10 best tinted sunscreens of 2025 to add to your makeup routine
Where skincare and makeup become one
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 moisturiser, 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.
To help you find the best of the best, I chatted with dermatologists Dr Dorenchia George Carter, Dr Karan Lal, and plastic surgeon Dr Alexis Parcells, to get their expert opinion on the best tinted sunscreens and how to choose which one is right for your skin. Want a sneak peek before diving in? Proceed, pls.
Our top picks for the best tinted sunscreens of 2025:
- 1
- 2
- 3
Best tinted sunscreen-foundation hybrid
Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation
Read review - 4
- 5
Basically, tinted sunscreens – like these 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. Some offer super lightweight coverage for a soft glam look, while others offer full coverage so you can be all done up AND protected from harmful rays. Pretty cool, right?!
Best tinted sunscreens to provide protection and coverage...
Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil
This tinted sunscreen has got it all – the shade range, the hydration, the coverage. It's the best all-rounder going. The formula is incredibly lightweight and very fluid in texture, so it seamlessly sinks into the skin leaving a gentle layer of coverage and a lotta glow. As for the protection, I'm talking factor 50 here so you can ditch the foundation while keeping your delicate skin defended from the sun.
Key ingredients: Bemotrizinol & Bisoctrizole (*provides gentle yet effective protection)
Sunscreen type: Chemical
Protection: SPF 50
Shades: 15 on the Sephora website
Glowing Customer Review: “A great SPF with buildable coverage. I haven’t worn foundation since I starting using this. It layers really well over serums and a base SPF, and stays all day. Leaves a dewy, glowy finish.”
Garnier Vitamin C Daily UV Brightening Fluid
This is a well-loved staple in the Cosmo beauty cupboard – and, yes, it's the one you've seen one too many times on TikTok Shop. The Garnier vitamin C Daily UV Brightening Fluid doesn't feel like a sunscreen, but a light and hydrating lotion that protects and adds a gorgeous glow to the skin.
The star ingredient is vitamin C, so over time it will help to smooth out your skin tone and fade discolouration. As for the shade range, well, there is none. However, it works across a variation of skin tones, from fair to deep, without leaving a cast.
And, fyi, you can check out our review here.
Key ingredients: vitamin C
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Protection: SPF 50
Shades: 1
Glowing Customer Review: “I buy this on repeat, great protection with a light tint, sits well with skin care or makeup and best of all it isn’t greasy and doesn’t break my skin out like some other tinted spfs. Good value too!”
Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation
The best thing about Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation? The 16 shade options. It also gives a great, hydrating finish while protecting you from harmful UV rays, thanks to the SPF 30.
Key ingredients: Zinc oxide
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Protection: SPF 30
Shades: 16 on the Revolve website
Glowing Customer Review: "I love this tinted sunscreen! It has just enough pigment and it sits beautifully on my skin. I love wearing this daily because it doesn’t look like I’m wearing anything. Plus, the colour selection is excellent, and I feel I was able to find myself a good match."
Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF30
If you want a skin-lovin' SPF tint that feels like you're not wearing anything, get yourself the Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint. Not only will it feel lightweight, but you won't be able to tell you're wearing anything at all, yet your skin will look evened out and glowy.
Key ingredients: Zinc oxide
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Protection: SPF 40
Shades: 30 on the Sephora website
Glowing Customer Review: "I really do love this product. It evens out my skin tone, doesn’t pill on me, and gives me a nice understated glow. My skin looks healthy and fine lines seem to be less noticeable."
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
Every dermatologist I've ever met has told me to use this sheer tinted sunscreen from EltaMD. It protects skin from UVA and UVB rays, feels ultra-lightweight, and is infused with niacinamide to help minimise breakouts, redness, and acne scars. Oh, and did I mention it's Hailey Bieber's fave? She uses it in this TikTok Video and her skin looks legit amaze.
Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, niacinamide
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Protection: SPF 46
Shades: 1
Glowing Customer Review: "I rarely write reviews unless I really love or hate something, and this stuff is amazing. I have light/medium skin without the need for a heavy foundation. However, I do have HUGE pores. That said, this is an all-in-one sunscreen and foundation for me. I feel like it's so light that I don't even know I have anything on my face."
Supergoop! Mattescreen Sunscreen SPF30 PA+++
Supergoop! makes a ton of excellent sunscreens, but this all-mineral tinted version is hands-down my fave. The sheer tint works with all skin tones, and the fluffy, mousse-like texture is easy to blend and leaves skin with a soft, matte finish, so you don't look overly shiny.
Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Protection: SPF 40
Shades: 1
Glowing Customer Review: "This is the best sunscreen I've ever used. It protects, feels lightweight—I don't even feel it after 10 minutes—doesn't make me break out, doesn't leave a horrible white cast, and doesn't look like I'm wearing a layer of foundation!"
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+
This tinted sunscreen feels just like a foundation, making it the perfect choice for anyone who prefers more coverage. It instantly covers redness, melasma, and breakouts (without settling into fine lines or pores), while protecting skin with a mineral-based SPF 50.
Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Protection: SPF 50
Shades: 16 on the LookFantastic website
Glowing Customer Review: "I have age spots, LARGE pores, and redness due to sun damage. I do not have flawless skin, but this makes it look damn near flawless WITHOUT being cakey or looking overdone!"
MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Creme SPF 30
This ultra-creamy tinted sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so it's perf for beach and pool days. You'll still need to reapply, but it's definitely the best option if you're looking to minimise sunburn and sun damage while swimming and sweating this summer.
Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Protection: SPF 30
Shades: 1
Glowing Customer Review: "I am African American with medium skin, and I use this for my face every day after moisturiser. It leaves no white cast and can be worn with or without makeup. Has a semi-matte finish on its own. I love how it blends into my skin, it is not thick and adds an extra layer of moisture."
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser SPF30
This tinted sunscreen is ideal for anyone who tends to avoid SPF because they hate how it feels. The gel-cream texture is ultra-lightweight, sinks in fast, is non-greasy, and has a buildable tint that helps hide zits and dark spots without feeling heavy or "makeup-y."
Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Protection: SPF 30
Shades: 19 on the LookFantastic website
Glowing Customer Review: "My go-to tinted moisturiser. I have a combination, of light-medium-neutral undertoned skin, and I use Natural 05. It’s hydrating and perfect coverage for evening out of my skin tone on days I’m being active and in the sun."
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser
With 16 shades to choose from, there's a pretty good chance you'll be able to find one that matches your skin tone well. This tinted moisturiser can be built up to full coverage, or sheered out for a more natural look – the choice is yours! Just be sure if you like a lighter coverage that you're still managing to protect your full face and neck.
Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Protection: SPF 30
Shades: 21 on the LookFantastic website
Glowing Customer Review: "My go-to makeup. Perfect in the summertime when you just need some light coverage and moisturiser. Great in colder weather with a little bit of powder on top for extra coverage. Lasts a long time too!"
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 Dr Karan Lal.
Another great thing about tinted sunscreens? They often have iron oxides that protect against blue light from devices. "Iron oxides are used as colouring agents and are responsible for the tint in sunscreens," he explains.
The only potential downside to tinted moisturisers? 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, Dr Dornechia George Carter says, adding that she advises patients to “separate” makeup and sun protection in their minds.
SPF in makeup, or tinted sunscreens, can’t 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 moisturising, 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 colour 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, Dr Alexis Parcells. 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:
- Dr. Dornechia George Carter is a board-certified dermatologist based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. As the founder of Affinity Dermatology, she specialises in preventative skincare and the treatment of common skin conditions, like sun damage, acne, and eczema.
- Dr. Karan Lal is a double board-certified adult, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ.
- Dr. Alexis Parcells 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.
Why trust Cosmo?
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan and has four years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing skincare stories and feels especially knowledgeable in tinted sunscreens thanks to being a beauty editor and therefore an advocate for SPF. She regularly tests and analyses tinted sunscreen on her own skin for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists to assess new formulas and products.
Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan with 10 years of experience writing about culture and beauty. Her tinted sunscreen picks were based on the many bottles bought and tested over the years, as well as research from reviews and interviews with experts.
Lauren Balsamo is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with almost 10 years of experience researching, writing, and editing skin, makeup, hair, and nail stories across print and digital. Her tinted sunscreen picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing, along with information from experts.
Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers beauty, entertainment, and lifestyle. She loves finding and testing the best skincare products to recommend, like the best tinted sunscreens, and is always researching the best cat accessories for her fur baby. She has over 10 years of experience as an entertainment and culture writer and editor, and her work has been featured in The Cut, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, Polygon, Bustle, and more.
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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