The 11 Best Tinted Sunscreens of 2024

May 3, 2024

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Applying sunscreen daily can get tiring, especially if you’re not in love with the formula. Many standard sunscreens can feel heavy on the skin or leave a chalky finish. Tinted sunscreens, however, are lightweight with some added coverage. “You should definitely wear sunscreen, tinted or non-tinted, every day, even if you are not leaving the house,” says dermatologist Dr. DiAnne Davis. “Tinted sunscreens can also help to reduce the white cast that can sometimes be left behind on melanin-rich skin.”

To find the best tinted sunscreens, we conducted hours of research—evaluating top picks based on their SPF level, finish, and shade range. We also considered factors such as texture and other skin-beneficial ingredients in the formula. After consulting with board-certified dermatologists, we landed on this selection of top-rated tinted sunscreens.

Iris & Romeo

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin C, niacinamide | SPF: 50 | Size: 1.18 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This tinted mineral sunscreen from Iris & Romeo is a fan favorite for too many reasons to count—it leaves your complexion looking luminous and healthy, protects with zinc oxide and antioxidants, and melts into the skin seamlessly without creating a white cast. It has broad spectrum SPF 50, meaning it can protect against both UVA and UVB rays, which is a must for long summer days. The vitamin C and niacinamide in the formula are also able to provide antioxidant protection—working to neutralize free radicals in the environment that can damage the skin—while lifting hyperpigmentation and boosting radiance in the complexion. The best part? It comes in three sheer but universal shades to match a variety of tones for skin that looks naturally radiant.

Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint Face Liquid Sunscreen

Amazon

What We Like

Silky smooth consistency
Blends easily with a sheer, natural finish
Non-irritating, great for sensitive skin

Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, vitamin E | SPF: 30 | Size: 1.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Sunscreens can be pricey nowadays, and ones that have coverage or other skin benefits can sometimes cost a pretty penny. We love this option from Neutrogena—it provides optimal sun protection and beautiful color for under $30. Coming in four flexible shades, it has a sheer finish but is able to shield skin imperfections and redness. It has a mineral formula (protecting with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), meaning it won’t clog pores or irritate sensitive skin or eyes. The vitamin E in the formula can also nourish the skin and add extra protection—for a sunscreen that looks great and is great for your skin.

Unsun Cosmetics Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Amazon

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, aloe, shea butter | SPF: 30 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When swimming in the ocean, you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing a sunscreen that doesn’t contain oxybenzone or octinoxate—both which have been shown to harm coral reefs and marine life. Most mineral formulations should be OK on this front, but we love that this pick doesn’t contain those ingredients and is water-resistant for 80 minutes—making it perfect for a day at the beach. Not only does it keep you protected from the sun’s rays, but it also works as a primer and color corrector. While it only comes in two shades, the coverage is flexible and sheer—so you should be able to find one that complements your skin well. We also love that it’s made with hydrating ingredients to soothe summer skin, like aloe vera and shea butter.

Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen

Sephora

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, prickly pear extract, white sage extract | SPF: 30 | Size: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While this technically isn’t a tinted sunscreen—but a foundation with SPF—it does the job of keeping your skin protected while adding flawless coverage. Coming in 17 shades to match multiple skin tones and undertones, this pick adds a light to medium wash of color that looks natural but can cover redness, hyperpigmentation, and more. It’s formulated with prickly pear extract and white sage extract—two protective antioxidants that can repair the skin from blue light and free radical damage.

When the Byrdie team tried this sunscreen foundation, we loved that it had airy, lightweight coverage that makes the skin look airbrushed and smooth. We also found that it didn’t make the skin look shiny throughout the day, and it didn’t cause irritation to sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Live Tinted Hueguard 3-in-1 Broad Spectrum Mineral SPF 30 Primer

Ulta

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin E | SPF: 30 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While most standard sunscreens on the market today are able to blend on all skin tones, there are many popular tinted sunscreens available that only cater to lighter skin. The brand Live Tinted wanted to challenge that when they created the Hueguard mineral sunscreen, which has a universal tint that blends beautifully on deep skin tones and doesn’t leave a white cast. It has a slightly blurring finish that can cover minor imperfections, but leaves the skin glowing nonetheless. We love that you can use this on your body or as face sunscreen that won’t clog pores or trigger acne.

Ilia

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, squalane, shea butter, sodium hyaluronate | SPF: 30 | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Coming in 30 shades to match your specific tone and undertone, this SPF 40 skin tint from Ilia can double as your daily sun protection and makeup base. It has a serum-like consistency that can easily be blended with your fingers for a smooth but natural finish. We love that it’s packed with ingredients to boost hydration in the skin, including squalane and sodium hyaluronate.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50

Amazon

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, niacinamide | SPF: 50 | Size: 1.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Colorescience is known for their innovative SPF formulas, and this tinted option is definitely worth the hype. It comes in four buildable shades, and leaves a smooth, even finish that looks like your skin, but better. Not only is it water-resistant and reef-safe, but it’s formulated with niacinamide and other natural antioxidants to improve skin health with continued use. Since the formula is so lightweight, it won’t cause irritation and is suitable for all skin types.

Elta MD Tinted UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Walmart

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, octinoxate | SPF: 46 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Mineral sunscreens are the best option for acne-prone skin (they’re not as irritating as chemical formulas), and this pick from EltaMD is especially tailored for those who deal with blemishes and skin irritation. It feels soothing on the skin once applied, and it’s formulated with niacinamide to calm inflammation and promote an even skin tone. This sunscreen for acne-prone skin is also oil-free—a must for those who get a super shiny complexion when wearing sunscreen. Acneic skin types will also love that it has a noncomedogenic formula—meaning it doesn’t contain any pore-clogging ingredients.

Supergoop!

What We Like

Made with a variety of protective and reparative ingredients
Gives the skin a glowy finish
Adds hydration and makes the skin soft

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, octisalate, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | SPF: 40 | Size: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Supergoop!’s Glowscreen may be well-loved for the luminous glow it provides, but we’re giving it top honors because of its ultra-protective formula. It has everything that your skin needs before stepping outside—sea lavender, niacinamide, and peptides all protect the skin from environmental free radicals that can accelerate aging and cause skin damage. It also shields the skin from UVA and UVB rays with broad spectrum SPF 40 protection. We love that it comes in four shades to add a bronzy, sun-kissed finish to all skin tones, and it can also act as a primer when applied before makeup.

Credo Beauty

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, jojoba oil, glycerin | SPF: 35 | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Summer is almost here, and a sunscreen that can give you a beautiful glow sans foundation is a must-have. We recommend this option from Kinfield, a slightly tinted and illuminating sunscreen that’s sheer enough to flatter all skin tones. It’s a mineral, reef-safe formula that won’t leave a white cast, and the radiant finish is perfect for a no-makeup makeup day. Another plus—it has a variety of hydrating ingredients, like glycerin and jojoba, to keep the complexion happy.

Skinbetter

Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, camellia, niacinamide | SPF: 75 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

“This is an oil-free, creamy formulation with 80-minute water resistance—perfect for days where you find yourself at the beach or sweating during activities,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman about this pick from Skinbetter. While it is much pricier than the standard, it has high-quality ingredients, a seamless finish, and high SPF level to make it worth it. The formula is 100% mineral and broad spectrum, and has a variety of noncomedogenic plant extracts to heal and nourish the skin. It only comes in one shade, but it’s able to adapt to your specific skin tone for a complexion that looks hydrated, even, and glowy.

What to Look for In A Tinted Sunscreen

Broad spectrum protection: A sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays is a must, says Dr. Davis. When shopping for a selection, make sure it notes “broad spectrum” somewhere on the label. She also recommends picking one with a SPF of 30 or higher for the most efficient level of protection.
Noncomedogenic ingredients: Since applying (and reapplying) SPF every day is absolutely necessary to keep your complexion protected from UV damage, you’ll want to make sure that the tinted sunscreen formula you pick doesn’t contain anything that will clog your pores—which can lead to breakouts and skin irritation. Dr. Engelman says to look for ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid in sunscreen formulas to avoid pore blockages.
Texture and finish: You need to wear sunscreen daily, so how one applies and sits on your skin is a major factor. Dr. Engelman says to think of your skin type when considering the texture and finish for a tinted sunscreen. If you have dry skin, a creamy formula that leaves a dewy finish might be the best pick for you. Or you can try a sunscreen for oily skin that has a liquid consistency and feels weightless.

FAQ

They absolutely do. They can even have extra protection—since most tinted formulas are made with iron oxide, Dr. Davis says. “Iron oxide helps protect the skin against the negative effects of visible light, which can be emitted from our cell phones and computer screens.” Iron oxides are what gives tinted sunscreens their color. When it’s combined with broad spectrum UV protection, you should be safe from all types of light that can cause skin damage.

Yes, it’s absolutely fine to mix them—and it can help if you want less coverage from your tinted sunscreen. However, you’ll want to make sure that you’re still applying a full layer of your sunscreen for optimal protection. You can also use a tinted moisturizer. If you find it necessary to mix the two, Dr. Davis recommends applying a layer of the tinted sunscreen by itself first, then applying the mixture of your moisturizer and the same tinted sunscreen.

Why Trust Byrdie

Shannon Stubbs has been a staff commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022. She has over six years of experience writing about beauty, with a specific focus on skincare. To write this article, she spent hours researching the products, their formulations, and everything sun protection.

She consulted the following experts to gain more insight for this article:

DiAnne Davis, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Dallas, Texas
Dendy Engelman, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City

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