Editor’s Picks: 18 of the Best Tinted Sunscreens for Every Skin Tone

Before you invest in a tinted sunscreen, decide how you plan to use it. If you’ll be layering it over another mineral sunscreen, then you can get away with a lower concentration of active ingredients. But if a tinted sunscreen is going to be your only facial sunscreen, then you definitely want a product that protects to the fullest against sun damage, skin aging and skin cancer.

Here’s what I recommend:

• High in zinc oxide: If you’ll be wearing tinted sunscreen as your main sunscreen (not just as makeup), look for formulas with at least 20% zinc oxide on its own, or a combination of 15-20% zinc oxide with at least 5% titanium dioxide. These levels of active ingredients will ensure that your skin is fully protected.
• Low in PUFAs: Oils high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are volatile and interact with heat and light to cause cellular damage. They shouldn’t be present in large concentrations, so I avoid sunscreens that contain them in the first five ingredients.
• Low in fragrance: Since fragrance is the main trigger for skin irritations, it’s best to limit or avoid it, especially if you have sensitive skin.
• Low in silicones: Although they are generally considered safe, I limit silicones because they form a film on the skin that can trap acne-causing debris and interfere with natural cell renewal.
• Reef-safe: As minerals, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide will not harm coral reefs.
• Water-resistant (optional): Consider a water-resistant formula if you plan to be swimming or sweating a lot while outdoors.

• What it is: Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation is a two-in-one mineral sunscreen that gives you SPF 30 UV protection and light-to-medium coverage. 
• Active ingredient: 12.6% zinc oxide. 
• Other ingredients: Synthetic emollients, capric triglycerides, glycerin, mica.
• Editor’s notes: With this buildable formula—which has the feel of a foundation—you can choose your level of coverage, from light to medium. It comes in 14 shades, and gives a subtly glowy, “your skin but better” finish. It’s also suitable for sensitive skin. Not only is it fragrance-free, it is the first and only complexion makeup product to receive the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

• What it is: Supergoop! CC Screen 100% Mineral CC Cream SPF 50 is a complete care cream that colour corrects, evens out your skin tone and provides broad-spectrum protection.
• Active ingredients: 20% zinc oxide, 2% titanium dioxide.
• Other ingredients: Synthetic emollients, propanediol, glycerin, dimethicone.
• Editor’s notes: While CC creams technically mean “colour correcting,” this one does so much more. The recently upgraded formula now comes in 15 shades (complete with warm, cool and neutral undertone options), and instantly makes skin look more flawless with its luminous medium coverage. It also has a high level of active ingredients, helps moisturize your skin, and is non-comedogenic, fragrance-free and oil-free. 

• What it is: HAN Serum CC with SPF 30+ is a serum-like CC cream with buildable medium-to-full coverage and broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection.
• Active ingredients: 21% zinc oxide, 6% titanium dioxide.
• Other ingredients: Coconut alkanes, coconut oil, capric triglycerides, aloe, castor seed oil, ethyl macadamiate, shea butter ethyl esters, glycerin, silica.
• Editor’s notes: If you’re looking for a pigmented product to perfect your skin or to camouflage dark marks or redness, this is the one for you. It gives buildable medium-to-full coverage with a satin finish, and comes in seven shades. Despite being oil-based, it has a lightweight, non-greasy feel. Best of all, it has one of the highest concentrations of active ingredients, so you’ll be fully protected. 

• What it is: Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 is a multitasking tinted moisturizer that gives you sheer, lightweight coverage while SPF 20 mineral sunscreen protects against the sun’s damaging rays.
• Active ingredient: 14% zinc oxide.
• Other ingredients: Capric triglycerides, coco-caprylate, synthetic emollients, dimethicone, beeswax, gluconolactone, hyaluronic acid.
• Editor’s notes: Everyone from Naomi Watts to Jean Godfrey-June loves this tinted sunscreen, which was recently upgraded with recyclable packaging. Available in eight shades, it delivers sheer coverage (just enough to perfect your skin) with a glowy, luminous finish. Like all the brand’s products, it is formulated from only safe, non-toxic ingredients.

• What it is: Nudestix Nudescreen Daily Mineral Veil SPF 30 is a light, hydrating, oil-free SPF lotion that melts into your skin with a nude finish and protects against UVA, UVB and blue light.
• Active ingredient: 15% zinc oxide.
• Other ingredients: Coconut alkanes, capric triglycerides, propanediol, coco-caprylate.
• Editor’s notes: If you’re not a foundation person, you’ll appreciate the fast-absorbing texture and skin-like finish of this tinted sunscreen. It’s not too dewy, nor is it matte; it just gives you a soft, fresh, natural look. It comes in two tints: Warm (natural tan) and Hot (deep tan). You can either wear it alone for light coverage or underneath foundation as a primer. There’s also a tint-free option called Cool. 

• What it is: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream SPF 30 is a colour-correcting cream that helps to perfect your skin and minimize the signs of aging while protecting with zinc oxide SPF 30 sunscreen.
• Active ingredient: 20% zinc oxide.
• Other ingredients: Aloe, coconut oil, apple juice, grape juice, capric triglycerides, castor seed oil, hyaluronic acid
• Editor’s notes: This was one of the first tinted sunscreens on the market—it was launched all the way back in 2012—and it’s still one of the best. It’s packed with antioxidant-rich botanicals, and comes in seven shades, which blend and adapt to any skin tone. It’s very sheer, so the coverage is minimal, and the finish is dewy. (If that’s not your thing, you can always top if off with a little translucent powder to mattify.)

• What it is: Kinfield Sunglow Luminizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 is a lightweight, hydrating and lightly tinted luminizing face sunscreen. 
• Active ingredient: 20.3% zinc oxide.
• Other ingredients: Coco-caprylate, synthetic emollients, fatty alcohol, propanediol, glycerin, mica.
• Editor’s notes: This sunscreen is all about the glow. Available in just one shade—a shimmering rosy golden hue—it makes your skin look naturally sun-kissed and luminous (not glittery or greasy). Medium to deep skin tones will like this best, especially because it doesn’t produce a white cast, despite the high concentration of zinc oxide. You can also use this as a highlighter on your cheekbones and brow bones.

• What it is: ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 is a skin tint that delivers light, dewy coverage, mineral SPF and hydrating, brightening skincare ingredients. 
• Active ingredient: 12% zinc oxide.
• Other ingredients: 6% squalane, shea butter ethyl esters, isoamyl laurate (silicone alternative), propanediol, 2% niacinamide, 0.5% hyaluronic acid.
• Editor’s notes: With this tinted sunscreen, you don’t have to worry about finding your ideal colour match—it comes in a huge range of 30 shades in warm, cool and neutral undertones. Each provides light coverage and a dewy glow while simultaneously hydrating (with squalane and hyaluronic acid) and brightening (with niacinamide).

• What it is: Suntegrity Impeccable Skin Sunscreen Foundation SPF 30 is a medium-coverage tinted sunscreen that gives your skin a flawless look, helps to reduce the signs of aging and provides broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection. 
• Active ingredient: 15% zinc oxide.
• Other ingredients: Aloe, capric triglycerides, glycerin, vitamin C (THD ascorbate), vitamin E.
• Editor’s notes: This creamy tint ticks off so many boxes: it’s non-greasy, made from mostly natural ingredients, and free of fragrance, oils and silicones. As a medium-coverage formula, it’s also got enough pigment to even out redness and other imperfections without looking heavy. All of these things make it a great choice for anyone with sensitive or acne-prone skin. There are six shades to choose from, which give your skin a smooth, satin finish.

• What it is: EltaMD UV Restore Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 is an anti-aging mineral sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB sun protection, improves sun-damaged skin and restores moisture.
• Active ingredients: 15% zinc oxide, 2% titanium dioxide.
• Other ingredients: Coco-caprylate, synthetic and natural emollients, capric triglycerides, silica.
• Editor’s notes: Leave it to the most popular professional sunscreen brand to create one of the most elegant tinted sunscreens. This fragrance-free and oil-free formula has a lightweight feel, going on smoothly and absorbing quickly. There’s just one sheer tint, which will suit medium to deep complexions. (It also comes in a non-tinted version.)

• What it is: Naturally Serious Mineral Sun Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 is a hydrating moisturizer with a universal tint that shields from aging UV rays with SPF 30 mineral sunscreen. 
• Active ingredients: 19.03% zinc oxide, 4.28% titanium dioxide.
• Other ingredients: Ethyl macadamiate, capric triglycerides, saccharomyces ferment, coco-caprylate, octyldodecyl erucate, candelilla wax.
• Editor’s notes: If you’re looking for a product that can do the job of a moisturizer and sunscreen in one, look no further than this tinted sunscreen. It’s loaded with emollients to nourish your skin, as well as a high concentration of protective active ingredients. It has a sheer beige tint that helps to even out your skin, and blends into virtually all tones (leaving zero white cast).