Meet my top-tested sunscreens that blend perfectly with makeup.
Doctors and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) agree that sunscreen is a must, no matter the weather. However, due to increased sunlight exposure in summer, it is particularly important to protect yourself from the sun. But this is easier said than done. You see, sometimes sunscreen can cause pilling, i.e. this can be a real nuisance, especially if you want to wear foundation over sunscreen. That’s why our editors set out to test and find the best pre-makeup sunscreens that can banish skin care woes this summer, keeping your face protected and looking your best.
These makeup sunscreens also make a valuable self-care gift for yourself or your favorite beauty guru, like the cool mom, new grad, or friend who wears makeup.
What you should consider
How much SPF do you need?
SPF is the sun protection factor provided by sunscreen when wearing makeup. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that we use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, while the AAD prefers sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. In our guide to the best sunscreens, nationally certified dermatologist Dr. Gloria Lin, MD, says using SPF 30 or higher is the safest bet. “To provide adequate protection, the SPF needs to be 30 or higher. So, while you don’t necessarily need SPF 100, there is a significant difference between SPF 15 and 30,” she explains.
Chemical vs. Chemical Mineral Sunscreen
Sunscreens can be divided into two main types based on the list of active ingredients: mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens. Some brands, such as Blue Lizard, combine these two ingredients, but this is rare. No matter what you choose, everyone should use sunscreen (whether mineral or chemical) to prevent skin cancer and minimize photoaging. Therefore, apply sunscreen after makeup to meet your sun protection needs.
For a more detailed breakdown of chemical and mineral sunscreens, scroll below.
How do we choose
As the beauty editor for Best Products, I’m constantly trying out iconic and new sunscreen innovations. Because I know all too well how difficult it can be to find the best sunscreen for makeup, I tested dozens of sunscreens from my extensive collection, consulted experts, and chatted with other editors to find the best ones.
During my testing, I removed anything that was causing pilling alone or under makeup. Next, I dropped all new finds and old favorites that no longer worked as well as they once did due to formula changes and anything that left a horrible purple or white cast (brands can and should Doing a better job of being inclusive).
I look for sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum UV protection of 30 or higher and contain dermatologist-approved ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides. I also considered how effectively each sunscreen blends into the skin and leaves a seamless finish. Recently, I asked my fellow editors to reveal their favorite after-makeup sunscreens. One recommendation costs just $25, while the other is a treatment that will protect her skin after facials, chemical peels and laser treatments.
No matter which sunscreen you choose when applying your makeup, be prepared to make pilling a thing of the past. These award-winning, editor-approved sunscreens protect your face from the sun’s harsh UV rays and improve your skin by reducing excess oil, moisturizing dry skin, and even helping soothe redness. They are so effective when applying makeup that you can even skip using a face primer as they do a great job of prepping your face for foundation. (If you’re worried about reapplying sunscreen, choose one of these dermatologist-approved powder sunscreens that you can apply throughout the day for maximum SPF coverage.)
Read below to learn about the best foundation sunscreens.
best overall score
excellent! Invisible Sunscreen SPF 40
First up on my list is my best cosmetic universal sunscreen from Supergoop! With clear makeup in mind – and zero risk for a white cast on the darkest skin tones – Supergoop! is the most well-rounded of the winners and therefore has the advantage of winning the best overall award.
Unseen lives up to its name as it has a clear gel texture, similar to a facial primer, and glides on very well on my skin. It’s hands down a fan-favorite among beauty experts (including my fellow editors and influencers).
In my guide to the best sunscreens for melanin-rich skin tones , experts agree that it’s far better than other sunscreens. Bianca Gracie, editor-in-chief of Edition by Modern Luxury, has been using this sunscreen for several years because it keeps her oily skin matte all day long. Beauty guru Natacha John is also a fan, noting, “It’s also great because it has a smoothing/blurring effect and doesn’t leave any residue.”
Best budget buy
Naked Sundays SPF 50 Cabana Water Gel Serum
Cat Bowen, senior business editor, knows how difficult it can be to have combination skin. You need skin care products, including cosmetic sunscreen, that will moisturize dry areas without leaving oily areas crying out for blotting papers. Naked Sundays has developed a sunscreen that can restore balance to combination skin and dramatically improve the recipient’s complexion.
“I have very dry cheeks and a very oily T-zone, so finding a sunscreen that doesn’t leave my makeup in patchy puddles or dry out my cheeks is a difficult task, “she says. “Naked Sundays Cabana Clear somehow disappears into my makeup without adding any greasiness or cakey dryness. The texture is smooth and smooth, but not too slippery for my foundation.”
Best for hydration
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 50
La Roche-Posay recently won our inaugural Best New Beauty Award. As a manufacturer of many top-notch products, it’s no surprise that I’m a fan of their sunscreens as well.
My favorite is the Anthelios UV Hydra Sunscreen which, as the name suggests, is a super hydrating SPF sunscreen. It’s so hydrating that sometimes I don’t even need to apply facial moisturizer underneath.
Enriched with hyaluronic acid (a synthetic, more stable form of vitamin E) and French thermal spring water, these three ingredients keep my skin soft and radiant! There’s also Cell-Ox Shield technology, which combines 100% mineral UVA and UVB sun protection with antioxidants.
Due to its extra moisturizing properties, I recommend this SPF as a gift to anyone with dry, normal and mature skin who wants instant sun protection.
Pro Tip: I like to apply this sunscreen under makeup and mix it with foundation as a DIY glow moisturizer.
Best Tinted Sunscreen
Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36
I’ve tried many tinted sunscreens, but my favorite is Alastin, which recently won our inaugural Best New Beauty Award for 2024. HydraTint has a thicker consistency and surprisingly, it blends into the skin very easily and effortlessly.
When my skin is reacting to testing various beauty products, I love using this tinted SPF because it covers up any redness on my skin. On a particularly bad day with the rash, a coworker commented that my skin looked fine, which surprised me since I wasn’t wearing foundation.
Of course, when I use Alastin under my foundation, it makes my skin look incredible. When I use this SPF, I can avoid using a facial primer or color corrector, which helps simplify my prep on busy days.
Overall, I think it covers dark spots and redness well, especially when layered under a medium to full coverage foundation. In fact, I don’t even need to apply concealer when using this SPF, so it’s the clear winner in my book. In fact, I love it so much that I recently gifted a tube to my mom, who also can’t get enough of this sunscreen.
Best sunscreen cosmetics
IT Cosmetics CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream SPF 50+
Uh, okay, good. Technically, this isn’t a sunscreen, but a CC cream that covers blemishes while providing broad spectrum SPF 50 coverage. This is the perfect one-time facial product for those who want to minimize the amount of product they use, as it eliminates the need for separate sunscreen and full-coverage foundation.
IT Cosmetics’ infamous CC Cream range comes in different versions, but with summer right around the corner, this original version is a great option. The dewy version is incredible and one of my favorites for cooler weather, while the version that prefers oily skin is solid but too matte for those with combination or normal skin. All skin types can enjoy IT Cosmetics’ epic CC Cream.
This Amazon bestseller is definitely a full-coverage product, but you can lighten it up by mixing it with facial moisturizer to thin out the consistency and show off your freckles. If you still want a dewy look, add a few drops of your favorite facial oil for extra shine.
Editor Cat Bowen uses this product every day in winter. It is gentle and covers redness on the nose and cheeks, and has excellent sun protection effect.
Best for anti-aging
OneSkin OS-01 SHIELD OS-01 Peptide Protect + Repair SPF 30+ Sunscreen
Editor-in-Chief Eunice Lucero-Lee has been covering beauty for 20 years, and she thinks this SPF is the best one-two punch in the industry. It’s a mineral, non-nano sunscreen that’s coral reef safe and won’t irritate sensitive skin.
“Zinc oxide provides broad-spectrum protection and the consistency is perfect for my makeup—it doesn’t pill and doesn’t burn, so I really enjoy wearing it every day,” she says.
But what impressed them most was that it was enriched with a proprietary peptide that can reverse signs of aging. “It prevents the accumulation of senescent cells, which are dying cells. Otherwise, they can cause chronic inflammation and accelerate the aging of surrounding cells — I like to think of them as zombies infecting my other healthy cells — which is scary,” Lucero-Lee explained. .
She concluded that the brand’s OS-01 peptide’s powerful combination with antioxidants like vitamin C, green tea, and bisabolol make it a true must-have. “It protects against sun damage and neutralizes free radicals caused by blue light and pollution, making it perfect for my New York lifestyle,” she adds.
Best for post-operative care
Image Skin Care Daily Prevention Advanced Smartblend Mineral Moisturizer SPF 75
No matter what cosmetic treatment you choose, sunscreen is always a must-have in your aftercare kit. Image Skincare created a sunscreen with impressive SPF 75 coverage that impressed Lucero-Lee.
“I was shocked at how it relieved post-op redness without stinging my skin. I’ve been a fan ever since, especially when I need extra protection after a laser treatment or peel. A new tinted product, “The watery mineral formula has an SPF of 75, which is amazing,” she says.
Containing vitamin C and microalgae, Lucero-Lee is reminiscent of a BB cream “with an infinitely lighter consistency.” Notably, the beige shade of the SPF blends well into the skin, and the hydrating formula is non-sticky. “Because of its skin-refining properties, it’s also the best sunscreen I use when I’m out and about naked, like going to the gym or running errands on the weekends,” she adds.
Mineral sunscreen vs chemical sunscreen
→ Minerals
Mineral sunscreens are sometimes called physical sunscreens because they use physical blocks to reflect sunlight away from the skin, similar to a mirror that reflects light. They’re popular because mineral sunscreens naturally provide broad-spectrum protection against the sun’s ultraviolet A and B rays (UVA and UVB), which cause aging and burns, respectively.
Mineral sunscreens are also not absorbed into the skin and may not penetrate into the bloodstream. They provide instant sun protection so you can confidently step out of the house without makeup, knowing your face is protected. Another reason to choose mineral sunscreens is that they don’t break down as easily as chemical sunscreens. They provide longer sun protection so you don’t have to worry about reapplying as often.
Common mineral sunscreens include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. One complaint you often hear about mineral sunscreens is that they leave “streaks,” which are white or purple marks, on the skin.
→ Chemistry
Chemical sunscreens are usually sweat- and water-resistant. Plus, they sink easily into the skin, so you don’t have to worry about looking like a Victorian child when wearing makeup or using them alone. They work by completely absorbing UV rays that penetrate the skin and converting them into heat emitted by the body.
Don’t worry, experts say chemical sunscreens are safe.
“Chemical sunscreens are completely safe. Although the FDA has detected chemical sunscreens in the blood, there is simply not enough data to prove they are harmful,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Hale, M.D., in front mentioned in the sunscreen guide. Your colleague, nationally board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anthony Rossi, MD, agrees.
“Overall, they tend to be safe to use for the general public who use them,” he said.
Active Ingredients: Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Octyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, and Homosalate
