Hear us out: Makeup with SPF should no longer be a slept-on category. We know you’ve been hurt by sunscreen in the past, but innovation has come a long way, and there are now tons of cool products on the market that help you sneak in extra sun protection without doing much more than putting on lip balm or setting powder. But first, it’s important to note that dabbing on an SPF skin tint or misting on an SPF setting spray can’t give you adequate sun protection—you’ll still need to make sure you’re applying your sunscreen before putting on your makeup, even if your makeup contains SPF. But a little extra help can’t hurt, right?
“Using SPF-infused makeup isn’t adequate protection on its own, but it comes in handy for re-application and for touch-ups,” says Karan Lal, DO, a board-certified dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ. Hey, we’ll take it. To help make your makeup bag more suncare friendly, we tested the most popular SPF-based makeup products to narrow down our seven favorites. The below winners include a medium-coverage foundation that we’d wear even if it didn’t have SPF, a setting spray that’ll keep your skin luminous for hours, and a brush-on powder that makes touching-up your SPF a breeze. But first:
☀️ Know what SPF makeup can and can’t do
A common misconception with SPF-infused makeup is that the more products you apply, the better protected you’ll be from the sun. But sadly, nope. “It’s really a shame that it doesn’t work this way, but layering your SPF products—like spraying an SPF 15 face mist on top of an SPF 20 foundation—does not increase your overall protection to SPF 35,” says Sara L. Allen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Charleston, NC, and founder of Skin Clique. Why not? “Because the highest SPF you apply will ultimately lend you that level of protection,” she says.
Dr. Allen points to a 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, where patients were divided into two groups wearing either SPF 50 or SPF 100 on a sunny day in Colorado. “[The study] found that those who wore SPF 50 were 11 times more likely to burn than those wearing SPF 100,” says Dr. Allen. “The moral of the story is to find the highest SPF product that you will actually use on a daily basis,” she says.
Need help? We’ve got you covered with this year’s award-winning facial SPFs. Grab one of our best-tested, then play around with the makeup winners below.
Meet the 2024 winners for best makeup products with SPF
Cōtz Face Prime & Protect SPF 40 Tinted—$30
Best primer SPF
“There are two truths I will belabor until the day I die: If you’re human, you need to be wearing sunscreen. And if you use makeup, you need to be wearing primer. So imagine my joy at finding a sunscreen-primer combo that offers another layer of sun protection while also making my skin look smooth, even, and matte—even in humid months. Most of the SPF primers I’ve tested were too sticky and shiny, or they made my makeup look patchy by midday. But this silicone-based primer has that classic silky-soft texture that glides over your skin to ‘blur’ the look of bumps and pores while leaving behind a matte finish.” —Chloe Metzger, deputy editor
Chemical or mineral:
Mineral
Sunscreen filters:
Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide
Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50—$69
Best face powder with SPF
“This is a safe space, so I’ll admit that reapplying sunscreen every two hours (as recommended by experts) is hard to remember—especially when I am already wearing makeup. However, this brush-on SPF powder has been a game-changer in my routine. The sunscreen-spiked formula allows me to brush on some added protection throughout the day without disturbing the look or texture of my base makeup. Of course, it can’t replace your daily SPF 30+ sunscreen, but it’s definitely good to have in your kit for touch-ups. Plus, it’s portable and doesn’t make a huge mess, unlike loose setting powder in a jar, so it’s perfect for travel.” —Aimee Simeon, senior beauty editor
Chemical or mineral:
Mineral
Sunscreen filters:
Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide
Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30—$15
Best tinted lip balm SPF
“This tinted lip balm has become a staple in my daily routine. I typically avoid glossy balms because they leave my lips feeling like a sticky mess, but this from from Cay Skin keeps my lips shiny and hydrated—without the annoying stickiness or sunscreen taste. It comes in four shades (three tinted and one clear), so you can mix and match based on your vibes.” —Alexis Reliford, social media director
Chemical or mineral:
Chemical
Sunscreen filters:
Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate
Pacifica Glow Baby Brightening Setting Mist SPF 45—$18
Best setting spray with SPF
“It’s been tough to find an SPF setting spray that doesn’t burn my eyes or leave my makeup patchy—until I tried this one from Pacifica. It has a natural, skin-like finish that feels undetectable after it dries, and it doesn’t leave your face looking matte or feeling sticky. Brightening vitamin C and sea algae are the star ingredients in the formula (along with a dose of SPF 45), and the spray also smells like an orange creamsicle, which I personally love.” —AS
Chemical or mineral:
Chemical
Sunscreen filters:
Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene
Live Tinted Hueguard Skin Tint SPF 50—$42
Best tinted moisturizer SPF
“When it comes to tinted SPFs, darker skin tones are usually an afterthought—especially if those SPFs are mineral. But Live Tinted made them a priority with this mineral-based tinted moisturizer that comes in 10 warm-to-neutral shades ranging from deep to fair. It’s one that I constantly reach for on days when I don’t want to wear foundation but still want a little somethin’. The coverage is also buildable, so you can layer it as needed, and it plays nicely with everything I use on my face.” —AS
Chemical or mineral:
Mineral
Sunscreen filters:
Zinc oxide
Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40 PA++++ —$40
“When you want to look like yourself but glowier, this skin tint will be your jam. It’s so sheer and natural looking that it comes in just two ‘shades’ (a peachy hue and a golden hue) that manage to look good on all skin tones. The formula itself is filled with plumping ceramides and shimmery mica that work together to give your skin a subtle iridescence that doesn’t read greasy or glittery. It’s great for easy makeup days when I want a luminous base, a fluffed brow, and some tinted lip balm, which means it’s going everywhere with me this summer.” —AS
Chemical or mineral:
Mineral
Sunscreen filters:
Zinc oxide
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Natural Matte SPF 40—$47
Best foundation SPF
“Most SPF makeup products tend to be super sheer and lightly tinted. But I have hyperpigmentation, so sometimes, I want a fuller-coverage formula that can actually cover my dark spots, even on sweaty days. That’s why I love this foundation from It Cosmetics. It has medium-coverage matte finish that isn’t too drying, so it feels like skin without excess shine. If you prefer a dewy finish, you can always pair it with an illuminating setting spray, but I don’t always find that necessary. I tend to get shinier when it’s warmer out anyway (especially when I have on layers of sunscreen), so a foundation that helps me look matte but still works with the rest of my makeup is always a keeper.” —AS
Chemical or mineral:
Hybrid
Sunscreen filters:
Ensulizole, octisalate, titanium dioxide
Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.
- “High SPF Sunscreen Provides Significant Clinical Benefit in Actual Use Conditions: SPF 100+ Is More Effective than SPF 50+.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 76, no. 6, June 2017, p. AB154, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.04.599.
Source: Well and Good
