Meet my Best-tested sunscreens that layer beautifully under makeup.
Doctors and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)agree wearing sunscreen is a must-do, regardless of the weather. But, it’s especially important to wear SPF during the summer months because of increased sun exposure. But that’s easier said than done. See, sometimes sunscreens can cause pilling, which is when products aren’t fully absorbed into the skin and cause tiny, balled-up bits on the surface of our face. It can be a real drag to deal with, especially when you want to wear foundation over your sunscreen. So, our editors got to testing and finding the best sunscreens for under makeup that can eliminate this summer skincare concern so your face is protected and looks perfected.
These sunscreens for under makeup are also a worthwhile self-care gift for yourself or your favorite beauty guru, like a cool mom, recent grad, or any makeup-wearing friend.
What to Consider
HOW MUCH SPF DO YOU NEED?
SPF is the Sun Protection Factor sunscreen under makeup offers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises we wear SPF 15 or higher, while the AAD prefers SPF 30 or higher. In our guide to the best sunscreens, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Gloria Lin, M.D., recently argued that using an SPF of 30 or above is your safest bet. “SPF 30 or higher is required in order to provide adequate protection, so while you do not necessarily need SPF 100, there is a significant difference between SPF 15 and 30,” she explained.
CHEMICAL VS. MINERAL SUNSCREEN
Sunscreens can be categorized into two main types based on their active ingredient list: mineral and chemical. Some brands, like Blue Lizard, combine both types of ingredients, but it’s rare. Regardless of which you choose, everyone should use sunscreen — whether mineral or chemical — to prevent skin cancer and minimize photo-aging. So go with a sunscreen under makeup that satisfies your sun protection needs.
For a more in-depth breakdown of chemical and mineral sunscreens, scroll down below.
How We Selected
As the Best Products beauty editor, I’m constantly trying iconic and new sunscreen innovations. Since I know the struggle of finding the best sunscreen for under makeup all too well, I tested dozens of sunscreens in my sizeable collection, consulted with experts, and chatted with fellow editors to determine the cream of the crop.
Throughout the testing process, I eliminated anything that pilled on its own or under makeup. Next, I nixed any new discoveries and old favorites that no longer perform like they used to due to formulation changes and anything that left behind a dreaded purple or white cast (brands can and should do better to be inclusive).
I looked for sunscreens that provide broad-spectrum UV protection of 30 or higher and are infused with dermatologist-approved ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and peptides. I also considered how effectively each sunscreen blended into the skin to leave behind a seamless finish. Lastly, I tapped my fellow editors to reveal their favorite sunscreens under makeup. One recommendation is only $25, while another is a splurge that protects their skin after facials, chemical peels, and laser treatments.
Regardless of which sunscreen under makeup you opt for, be prepared to leave pilling in the past. These winning, editor-approved sunscreens will protect your face from the sun’s harsh UV rays and enhance your skin by minimizing excessive oiliness, hydrating dry skin, and even helping calm a flushed complexion. They’re so effective under makeup that you can even skip using a face primer because they do an excellent job of prepping your visage for foundation. (If you’re concerned about reapplying sunscreen, opt for one of these dermatologist-approved powder sunscreens to dust on throughout the day for maximal SPF coverage.)
Below, read on for the best sunscreens for under foundation.
BEST OVERALL
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Kicking off this list is my best overall sunscreen for under makeup from Supergoop! Given the clear finish — and zero risk for white cast for the deepest of complexions — Supergoop! is the most inclusive of the featured winners, giving it the edge to earn the best overall distinction.
Unseen lives up to the name since it has a clear gel texture, similar to a face primer, and glides wonderfully across my skin. It’s the undisputed fan favorite among beauty experts, including my fellow editors and influencers.
In my guide to the best sunscreen for melanin-rich complexions, experts agreed it was levels above other sunscreens. Bianca Gracie, the editor-in-chief of Edition by Modern Luxury, used this sunscreen for several years because it keeps her oily skin matte throughout the day. Beauty influencer Natacha John is also a fan and noted, “It’s also great because it has a smoothing/blurring effect, and is residue-free.”
BEST BUDGET BUY
Naked Sundays SPF 50 Cabana Clear Water Gel Serum
Senior commerce editor Cat Bowen understands the struggle of having combination skin. You want skincare products, including sunscreen for under makeup, that hydrate dry patches and don’t leave oily areas desperate for oil blotting paper. Naked Sundays created a sunscreen that helps rebalance combination skin — and it’ll do a fantastic job of improving your giftee’s complexion.
“I have extremely dry cheeks and a very oily T-zone so finding a sunscreen that doesn’t turn my makeup into blotchy pools or dry out my cheeks is a big task,” she said. “Naked Sundays Cabana Clear somehow manages to disappear under my makeup, not contributing to any more greasiness or crepey dryness. The texture is smooth and slippery without being too slick for my foundation.
BEST FOR HYDRATION
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Hydra Sunscreen SPF 50
La Roche-Posay recently won recognition during our first-ever Best New Beauty Awards. As the maker of many best-in-class products, it’s unsurprising that I’m also a fan of their sunscreens.
My favorite of the bunch is Anthelios UV Hydra Sunscreen — and as the name implies, it is a super moisturizing SPF. It’s so hydrating that I sometimes don’t even feel the need to layer face moisturizer underneath.
Infused with hyaluronic acid, a synthetic more stabilized form of vitamin E, and French thermal water, all three ingredients leave my skin supple and glowing! There’s also Cell-Ox Shield technology that combines 100% mineral UVA and UVB sun protection and antioxidants.
Given its super hydrating nature, I suggest gifting this SPF to anyone with dry, normal, and mature skin who wants instant sun protection.
Pro tip: I love layering this sunscreen under makeup and mixing it with my foundation as a DIY glowy tinted moisturizer.
BEST TINTED SUNSCREEN
Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36
I’ve tried many tinted sunscreens but my favorite is from Alastin, a recent winner in our first-ever 2024 Best New Beauty Awards. HydraTint has a thicker consistency that’s surprisingly very easy to blend into the skin with minimal effort.
When my skin reacts to testing a bevy of beauty products, I like using this tinted SPF because it covers up any flushed appearance on my skin. On a day of a particularly harsh flareup, one colleague commented that my skin looked great, which took me by surprise since I was foundation-free.
Of course, when layered under foundation, Alastin helps my skin look incredible. I can skip using a face primer or color corrector when I slather on this SPF which helps streamline my getting ready routine on busy days.
Overall, I think it does a solid job covering up dark spots and redness, especially when layered under a medium to full coverage foundation. In fact, I don’t even need to apply concealer when using this SPF, so it’s a definite winner in my book. I genuinely enjoy it so much that I recently gifted a tube to my mom, who also can’t get enough of this sunscreen.
BEST SPF MAKEUP
IT Cosmetics CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream SPF 50+
Ugh, OK, fine. Technically, this isn’t a sunscreen but rather a CC cream that covers up imperfections while offering broad-spectrum SPF 50 coverage. It’s the perfect one-and-done face product for someone to minimize the number of products they wear because it replaces the need for a separate sunscreen and full coverage foundation.
There are various iterations of the infamous IT Cosmetics CC cream family, but with summer coming up this OG version is an excellent pick. The dewy one is incredible and one of my favorites for the cool weather, and the oily skin-friendly option is solid but will be too mattifying for those with combo or normal skin. All skin types can enjoy IT Cosmetics’ epic CC cream.
This Amazon best-seller is definitely a full-coverage product, but you can sheer it out by mixing in your face moisturizer to thin out the consistency and show off your freckles. If you’re still craving the dewy look, you can add a few drops of your favorite face oil for added radiance.
Editor Cat Bowen uses this product every day in the winter, relying on both the smooth coverage to cover the redness in her nose and cheeks as well as providing great sun protection.
BEST FOR ANTI-AGING
OneSkin OS-01 SHIELD OS-01 Peptide Protect + Repair SPF 30+ Sunscreen
Senior editor Eunice Lucero-Lee has been covering beauty for 20 years, and she considers this SPF the best one-two punch in the business. It’s a mineral non-nano sunscreen meaning it’s reef-safe and doesn’t irritate her sensitive skin.
“Zinc oxide offers broad-spectrum protection in a consistency that’s perfect under my makeup, too — zero pilling and zero stinging, so I really enjoy wearing this every single day,” she says.
But what she’s most impressed about is that it’s infused with a proprietary peptide to reverse signs of aging. “It prevents the accumulation of senescent cells, AKA dying cells. Otherwise, they produce chronic inflammation and accelerate aging in surrounding cells — I like to think of it as zombies infecting my other healthy cells — the horror,” explains Lucero-Lee.
She concludes that the powerful combination of the brand’s OS-01 peptide and antioxidants like vitamin C, green tea, and bisabolol makes it a true must-have. “It protects from sun damage and neutralizes free radicals from blue light and pollution, which makes it great for my New York lifestyle,” she adds.
BEST FOR POST-PROCEDURE CARE
Image Skincare Daily Prevention Advanced Smartblend Mineral Moisturizer SPF 75
Sunscreen is the one staple you’ll always want in your post-procedure care kit regardless of your beauty procedure of choice. With an impressive SPF 75 coverage, Image Skincare created a sunscreen that impressed Lucero-Lee.
“I was blown away at how it calmed down my post-procedure redness and didn’t sting my skin. I’ve been a fan ever since, particularly when I need extra protection after a laser treatment or peel, and this new tinted, watery mineral formula has SPF 75, which is honestly mind-blowing,” she says.
It contains vitamin C and micro-algae, which reminds Lucero-Lee of a BB cream with “an infinitely more lightweight consistency.” Notably, the SPF’s beige tint blended into her skin and the hydrating formulation is non-sticky. “The tone-perfecting properties also make it the best sunscreen to use when I go out essentially bare-faced, like to the gym or on weekend errand runs,” she adds.
Mineral vs Chemical Sunscreens
→ Mineral
Mineral sunscreens, sometimes called physical sunscreens, because they use a physical block to bounce the sunlight away from your skin, similar to a mirror reflecting light. They’re popular because mineral sunscreens naturally provide broad-spectrum protection against the sun’s ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays that cause signs of aging and burns, respectively.
Mineral sunscreens also don’t absorb into your skin and potentially your bloodstream. They provide instant sun protection, so you can confidently head out the door sans makeup and know your face is protected. Another reason to opt for mineral sunscreens is they don’t break down as easily as chemical sunscreens. They offer longer sun protection time, meaning you won’t have to worry about reapplication as frequently.
Common mineral sunscreen ingredients include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. One complaint you’ll often hear about mineral sunscreens is that they can leave a “cast,” or a white or purplish haze on the skin.
→ Chemical
Chemical sunscreens are typically sweat- and water-resistant. Plus, they easily rub into the skin, so you won’t have to worry about looking like a Victorian child when you layer them under makeup or on their own. They work by fully absorbing UV rays that penetrate the skin and converting them into heat which is released from the body.
Don’t worry, experts say chemical sunscreens are safe.
“Chemical sunscreen is absolutely safe. While chemical sunscreens have been detected by the FDA in the bloodstream, there simply isn’t enough data to prove them to be harmful,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Hale, M.D., told me in the previously mentioned sunscreen guide. Her fellow board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anthony Rossi, M.D., concurs.
“Overall, their use tends to be safe for the masses that have used them,” he said.
Active ingredients: Oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, and homosalate