8 Best Tinted Sunscreens for Glowy, Everyday Coverage
The best tinted sunscreens are the kind of product that, once you find the right one, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. This type of facial sunscreen is often mineral-based with added pigment that can help even out skin tone and conceal blemishes. It’s a solid alternative to traditional SPF, especially if you find mineral sunscreens hard to blend. Light coverage and sun protection in one step? Sign us up.
Below, we found standout options recommended by dermatologists for various skin types, including ones that leave behind a your-skin-but-better glow—we’re talking so good you can ditch the tinted moisturizer or foundation on top.
Our top tinted sunscreen picks
- Best Overall: CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen in Sheer Tint, $14
- Best Drugstore: e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Skin Tint, $16
- Best for Dark Skin Tones: Supergoop Protec(tint) Daily SPF Tint, $36
- Best for Mature Skin: EltaMD UV UV Restore Tinted Face Sunscreen, $46
- Best for Oily Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Sunscreen, $40
Best Overall: CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen in Sheer Tint
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Blends well | Not always suitable for fair skin |
| Hydrating | |
| Suitable for darker skin tones |
As affordable as it is beloved, this CeraVe tinted mineral sunscreen delivers a serious glow, while the mineral formula (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) offers broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection. “This sheer face tint uses mineral blockers to provide coverage against UVA and UVB. It’s great for all skin types and uses a tint to blend with most skin tones,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in NYC. Meanwhile, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid help maintain moisture alongside ceramides, which are lipids that are key for replenishing the skin barrier.
Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary says:
“It provides nearly full coverage in just one or two pumps. The formula is thick and easy to spread, dries quickly, and conceals discoloration and uneven skin tone. I can put a few dots of concealer right on top and blend that in easily for a no-makeup makeup look, or layer on blush for a fuller beat. The coverage lasts hours and doesn’t slip, and my skin always feels protected after application.” —Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour commerce writer
Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle says:
“I’ve gone through multiple bottles of this tinted mineral sunscreen because it’s that good. It blends nicely with my combination oily skin and gives me a gorgeous, glowy finish every time. It feels lightweight enough to layer makeup on top. I typically go for a no-makeup makeup look by using it on its own to cover any blemishes and adding mascara and blush on top. The texture might feel a little heavy at first, but once it's blended in, it absorbs nicely without pilling or leaving a white cast.” —Jenifer Calle, Glamour senior commerce editor
Fast facts
- Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide 5.5%, zinc oxide 10%
- SPF: 30
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Best for Full Coverage: e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Skin Tint Sunscreen
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Brightening | Gets a little patchy after all-day wear |
| Affordable |
For an affordable tinted SPF 50 that actually delivers, this e.l.f. formula is the one. It comes in 18 buildable shades that have a glowy sheen to add dimension and radiance to skin in just a few swipes. The serum-like consistency is packed with niacinamide to help brighten skin tone, bisabolol to soothe, and allantoin to reduce redness and improve skin texture, resulting in a softer finish. It’s noncomedogenic and water-resistant for 80 minutes.
Glamour contributor Grace McCarty says:
“If you like an SPF that feels much more like makeup than sunscreen, the Halo Glow Tint is for you. It’s as easy to apply as your go-to mineral SPF but brings the same glowy base as the brand’s cult-favorite foundation counterpart. I don’t typically opt for a full-coverage base, but this tint provides just enough to even out my complexion and is easy to apply my favorite concealer, blush, and bronzers over. A little goes a long way, but I do notice that a bit of product settles into fine lines throughout the day when I use as much as my typical SPF. That said, it feels super light and nongreasy for all-day wear compared to other SPF-makeup hybrids.” —Grace McCarty, Glamour contributor
Fast facts
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 12%
- SPF: 50
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
Best for Dark Skin Tones: Supergoop Protec(tint) Daily SPF Tint Sunscreen
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| The texture | May take a few layers to cover blemishes and pimples |
| The longevity | |
| Buildable coverage |
This Supergoop formula has one of the best shade ranges in the tinted-sunscreen category, with 14 hues that genuinely accommodate a wide range of skin tones. It’s heavily pigmented and doesn’t leave behind a white cast, blending in beautifully the way a foundation would. The texture is lightweight yet buildable to a full-coverage beat, and the formula protects skin with SPF 50, plus hyaluronic acid and clay to help plump and mattify skin, and blur imperfections such as lines and acne scars. It’s also crease-resistant and keeps skin looking smooth all day. We also like that it includes ectoin in its ingredients to help protect the skin from blue light and oxidative stress.
Glamour senior social media manager Jazmin Gathers says:
“It's a bit more oily than I’d prefer, but I was easily able to get a matte finish after blending it in. I paired it with Supergoop’s Primer, and they blended really well together. The coverage is on the lighter side, which I expected, but it still did a great job at making my skin feel protected. I haven’t had any creasing, and my skin isn’t oily throughout the day.” —Jazmin Gathers, Glamour senior social media manager
Fast facts
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 13.58%
- SPF: 50
- Size: 1.18 oz.
Best for Mature Skin: EltaMD UV Restore Tinted Face Sunscreen
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Noncomedogenic | Will pill if you use too much |
| Oil-free | |
| Gentle on mature skin types |
Dr. Garshick says this broad-spectrum SPF is great for mature skin, thanks to hyaluronic acid, which deeply hydrates, plumps skin, and softens fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also oil-free and noncomedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores and will make skin look firmer, softer, and tighter overall. While we wish the brand offered a larger shade range, the formula blends well with foundation or tinted moisturizer for added SPF.
Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine says:
“Go to Elta if you seek a sheer wash of color in your tinted sunscreen. It spreads on super easily, so if you’d like to reduce the appearance of imperfections on your face while getting sun protection, this is the product for you. Just add lip balm for a quick and casual look. A caveat is that this product comes in only two colors; the tint I used was a tad too dark for my pale skin, so I used a light hand. Overall, my skin looked firmer, even-toned, and glowy.” —Charlotte Twine, Glamour contributor
Fast facts
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 9.0%, octinoxate 7.5%
- SPF: 46
- Size: 1.8 fl. oz.
Best for Oily Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Sunscreen
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Lightweight | Reviews say it runs easily |
| High SPF | Don’t love the scent |
Matte finish? Light tint? Safe for sensitive skin? Check, check, and check. Not only is this mineral-based moisturizing SPF enjoyable (and easy) to blend into your face, but the formula is both paraben- and fragrance-free, allergy-tested, and powered by iron oxide for that blue-light bonus. Deborah Longwill, DO, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Miami Center for Dermatology, says everything this brand makes is great because their formulations offer ample hydration but are suitable for all skin types and ages.
Glamour’s Calle says:
“This La Roche-Posay sunscreen is silky smooth and absorbs nicely into my skin. I have hormonal breakouts, so I need a lightweight, sensitive-skin-friendly SPF, and this one is perfect for those occasions.” —J.C.
Fast facts
- Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide 11%
- SPF: 30
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted Sunscreen
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Lightweight but still offers coverage | Might not be suitable for very oily skin |
| Primes skin for bronzer and blush |
Tower 28’s tinted sunscreen took home a 2022 Glamour Beauty Award thanks to its ability to wear like a foundation. Prickly pear and white sage extract help protect skin from blue light and free radicals, respectively, and the formula glides on easily for sheer coverage. You can build it up with two to three coats for a full-coverage look that can rival any foundation in your collection. It also contains aloe vera to help calm skin and soothe redness, making it particularly great for acne-prone skin and those who want more coverage from their tinted sunscreen.
Glamour’s Calle says:
“If I don’t feel like wearing a ton of makeup, I layer this tinted SPF foundation with blush, and I’m good to go. It doesn’t require too much intense rubbing and the coverage is subtle but enough that it covers any redness or discoloration.” —J.C
Fast facts
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 12.6%
- SPF: 30
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
Best Lightweight: Beauty of Joseon Tinted Mineral Dayscreen
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| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Lightweight | Can dry out skin a bit over the course of the day |
| Non-oily | |
| Buildable coverage |
If you’re looking for a lightweight tinted sunscreen that won’t feel heavy or cakey, we’re fans of this lightweight mineral pick from Korean brand Beauty of Joseon. It features ceramides and fermented brown rice that helps boost skin resilience, bounce, and moisture levels. The pigmentation is buildable up to medium to full coverage, and the sunscreen within the formula offers UVA, UVB, and blue-light protection with shades that blend seamlessly into skin for a velvety finish.
Fast facts
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 17%
- SPF: 30
- Size: 1.35 fl. oz.
Best Sheer: Abib Dewy Tinted Sunscreen
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| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Gives off a sheer, dewy finish | Only comes in three shades |
| Coverage is very natural and noncakey |
This dewy tinted sunscreen pick is one to try if you want something with a hint of tint for a no-makeup makeup finish. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate, plus ectoin to help boost the skin barrier and niacinamide to even out skin tone and calm areas of redness. The formula itself blends in quickly and dries down to a luminous finish, though we’d recommend pairing it with a concealer if you want a bit more coverage.
Fast facts
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 12%, octocrylene 5%, octisalate 4.5%
- SPF: 45
- Size: 1.69 fl. oz.
The tinted sunscreens tried but didn’t include
- During our testing, we looked for tinted sunscreens that paired well under makeup. One we liked for this was the Kosas DreamBeam Silicone-Free Mineral Sunscreen, which has a velvet-smooth texture that blends into skin quickly and doesn’t pill when foundation is layered over it. Although we generally liked the finish, we removed it from the list because of its $40 price tag and the fact that it didn’t provide as much coverage as we would have liked.
- We also tested the Alastin Hydratint Pro Mineral Sunscreen, which we liked best for dry skin. The formula is fragrance-free, provides full coverage, and is water-resistant, which were all things we loved. We did not, however, love the price at $84, and cut it from the list because the texture itself was runny and messy.
- The Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Sunscreen was another dermatologist-recommended pick we tested. It has antioxidants and protects against UVA/UVB rays and free radical damage, as well as blue light. We ultimately removed it from our list, though, because it was thick and heavy and pilled when paired with makeup.
- We also tried the MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème Beauty Balm Sunscreen because it contains vitamin C, niacinamide, and squalane to nourish and color-correct. While it does leave skin matte and velvety, it only comes in four shades, which is far too few to consider it a BB-cream alternative.
- We’re huge fans of the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blurred Matte Sunscreen in general because it comes in a wide array of shades, is great for combination and oily skin types, and pairs well underneath other makeup. Kaolin soaks up grease; the formula goes on sheer (apply a second coat for more coverage), softens the appearance of large pores, minimizes acne scars, and conceals inflammation for a more even-textured look, as well. While we love this one, it’s more of a tinted moisturizer compared to a tinted sunscreen, which is why we removed it from the list.
- We also like the InnBeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow if you’re looking for something that will give you glow. It has derm-approved ingredients (read “vitamin C and peptides”) and a glimmering finish that won’t look excessively shiny. We like it as a radiance-boosting sunscreen, but it doesn’t have a ton of pigment to give off a true tint, so we cut it from our final list.
Frequently asked questions
Is sunscreen with tint better?
The most important thing is to wear sunscreen—any sunscreen: The dermatologists we spoke with said that any broad-spectrum SPF is better than no SPF—whether it’s tinted or not. But in addition to defending your skin against fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, discoloration, and skin cancer caused by UVA and UVB rays, tinted sunscreen goes a step further than your average formula. Tinted sunscreens typically have mineral SPF in them that can actually block sunlight, says New York City board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. That’s kind of a big deal, she explains, since visible light is “a key cause of hyperpigmentation, especially for those people who are more vulnerable to developing dark spots or melasma.”
Some of the best tinted sunscreens can even guard against blue light from computer and phone screens, which can also age your skin, says Arizona-based double board-certified pediatric and cosmetic dermatologist Karan Lal, DO. Dr. Lal recommends looking for iron oxide on the ingredient list to confirm your sunscreen can do this as well. Many tinted sunscreens use mineral blockers, so you’ve got a decent chance of finding one with zinc oxide, which will sit on the skin and refract harmful rays as if your skin is coated with tiny mirrors (as opposed to chemical sunscreens, which absorb UV rays first—which isn’t necessarily bad, but the mechanism can be more irritating to sensitive skin types).
Do dermatologists recommend tinted sunscreens?
Yes. The added layer of physical protection from the tint can be especially helpful for patients with hyperpigmentation or melasma, where light beyond UV can trigger darkening, Jenna Queller, MD, founder of DermWorks, explains.
How do I choose a tinted sunscreen for my face?
Tinted sunscreen can be tailored to skin type and concern, thanks to actives in the formula. Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, are great ingredients to have in your sunscreen because they provide additional protection against free-radical damage and photoaging, Dr. Engelman says. (Photoaging is the damage to the skin caused by the sun.) Peptides (an ingredient that plumps skin) are helpful, too, as they can help boost collagen. And the presence of hyaluronic acid, shea butter, or squalane is a great moisturizing bonus in tinted sunscreen.
On the flip side, there are certain ingredients people with sensitive skin should avoid. If you have sensitive skin or are prone to eczema, then steer clear of chemical sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octocrylene, and octyl salicylate, which can be a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis, according to Dr. Lal.
Which is better, tinted sunscreen or BB cream?
Tinted sunscreens are not necessarily better than BB creams, but they do provide SPF coverage, which isn’t found in all BB creams. BB creams offer multiple benefits with a single application, so they’re a great way to streamline your skin care routine. “They’re also helpful for addressing certain skin concerns, including oiliness, redness, and acne, while evening out the complexion and leaving a natural-looking, perfected finish,” says Dr. Engelman. Tinted sunscreens, on the other hand, may contain similar ingredients and also provide sheer to medium coverage—but first and foremost, they offer UV protection, which gives them a leg up.
Is tinted sunscreen good for mature skin?
Tinted sunscreens are great for mature skin, according to Pooja Rambhia MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Jersey. “Mature skin carries decades of accumulated photodamage in the form of sunspots, uneven tone, and visible capillaries. A tinted sunscreen can help to blur the appearance of uneven skin tone, while the iron oxides help limit further pigment formation going forward,” she says. Heavier, more pigmented formulas can settle into fine lines, while a lighter, tinted layer diffuses light off the skin instead.
Can you use a tinted sunscreen everyday?
Absolutely, and Dr. Queller recommends it to her patients. “Tinted sunscreen can replace foundation or BB cream in your routine, making daily use easier and more consistent,” she says. Since consistency is one of the biggest predictors of good sun protection and long‑term skin health, these products that act as two-in-one (makeup and sunscreen) can help you get there.
How we tested
We tested tinted sunscreens with testers between the ages of 30 and 60 who not only want to protect their skin with sunscreen but are also looking for coverage to help address and conceal discoloration and acne, and antiaging ingredients to firm and plump skin. We started by evaluating the products’ texture (lightweight and grease-free), longevity, and pilling, and how long they protect from the sun. Then we chose the best sunscreens suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin, that didn’t leave residue. We also paid attention to those that offered lightweight coverage to help minimize the appearance of blemishes and pores, as well as mineral-based options with good-for-your-skin ingredients, including antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.
Meet the experts
- Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in NYC
- Deborah Longwill, DO, board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Miami Center for Dermatology
- Dendy Engelman, MD, board-certified dermatologist in NYC
- Jenna Queller, MD, founder of DermWorks in Boca Raton, Florida
- Karan Lal, DO, double board-certified pediatric and cosmetic dermatologist in Arizona
- Pooja Rambhia MD, board-certified dermatologist based in New Jersey
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