Love the sun, but want glowy protection against too much? I’ve put together The Best SAFEST Tinted Sunscreens so you can get your glow on safely!
Click on any of the images to be taken to the product listing…
When the warmer months roll around (ok I’m in Florida, who am I kidding)… When the months roll around when we are spending the most time at the beach and outside, I tend to reach for tinted sunscreen over sheer sunscreen + concealer. I love the golden glow and the added protection against UV rays of course. Over the years I’ve tried a ton, wasted a bunch of money, and finally realized that you may be in the same (Banana) boat too. So I’ve tried out a hefty sample of some popular and easily to shop brands for you! Let me know your favorites too!
First up, I tried out Eucerin’s Sensitive Mineral Face. It is touted as being blendable for all skin tones and is developed with dermatologists for sensitive skin. I thought the consistency was nice and thick without being heavy or greasy. Great value, easily accessible at drug stores, and ranks a 2 on EWG. It’s also got a nice hue on the color without being too orangey, dark, or washed out. This definitely ranks in the upper end of those I tried out and I’ll definitely be using it again.
Next, I tried Stream 2 Sea. I really wanted to love this one as it checks all the boxes – broad spectrum, non-nano, reef safe, biodegradable, fragrance free, budget-friendly. Unfortunately, the tint did fare well for me. It was a combination of a little too orange yet the mineral sunscreen white came through, leaving an odd shade. It could definitely work for some skin tones, but unfortunately the consistency was off-putting for me.
Next up we have E.L.F. Suntouchable Whoa Glow. I am so happy to see another budget-priced product, easily found in drugstores, that ranks a 2 on EWG. One drawback with this one is it uses avobenzone which is a synthetic sunscreen and therefore not considered to be reef-safe. There are 3 tints, the lighter two providing more of a shimmer than a “tint,” and the darkest one, Sunburst, having more bronzing shimmer effect. If you just want tint, this is not the one since it does have shimmer in all 3 shades, but it is a nice option for those who want to use it more as a highlighter or bronzer with sun protection. These are designed for the possibility to mix with foundation as well.
I ordered this Tarte BB tinted primer with SPF over a year ago and tried it for at least a week. And since then? It’s been sitting in my makeup drawer unused. That said I wanted to include it because hey, a review is a review. I’ll say that in general I love Tarte products. Sure they aren’t ALL high performing or ALL perfectly “clean,” but balance is key and I think as a whole they’ve done a good job with providing variety. This product though, is a meh. It’s not oily, which is my complaint for some products, but the matteness, the consistency were not for me. Like other Tarte products, it’s moderately priced, meaning it’s not a bargain nor a luxury brand. But at $42 for one ounce, this was not a good deal, especially for an underperforming product. Pros are it comes in a range of colors, but even matched I felt a little orangey in my closest tone. The coverage for a primer is also pretty opaque and for mature skin it seems to settle in all the wrong places.
Alastin is currently having a moment in the skincare industry. Walk into any variety of med spas and you’ll notice how popular this brand is. And without a doubt there are many who will tout the performance and efficacy of this brand. So I decided to give their tinted sunscreen a go and see if the hype was there for me. Spoiler alert, it wasn’t. The color was nice and neutral, the coverage was not quite there, it’s costly and didn’t blow me away. If it’s not a wow, then I’d prefer some of my budget-friendly options in this post. I also want to note that the EWG ranking is inaccurate for this product or based on a prior, outdated version. There is no fragrance in Alastin’s Hydratint, nor is there decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, I cross checked the ingredients. So I marked this one as clean since the remaining ingredients seem to have a good track record from what I could tell.
The next product is Beautycounter’s Dew Skin. I’ll start by saying I LOVE a vast majority of their products and have been a consultant for 8 years this May. And I’ll add that Dew Skin is a top pick for so many Beautycounter clients. It ranks well on EWG, has a range of colors which is great for matching skin tone, and is reef friendly. However, after trying it on more than one occasion, hoping it would be for me, it’s not. While the consistency is nice, it just stays too “glowy” on my skin, which sometimes feels oily and shiny. I know this is one of the selling points and reasons so many love it; it’s just not my winner.
I came across Australian Gold Botanical and was very excited for a few reasons. It’s the most budget friendly option of the bunch, it comes in 3 shades, fragrance free, reef safe, and has an SPF of 50. Some of the products from Australian Gold rank higher on EWG, however, as I discovered with this one, it was falsely elevated despite none of the ingredients being deemed as higher risk. I got the medium to tan shade and it’s slightly dark for my face coming out of winter, but I think over the Summer it will work really well. It’s definitely a great option in my book.
Elta MD is another dermatologist-promoted product that seems to have a lot of enthusiasts and good reviews. So I tried it! It’s got sheer coverage, which makes sense for being a sunscreen, not a concealer, but if you have uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation, you may need to layer it with another product. It’s one of the more expensive products I tested, per ounce. I like the neutrality of the tint as it’s not too orange, and I like how it goes on. But again, for the cost, it wouldn’t be my #1.
The last product I saved because I have been using it and sharing about it the longest. I first had it applied after a laser treatment was performed and when I got in the car, I LOVED how my skin looked, despite the fact that it had just undergone “intentional injury” via laser. I asked what my aesthetician used the next time I went and she showed me the ISDIN bottle. Interestingly, this product has a very thin consistency, unlike most of the ones I reviewed. But it soaks right into my skin giving it the most natural glow and is formulated in Spain, where the safety standards are already higher. I looked up every ingredient, which was 3 or less on EWG and since phlalates are banned in the EU, I feel comfortable with the listed “fragrance” on the bottle.
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Discover the best and safest tinted sunscreens to protect your skin while providing a flawless finish. These sunscreens not only shield against harmful UV rays but also even out your complexion. Ideal for daily use, they’re a must-have for glowing, sun-safe skin.
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