Although I know the harmful effects of the sun and the importance of wearing sunscreen, it took me a long time to finally start wearing SPF every single day. But I’m finally there, and my skin has never been better. The biggest catalyst that converted me? Tinted sunscreens. It’s sun protection disguised as a way to even out my skin tone. And all types of beauty experts—dermatologists, aestheticians, and beauty editors—believe in the power of them.
Dermatologist Karan Lal, MD, agrees. recommends mineral sunscreens—aka those that use mineral filters, i.e. zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, instead of chemical filters—because they’re “less reactive.” Combine these formulas with a tint, and they also offer “additional benefits like protecting against blue light, which can impact hyperpigmentation,” says Dr. Lal. A tint also helps mask the usual chalky white cast you get with mineral sunscreen, allowing it to blend into more skin tones. Even more so if the formula comes in multiple shades.
I know I have a few favorites, but I wanted to see if mine lined up with the suggestions of other experts. I reached out to Dr. Lal and aesthetician Vee Mistry and asked their go-to recommendations (including the one they both love). Boots on the ground journalism, as they say.
Dermatologist Karan Lal, MD
Key ingredientsZinc oxide (12%), niacinamide, bisabololShades6SPF level50
“My favorite tinted sunscreen is the Colorescience Flex Sunscreen. They now have additional shades. This is safe for all skin types and all skin colors. It does not have any added fragrance too.”
Aesthetician Vee Mistry
Mistry actually loves the Colorescience formula too. “This mineral SPF has colour adaptogens in it that help it blend into skin,” she says. “The formula is light and liquid, and it comes out white/beige, but once you start to work it into your skin, the color molecules act like a foundation, leaving skin looking even and glowing.”
Key ingredientsZinc oxide (10%), niacinamide, green tea, astaxanthinShades1 (not tinted for coverage)SPF level50
“The other SPF I really love is the Timebeam mineral sunscreen. It’s comes in a Barbie pink container, and the spf itself is also a beautiful bubble gum pink that blends into skin. It’s another lightweight formula that is liquidy and leaves the skin with the perfect glow.”
Beauty editor Beth Gillette
Key ingredientsZinc oxide (15%), vitamin E, diglycerinShades20SPF level45
“I normally wouldn’t trust a sunscreen made by a makeup brand, TBH. I’ve been burned (literally) by formulas with minimal SPF that barely cover. But Merit sought out to make a true tinted sunscreen—not a skin tint or foundation with sunscreen—and it’s easily one of the best products I’ve tried in the last year. Unlike many tinted SPFs that only come in one or two shades that would never work for very-fair or very-deep skin, The Uniform is available in a whopping 20 shades that range in undertone and depth. As far as the application goes, this smooths over my skin, including texture and acne, in a few blendable swipes either with my finger or a brush. When I’m trying to do my makeup quickly, I’ll skip a brush and just massage this in with my fingers, and it does the trick. But a brush offers a bit more coverage and a seamless blend. I’m not getting foundation-level coverage with this by any means, but it’s enough that I can dab any pimples or dark spots with concealer when I want to be more covered up.”
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing stories on hair, makeup, and nails.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you “have to try.” Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair ‘do every few months.