6 Best Tinted Sunscreens for Face and Body

If you’re trying to get the perfect sun-kissed glow, it’s important to protect your skin from damaging UV rays.

Tanning is and has always been a double-edged sword: You want to do something to help your skin look its best after months of being hidden away from the sun, but you don’t want to risk sun damage to achieve it. If you forgo sunscreen, you might get that tanned look faster… or you might end up with a sunburn that turns your skin red only to peel right off without any lasting color.

That’s where tinted sunscreen comes in.

Tinted sunscreens are broad-spectrum mineral sunscreens that, in addition to active ingredients that protect your skin from the sun, contain a blend of pigments to enhance your skin tone. Similar to foundation, tinted SPF comes in a range of shades to match your skin color.

Today we’ll explain how tinted sunscreens can help you protect your face and body from harmful UV rays and even give you access to the six best tinted sunscreens to try out yourself.

Why Is Sunscreen Important for Your Face and Body?

But why is sunscreen so important in the first place? It’s about more than preventing an annoying sunburn. Sunscreen is an important layer of defense when it comes to maintaining your skin health.

The sun’s light is made up of a type of energy called ultraviolet radiation, or UV rays. These rays give life to plants, help heat the Earth, and even provide your body with essential vitamin D. But too much of these rays can be dangerous for your body.

Because UV rays are highly concentrated forms of energy, if they penetrate your skin’s moisture barrier, they can actually kill the skin cells within. This throws your entire body out of balance as you try to heal from the sun damage. Sometimes, it can be as minor as a sunburn, but sun damage can lead to skin cancer — so it’s important to take it seriously.

That’s why sunscreen is so important for your face and body: it can protect your skin from sun damage.

Physical sunscreens add an extra layer of defense to the surface of your skin, forming a type of shield that UV rays can’t break through. Instead of sinking into your skin cells, both UVA and UVB rays bounce off your skin and away from you.

If the UV light can’t get to your skin, no matter the amount of sun exposure, you reduce the risk of sun damage.

Should You Use Different Sunscreens for Your Face and Body?

Though it might not look like it, your skin is actually different in different parts of your body. Think about the difference between your lips and the palms of your hands: they’re both made of skin cells with the same DNA, but they look and feel completely different.

This is why sunscreen can’t be a one-size-fits-all skincare product.

Because the skin on your face is different from the skin on the rest of your body, you need to use a different type of sunscreen that is specifically formulated for that area of your body.

Facial sunscreens are made to be more gentle since the skin on your face is a bit thinner than other places of your body. In fact, facial skin can be as thin as half a millimeter thick; compare that to the skin on your heels, which can be almost four millimeters thick, and you’ll see why face sunscreen needs to be more delicate.
Body sunscreens on the other hand don’t need to be as light. Because the skin is thicker on your body, it doesn’t need as much protection from SPF as your face does. Your body skin can also handle more intense active ingredients without causing damage, discomfort, or breakouts — especially if you have naturally acne-prone skin.

What Are the Best Tinted Sunscreens for Your Face and Body?

There are many options for tinted sunscreens, and not all of them are great for your skin.

You don’t want to just rub anything into your skin. Like regular sunscreens, tinted sunscreens can weigh down your skin, clog your pores, and — whether you have oily skin or dry skin — even cause breakouts. So it’s important to choose wisely when it comes to selecting the best tinted sunscreen for your skin.

To help narrow down the list to only the sun care products actually worth your time, we’ve compiled a list of six tinted sunscreens that are the perfect blend of powerful sun protection and a gorgeous sheer tint that will make your skin positively glow in the sunlight.

1. Jane Iredale Powder-Me Dry Sunscreen SPF 30

While there isn’t anything wrong with a traditional lotion sunscreen, depending on your skin type, that formula isn’t always the best option. So, let us introduce you to a different type of formula: powder sunscreens.

Powder sunscreens (a type of mineral sunscreen) deliver UV-protecting ingredients in the form of a hypoallergenic powder. Unlike liquid sunscreen, which can feel heavy on skin, this powder is lightweight. With soothing titanium dioxide, it’s also safe for sensitive skin and easy to apply to specific areas of your face if you have combination skin.

The Jane Iredale Powder-Me Dry Sunscreen SPF is perfect for anyone looking for a powder sunscreen that will nourish skin and protect it at the same time.

2. Odacite Flex-Perfecting Mineral Drops Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50

But there is another option for a different sunscreen formula if you’re looking to ditch the traditional lotion: sunscreen drops.

Sunscreen drops combine the power of SPF and skincare serums to deliver intense sun protection alongside other skin benefits. This niacinamide formula is also perfect for tinted sunscreens since the color pigments can be distributed evenly in the liquid product. If free radicals are a concern for your skin, Odacite’s Sun Repair Complex boasts the ability to enhance antioxidant activity by 200%.

The Odacite Flex-Perfecting Mineral Drops Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50 is great for anyone looking for a tinted sunscreen that provides heavy-hitting mineral SPF and lots of complexion-correcting coverage, all while being fragrance-free. Plus, this formula is powered by an advanced Sun Repair Complex that’s proven to enhance antioxidant activity by 200%.

3. Lune+Aster CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 50

At the end of the day, you’re looking for a tinted sunscreen because you’re looking for coverage. It’s not just about skin protection — it’s about that glowy sheer tint.

The Lune+Aster CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is perfect for people who want a good amount of coverage from their tinted sunscreen but still don’t want to feel weighed down by a heavy sunscreen.

With hyaluronic acid to support your moisture level and vitamin E to help hydrate your skin, this product is designed specifically to leave you with a dewy glow after each use, hydrating and rejuvenating skin while it protects against sun damage.

4. RMS Beauty SuperNatural Radiance Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Just because you’re not planning to get a traditional suntan this summer doesn’t mean that you won’t be spending any time outside. And you want to look not just your best for it, but truly radiant.

The RMS Beauty SuperNatural Radiance Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is the perfect tinted sunscreen for naturally glowy skin. Made with zinc oxide that helps protect your skin and mineral-based serum that illuminates your skin naturally, your faux tan will never look better.

5. Supergoop! Glow Screen SPF 40

For maximum sun protection, you should be wearing sunscreen every single day — not just beach or pool days. But remembering to put on sunscreen before you leave the house can be difficult if you’re not used to it. So, instead of fighting to remember something that doesn’t yet feel normal, find a way to add it to your everyday routine.

The Supergoop! Glow Screen SPF 40 is not just a facial sunscreen but a makeup primer too. Swapping your regular primer for one with an SPF is a great way to get into the habit of wearing sunscreen every day. And as a tinted sunscreen with a beautiful sheer tint, you might even want to ditch your heavy foundation this summer.

Pair this paraben-free face sunscreen with the Supergoop! Glow Screen Body SPF 40 for head-to-toe sun protection.

6. Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

If you like the idea of using a makeup primer with built-in SPF, then the Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 is another great option. This lotion is made to correct skin tone without leaving behind a ghostly residue and is great for your skin too.

This non-nano sunscreen is also a reef-safe formula, so you can jump into the ocean this summer worry-free. There’s no rush to get out of the water, either, as this sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

The Bottom Line

While the warmth of the sun might feel great on your skin in the moment, in the long run, it can lead to life-long sun damage that will definitely not feel great years later. But all this pain can be prevented in just one step: sunscreen.

To avoid a sunburn without sacrificing your summer tan, swap your thick sunblock that always leaves behind a white cast for a sleek sunscreen with a sheer tint that will make your skin glow without the sun damage. And don’t forget to reapply throughout the day!

You don’t need to consult a dermatologist to know if sunscreen can support your skin. This summer, opt for a tinted sunscreen, and get ready to have some fun.