9 Best Tinted Sunscreens of 2025, According to Cosmo Beauty Editors
They're the ultimate skincare-meets-makeup product.
Welcome to Cosmo's first-ever SPF week, a space dedicated to two very important things: 1. reminding you that sunscreen is the most essential step in any skincare routine and 2. sharing the best sunscreen recs to shop right now, according to four very picky beauty editors.
I've said it once, and I'll say it again (and again and again): SPF is the most important step in your skincare routine. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it—you should be wearing it every! damn! day! Now that my lecture is over, pls know that I am understanding; I get that you may be tempted to skip the sunscreen sometimes because it gives your skin a weird white-ish cast or makes you feel super oily, or it just doesn’t work with your fave makeup products. That's why I'm here with a solution: tinted sunscreen—i.e., an SPF with pigments that provide coverage and blend into your skin tone, similarly to a foundation or tinted moisturizer, depending on the formula.
A good tinted sunscreen will help prevent sun damage, fine lines, dark spots, and, more seriously, skin cancer (as long as it has SPF 30 or more and protects from both UVA and UVB rays). And since it's got a slight tint to it, it'll also help tone down any redness, hyperpigmentation, and breakouts while delivering a bit of moisture, too.
Our top picks for the best tinted sunscreens of 2025:
Best Tinted Sunscreen for Dry Skin
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Sheer Tint Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 45
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Basically, tinted sunscreens—like the 9 editor-approved options below—are the ultimate multitasking, skincare-meets-makeup products that your skincare routine needs right now. Whether your skin is acne-prone, oily, dry, combination, or something else, there's a tinted sunscreen for you.
Pros
- Formula is easy to blend and build with just fingers
- Works well with my acne-prone skin in that it doesn't break me out and minimizes the look of breakouts
Cons
- Shades can be a little warm, so it took me a minute to find my exact match
Supergoop makes a ton of excellent sunscreens, but I think their new-ish tinted sunscreen is a standout. The tint is sheer but buildable, so you can use it to effectively blur the look of discoloration and breakouts. The formula is also pretty hydrating, so I can skip moisturizer and just layer this over my serums in the morning since my skin is on the oily side. Basically, one quick and easy step does all the things (conceals, moisturizes, protects) and gives that ‘your skin-but-better’ effect
- Protection level: SPF 50
- Sunscreen type: Mineral and chemical
- Number of shades: 14
Notes from the beauty team: "This tinted sunscreen makes my life so much easier. I can slather it on in the morning and head out the door with my skin looking nice and even and protected with SPF 50 too." —Lauren Balsamo, beauty director
Supergoop's tinted sunscreen comes in 14 shades so it's easy to find your match.
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Sheer Tint Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 45
Pros
- Contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides to hydrate skin for hours
- Layers nicely with other skincare products and makeup
Cons
- We wish it came in more shades than just one
Okay, so the tint on this one is really sheer (there's no meaningful coverage, it gives more of a filtered effect) but it's adaptable to most skin tones so you don't need to worry about sorting through a bunch of shades to find your ideal match. And just like the iconic Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cloud Cream, this formula is nice and hydrating without being heavy or full of pore-clogging ingredients—so it's perfect for getting that juicy, glass-skin look.
- Protection level: SPF 45
- Sunscreen type: Chemical
- Shades: One
Notes from the beauty team: "As the name states, this tinted SPF drenches my skin with so much moisture. Like my face feels and looks so hydrated when I wear it. It's my go-to SPF/hydrator/skin tint for all the summer months. And honestly all year round." —Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor
Peter Thomas Roth's SPF gives skin a hydrated, dewy look.
Pros
- Lightweight, non-greasy feel
- Contains niacinamide to soothe inflammation and regulate oil control
- 2024 Cosmo Acne Award Winner
Cons
- Not the best choice for dry skin types (if that's you, try EltaMD's UV Daily Tinted instead)
Every dermatologist I've ever met has told me to use this tinted sunscreen from EltaMD. It protects skin from UVA and UVB rays, feels ultra-lightweight, and is infused with niacinamide to help minimize breakouts, redness, and acne scars. Oh, and did I mention it's Hailey Bieber's fave? She's been spotting using it in her GRWM videos and her skin always looks amazing.
- Protection level: SPF 46
- Sunscreen type: Mineral and chemical
- Shades: 2
Notes from the beauty team: "When you discover an SPF like this one that fully protects your skin from the sun and blends beautifully into the deepest of skin tones, then you definitely award it and tell the world to stock up!”—Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large
EltaMD's UV Clear Tinted Deep blends in perfectly with beauty editor-at-large Julee Wilson's skin.
Pros
- Glow looks natural, not shimmery
- Ultra-thin texture feels very un-sunscreen like
Cons
- Some testers with oily skin thought it was a bit too greasy
This beautiful, glowy sunscreen is my newest SPF obsession. It comes in three light-reflecting shades—01, 02, 03—to give your skin an ethereal, just-napped-on-the-beach look. The coverage is light, but it gives just enough to even out your skin tone. I also absolutely love how this is a clean formula, and the brand is totally sustainable, offering all its products in glass and recycled packaging.
- Protection level: SPF 30
- Sunscreen type: Mineral
- Shades: 3
Notes from the beauty team: "Mineral sunscreens are notoriously thick, but DIME's is shockingly lightweight and fluid-like. I use shade 02 and it gives my skin a warm glow, like I just got back from The White Lotus or something." —LB
Look at the glow DIME's Wonderscreen leaves behind.
Pros
- Wide shade range makes it easy to color match
If you prefer a chemical sunscreen with robust coverage, try Tula Skincare’s Radiant Skin Brightening Serum. The product is formulated with avobenzone and octisalate for sun protection, plus ceramides and hyaluronic acid to help boost your moisture barrier. The best part? It comes in 30 shades.
- Protection level: SPF 30
- Sunscreen type: Chemical
- Shades: 12
Notes from the beauty team: "When I'm looking for full coverage but don't feel like wearing a cakey foundation, I love Tula's Radiant Skin Serum. It layers so well with all my other makeup, and it simultaneously hydrates my skin to the point where I can opt out of a primer or moisturizer. I love when my makeup products do the most, and this formula def delivers on sun protection, hydration, and coverage." —JH
Assistant beauty editor Jasmine Hyman wearing Tula's tinted SPF as her base makeup.
True to its name, this tinted sunscreen is the ultimate "weekend skin" product in that you can wash your face, slather this on, and you're ready to roll. The sheer tint has some light-reflecting properties that immediately make my skin look brighter and more awake. But when it comes to brightening, it's the stabilized vitamin C in the formula that does the heavy lifting to fade dark spots and even out your skin tone.
- Protection level: SPF 50
- Sunscreen type: Mineral
- Shades: 3
Notes from the beauty team: "I brought this sunscreen in the Universal Warm Glow shade on a recent beach vacation and not only did my skin get zero sunburn, my skin looked insanely glowy in all my selfies too." —LB
Iris & Romeo's Weekend Skin rubs down to a glowy finish.
Pros
- Ultra-hydrating but super lightweight formula is ideal for most skin types
- Blurring properties makes this a great choice for under makeup
Cons
- Tint is marketed as "universal" but would like be too light for deep skin tones
Combination skin will love the lightweight texture of this tinted sunscreen as well as the dewy finish it imparts on skin. It only comes in one sheer tint, but it does an excellent job at blurring and smoothing skin—just like a really good primer would do. It's also full of good-for-skin ingredients, like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E, so your skin is getting some hydrating and brightening benefits too.
- Protection level: SPF 46
- Sunscreen type: Mineral and chemical
- Shades: One
Notes from the beauty team: "I am the last person you will ever see wearing JUST a tinted SPF (I need coverage, dammit). But the DRMTLGY one actually evens out my skin so much that I can go without concealer and foundation. It also really blurs and smooths my skin without feeling like I'm wearing much of anything," —Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Beauty editor Beth Gillette wearing nothing but DRMTLGY's tinted sunscreen on her face.
The level of glow that this sunscreen serves up is UNREAL. It's honestly kinda shocking for an all-mineral formula with such a high SPF factor. It comes in three sheer, light-reflecting tints (light-medium, medium, and medium-deep) that work with a wide range of skin tones. And unlike other glowy SPFs on the market, the effect this one gives is soft and subtle so it's supremely wearable for every day.
- Protection level: SPF 43
- Sunscreen type: Mineral
- Shades: 3
Notes from the beauty team: "This was my go-to sunscreen all last summer. I was so shocked that it's mineral-based, considering there is no white cast at all whatsoever. But the glowy, slightly shimmery tint blends perfectly into my skin and creates a stunning sheen, whether I wear it alone or with makeup on top." —BG
Innbeauty Project's Mineral Sun Glow has a radiant, light-reflecting finish .
Pros
- Strong water-resistant formula
- Great for active people
- Contains antioxidants for added UV protection
Cons
- Some reviewers say it felt greasy upon application
This ultra-creamy tinted sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so it's perfect for beach and pool days. You'll still need to reapply, but it's definitely the best option if you're looking to minimize sunburn and sun damage while swimming and sweating this summer.
- Protection level: SPF 30
- Sunscreen type: Mineral
- Shades: 1
Notes from the beauty team: "This SPF has a permanent home in my beach bag. The sheer tint gives my skin a glowy beach babe vibe and I love that it's water-resistant so it won't disappear from my face second after I dip in the ocean." —LB
Is tinted sunscreen better than clear sunscreen?
"I can't say tinted sunscreen is better than clear sunscreen, but I can say that they are absolutely just as good as non-tinted sunscreen with the same coverage and SPF," says dermatologist, Karan Lal, MD. Another great thing about tinted sunscreens? They often have iron oxides that protect against blue light from devices. "Iron oxides are used as coloring agents and are responsible for the tint in sunscreens," he explains.
The only potential downside to tinted moisturizers? You may not be applying enough product to get enough daily sun protection. “I would not depend on being able to apply enough makeup to provide adequate protection,” dermatologist, Dornechia George Carter, MD says, adding that she advises patients to “separate” makeup and sun protection in their minds. SPF in makeup, or tinted sunscreens, can’tf hurt for added protection, but if what you’re applying is mostly marketed as makeup, you should probably use another base sunscreen underneath.
How to choose the best tinted sunscreen for you:
Consider your coverage needs
Do you want something that can double as foundation, or are you looking for a formula that’ll subtly even out your skin tone? Once you determine what you actually want to use the tinted sunscreen for, you can find the right one for you.
Consider your skin type
To get the most out of your tinted sunscreen, it's best to incorporate products that are marketed for your skin type. Oily skin should opt for a mattifying, lightweight formula, whereas those with dry skin should find a moisturizing, dewy sunscreen. If you have particularly sensitive skin, avoid fragrances and opt for a mineral SPF formulation.
Look for SPF 30 or higher
As long as the tinted sunscreen is SPF 30 and above and broad-spectrum, you've found yourself a good match, explains Dr. Lal. "Your skin’s color or tone and photosensitivity will determine the length of time that SPF, or sun protective factor, can protect you from UV rays and skin damage," plastic surgeon, Alexis Parcells, MD, has told Cosmo. If you know you will be outside for longer periods of time, consider a higher SPF and reapply frequently—every two hours or whenever you get out of the water and dry off, she explained.
Meet the experts:
- Dornechia George Carter, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. As the founder of Affinity Dermatology, she specializes in preventative skincare and the treatment of common skin conditions, like sun damage, acne, and eczema.
- Karan Lal, MD, is a double board-certified adult, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ. You can also catch Dr. Lal responding to viral beauty trends and myths on Cosmo's TikTok.
- Alexis Parcells, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the founder of Parcells Plastic Surgery in Eatontown, NJ, and New York, NY, and a clinical instructor at RWJ Barnabas Health in New Jersey. Dr. Parcells is also the founder of Sunnie, a topical medical-grade skincare line. She recently spoke to Cosmo regarding organic sunscreen.
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
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