor at Yale School of Medicine.
The best tinted sunscreens for every skin type
Whether you have sensitive skin that needs soothing, a dry face that could use a hydrating boost, or want something that gives you enough light coverage to replace your foundation, these tinted sunscreens live up to their multitasking claims—and they’re all backed by dermatologists, SELF editors, and our Healthy Beauty Award testers.