Sunscreen is a vital part of any skin care routine. Not only does it protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays, but it also helps keep your skin healthy and youthful. Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen consistently helps prevent skin cancer and skin aging. For those who want the benefits of a sunscreen plus base makeup in the same product, the ideal option is tinted sunscreen.
A tinted sunscreen is a sunscreen that has a color base to better blend in with natural skin tone or to cover dull or uneven skin tone. The best tinted sunscreens typically have mineral filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, and additional pigments such as iron oxides to create the formula's shade of color. Tinted sunscreens may also contain chemical UV filters.
Tinted sunscreens are increasingly popular for their many benefits. Not only do they protect skin from sun damage, but they also even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of blemishes.
Here are some benefits of tinted sunscreen:
Protection from harmful UV rays: Tinted sunscreens protect skin from UV rays just like non-tinted sunscreens. A tinted sunscreen fitted with broad-spectrum SPF blocks both UVA and UVB rays, helping to safeguard your skin from sun damage caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Blue light protection: Tinted sunscreens usually contain iron oxides as color pigments, and studies have shown that iron oxides offer protection against blue light and visible light. Since most non-tinted sunscreens don't include iron oxides, a tinted sunscreen with iron oxide provides an additional element of protection for your skin.
No white cast: One of the common complaints with mineral sunscreens is that they may leave a white cast, especially for those with darker skin tones. Avoid that problem with a mineral tinted sunscreen in a shade that blends better with your skin tone.
Light base makeup: Tinted sunscreen helps cover skin texture and conceal skin imperfections like dark spots, so it can double as makeup base. You may wear tinted sunscreen under makeup as primer, or wear it alone for light coverage. Though there may not be a universal tint that fits all, tinted sunscreens can be found in a wide shade range to suit different skin tones and needs.
Evens out skin tone: There are many tinted sunscreens that offer tone-up or color-correcting effects. A green tinted sunscreen helps neutralize redness on your face, a purple or lavender color neutralizes yellowness and evens out skin discoloration, and a pink color brightens dull or sallow skin.
Lighter formula: Most tinted sunscreens are formulated to be lightweight and non-greasy as they are designed to be face sunscreens.
Now that you know all about the benefits of tinted sunscreens, you need to pick the best tinted sunscreen for you!
Choose a type that fits what you're looking for in a sunscreen. A tinted sunscreen may come as mineral, chemical or hybrid sunscreen. If you have preference for a certain type of UV filter, check the ingredient list carefully first before buying tinted sunscreen. Tinted SPF products also come in many forms and textures, from creams and lotions to sticks and powders, to suit different needs.
Choose a tinted sunscreen that fits your skin tone. Tinted sunscreens can be found in a wide shade range for many skin tones. Some are tinted to blend in with natural skin tone, while other colors like pink, lavender, green and yellow are meant to provide tone-up and color-correcting effects to brighten and even skin.
Choose a formula that fits your skin type. Those with dry skin should look for tinted moisturizers with SPF and ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Those with oily skin or acne-prone skin should use a lightweight tinted sunscreen that won't clog pores. Those with sensitive skin may want to stick to a hypoallergenic mineral tinted sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide filters to minimize the risk of irritation.
Choose ingredients that fit your skin concerns. Besides UV filters and color pigments, tinted sunscreens are formulated with other kinds of skin care ingredients to protect and nourish skin in different ways. Look for antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E to fend off free radicals, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid to keep skin moisturized, brightening ingredients like niacinamide to fade dark spots, soothing ingredients like centella asiatica and aloe vera to calm sensitive skin, sebum control ingredients like calamine to reduce shine on oily skin, and skin-repairing ingredients like ceramide to strengthen the skin barrier.
With tinted sunscreen, you can enjoy all the benefits of regular sunscreen without having to worry about that dreaded white cast. Check out some of the most popular tinted sunscreens from Korean and Japanese beauty brands below!
1. A'PIEU - Power Block Tone-Up Sun Base
This tone-up cream from K-Beauty brand A'PIEU can be used as a sunscreen and a primer. Formulated with 2% calamine, the pink tinted formula brightens up your complexion with a soft blurring effect and matte finish. It also contains centella asiatica and houttuynia cordata extracts plus panthenol to soothe and moisturize skin. The chemical tinted sunscreen provides powerful UV blocking of broad-spectrum SPF 50+ PA++++.
2. Canmake - Mermaid Skin Gel UV
Considered by many to be the best drugstore tinted sunscreen from Japan, this J-Beauty favorite comes in various colors so you can pick one that best suits your needs. The hybrid broad-spectrum sunscreen glides on seamlessly with its gel texture, providing a silky smooth base for makeup. Choose the White version for tone-up effect or the cica-infused Mint green tinted version to color-correct redness.
3. COSRX - Aloe 54.2 Aqua Tone-Up Sunscreen
Protect, soothe, hydrate and brighten up skin all in one go with COSRX’s Aloe 54.2 Aqua Tone-Up Sunscreen. The lightweight chemical sunscreen is formulated with aloe leaf water and hyaluronic acid to give skin an intense burst of moisture, while allantoin and Vitamins B3 and B12 reduce signs of skin damage. The tinted formula offers color-correcting and tone-up effects, with a light, comfortable and non-greasy finish.
4. innisfree - Tone Up No Sebum Sunscreen EX
Great for those with oily skin, innisfree's Tone Up No Sebum Sunscreen EX provides sebum control and tone-up effect on top of broad-spectrum SPF 50+ PA++++ protection. The mineral tinted sunscreen has a pinkish color to blur pores and brighten skin, leaving a smooth, matte finish. The oil-free formula blends well under makeup, and helps to keep you shine-free.
5. Kanebo - Allie Beauty Tone Up
Kanebo's Allie Beauty Tone Up is a complete package. Coming in a comfortable lightweight texture, the tone-up sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays. The formula softens redness, evens skin tone and brightens dull skin to give a healthy glow to your complexion. Available in different versions, the waterproof sunscreen can be used as color-correcting primer and makeup base.
6. KARADIUM - Collagen Smart Sun Pact
Make the smart choice by combining sun care and makeup coverage into one with KARADIUM's sun cushion pact! This multitasking product offers lightweight coverage via beige tinted powder fitted with broad-spectrum SPF 50+ PA+++ sun protection. Besides protecting and mattifying skin, it also provides moisture and antioxidants with soluble collagen, squalane and an assortment of botanical extracts. This is one of the best tinted sunscreens for touching up and topping up SPF in one go!
7. Kose - Suncut Prodefense Tone Up UV Sunscreen Stick
Nothing beats the convenience of a tinted sunscreen in stick form! With its easy-to-use formula, you can quickly apply this tone-up broad-spectrum sunscreen stick for instant SPF protection and top up effortlessly throughout the day. The lavender tinted sunscreen helps neutralize yellowness and brighten dull skin. It also contains ingredients that moisturize dry skin while preventing signs of aging, including hydrating hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C derivative and lavender and rosehip oils. The waterproof formula may be used on both your face and body, making it perfect for all seasons.
8. MACQUEEN - UV Daily Sun Cream (Natural Make-Up Base)
Fitted with broad-spectrum SPF 50+ PA+++ protection, this sun cream is designed to brighten skin tone and serve as natural-looking makeup base. The highly moisturizing oil-free tinted sunscreen goes on smoothly without leaving any white cast or sticky feeling. It's formulated with hyaluronic acid and cica, green tea and chamomile extracts to soothe and hydrate skin, as well as adenosine and niacinamide for skin brightening and anti-aging benefits.
9. make p:rem - UV Defense Me. Calming Tone Up Sun Cream
Defend your skin from the sun's UV rays with this non-nano mineral-based sunscreen that uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide filters. Like make p:rem's UV Defense Me. Calming Sun Cream, this tinted version delivers broad-spectrum SPF protection while being gentle on skin. It's formulated with bamboo water, fructan and a City Proof Complex of botanical extracts to calm and moisturize skin. Pink calamine provides soothing and tone-up effects.
10. SKIN 1004 - Madagascar Centella Poremizing Velvet Finish Sunscreen
SKIN 1004’s Madagascar Centella Poremizing Velvet Finish Sunscreen easily doubles as makeup base while guarding skin against UVA and UVB rays with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide filters. The beige-tinted formula comes in a light and airy texture that covers blemishes and blurs pores for a velvety soft finish. Naturally, the tinted sunscreen is infused with the Korean brand’s signature centella asiataca ingredients, not to mention aloe, tocopherol and niacinamide, to keep skin smooth, soothed and hydrated.
Tinted sunscreens are increasingly popular for their many benefits including blue light protection, base makeup coverage and, of course, sun protection. Tinted sunscreens leave a more even and natural-looking finish on skin without the white cast. They offer protection from UV rays while also giving a subtle tint of color to help even out skin tone. With its multifunctional convenience and UV blocking properties, a tinted sunscreen is an excellent choice for those looking for an easy way to get all day protection from the sun.
