We asked experts to share their favorite lightweight face bases spiked with sun protection of at least SPF 30. These are their top picks.
Finding the best tinted moisturizer with SPF is basically like having the Swiss army knife of makeup-skin-care hybrids. These multitasking products are exactly what their name suggests: moisturizers with a hint of color and oftentimes sheer coverage added in. While we always encourage our readers to apply a traditional sunscreen daily — and not rely on makeup products with added SPF as their main source of protection — look at a tinted moisturizer laced with SPF as the icing on your skin-care cake.
“I am personally obsessed with tinted SPF because they pack a super powerful punch of light coverage (so they can often take the place of makeup), giving the skin a flawless look while also protecting against UVA/UVB rays and blue light,” explains New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD.
Many of these skin tints are also packed with nourishing ingredients that you’d find in non-colored face creams and serums — like hydrating hyaluronic acid, soothing aloe, and moisturizing glycerin — making them ideal choices for dry skin types. These lighter-weight bases are a solid, year-round alternative to a foundation when you need to even out your complexion or conceal a dark spot. Some even offer the coverage level of a heavier foundation, but without the goopy, cakey feeling that can be miserable on a particularly humid day.
Below, we asked dermatologists and makeup artists to share their favorite tinted moisturizers with broad spectrum SPF (of at least 30 — no SPF 15 or SPF 20 to be found here) and they totally delivered. We’ve compiled their recommendations into a one-stop shop for finding a lightweight face base that practically guarantees a healthy glow.
Best Overall: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
Why It’s Worth It: With 30 shades in the entire range, and dark shades easily categorized into neutral, cool, and golden undertones — we totally understand how Best of Beauty winner, Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, quickly became an instant favorite among Allure editors and readers. All you need for your skin care, makeup, and sunscreen routine can be found in one small package.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation
Why It’s Worth It: We love Tower 28 face products in general around here, so it’s no surprise that the brand makes a tinted moisturizer with SPF that’s worth writing home about. Tower 28’s Sunny Days Tinted Moisturizer can be worn on its own, but makeup artist and content creator Ehlie Luna prefers to use it as a layer in her base routine. “I like to layer it over my regular SPF,” says Luna. “It’s also beautiful as a step before foundation — this way you use less full-coverage product and get the extra protection.” Either way, it’s the ultimate no-makeup makeup product in our books.
Best for Mature Skin: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
Why It’s Worth It: The IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ is a tinted moisturizer that wears many hats. It’s a color-correcting cream, full-coverage foundation, skin-care treatment, and a physical sunscreen all wrapped up in one. Robyn Gmyrek, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, considers it her favorite tinted moisturizer. “I use it myself,” says Dr. Gmyrek.
Best Radiant Finish: Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35
Why It’s Worth It: Dr. Gmyrek also recommends Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer, which checks all the boxes you could want for a tinted moisturizer with SPF. It’s got a comfortable, dewy-finish, and 100-percent mineral base, and is laced with hydrating ingredients like argan oil and hyaluronic acid.
Best Mineral Sun Protection: Supergoop CC Screen 100% Mineral CC Cream SPF 50
Why It’s Worth It: Supergoop, the brand with one of the best SPF-packed rosters in the game, also makes a fantastic tinted moisturizer with SPF. The brand’s CC Screen 100% Mineral CC Cream SPF 50 comes in 15 shades, so you won’t get stuck with the pesky white cast that many mineral sunscreens tend to leave behind.
Best Luxury: Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
Why It’s Worth It: Makeup artist Geneva Fong loves the luminous finish that the Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 delivers. “It lasts almost the whole day and the coverage is good enough to help cover up hyperpigmentation,” she says. That’s thanks to an antioxidant-rich ingredient list, including vitamin C.
Best for Hot, Sweaty Days: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector SPF 30
Why It’s Worth It: Folks in ultra-humid environments (you know, the ones where your makeup slides off of your face the minute you step outside): The iconic Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector SPF 30 is the product for you. Fong loves this for a sheer finish on hot and sweaty days. “The SPF 30 is ideal since it will last for a few hours without disturbing the formula, and the shade range is also great for a tinted moisturizer,” she says, referencing the 20 shades the complexion corrector comes in.
Best Blurring: Thrive Causemetics Buildable Blur CC Cream SPF 35
Why It’s Worth It: Thrive Causemetics’s Buildable Blur CC Cream SPF 35 works as a skin perfector, boosting protection from the sun. But it’s the product’s wide shade range, particularly for a CC cream, that makes this tint special. “I love Thrive’s Buildable Blur CC Cream because it is a full-coverage foundation,” explains makeup artist Kerrin Johnson. “But with an impressive SPF 35, you can happily use this every day throughout summer [editor’s note: or any time of the year], with full confidence that your skin is well-protected.”
Best for Oily Skin: Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer SPF 30 Sunscreen
Why It’s Worth It: We love tons of Tarte’s high-powered beauty products, but this is one of our favorites. And if thoughts of wearing a glowy tinted moisturizer give you going-to-class-after-middle-school-gym flashbacks, Tarte’s BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer SPF 30 Sunscreen might be your buried treasure. This long-wear tinted moisturizer can be worn under foundation as a primer or all on its own.
Best Drugstore: Maybelline New York Dream BB Fresh Cream
Why It’s Worth It: Maybelline’s Dream BB Fresh Cream promises to be an eight-in-one product, which is exactly what we want to hear from our tinted moisturizers with SPF. This BB cream has a lightweight formula and immediately brightens and smooths skin for a natural finish. And for just $10, this tinted moisturizer with SPF is a steal.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Gel Moisturizer
Why It’s Worth It: A tinted sunscreen serves the purpose of makeup with moisturizing benefits. BareMinerals did exactly that with its Complexion Rescue Tinted Gel Moisturizer. All 20 shades of the oil-free hydrating gel cream conceal blemishes and discoloration while giving buildable sheer-to-minimum coverage.
Best Applicator: Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint SPF 30 Sunscreen
Why It’s Worth It: Milk Makeup’s Sunshine Skin Tint SPF 30 Sunscreen is a silicone-free moisturizer that’s full of hydrating ingredients, like grapeseed, avocado, and olive oils. The blend nourishes and hydrates skin, giving you a dewy finish with buildable coverage.
Best for Dry Skin: Well People Bio Tint SPF 30 Tinted Moisturizer
Why It’s Worth It: Don’t let the minimalist packaging fool you — Well People’s Bio Tinted SPF 30 Tinted Moisturizer really packs a punch. This tinted moisturizer hydrates with raspberry seed and broccoli seed oils, protects from the sun with zinc oxide, delivers light-to-medium, natural-looking coverage, and is considered vegan and cruelty-free.