The 11 Best Tinted SPFs for Sun Protection Without the White Cast, Per Testers

Best Overall

Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted SPF 30

$32 at Kohls.com View on Tower28beauty.com $32 at Revolve

Shades: 17 | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, prickly pear extract, white sage extract | SPF: 30 | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

To earn the title of our best overall tinted sunscreen, a product must check several boxes—easy application, skin-friendly formula, reliable sun protection, and a little something more—and Tower28 SunnyDays Tinted SPF delivers on all fronts. From the moment I applied the serum-like texture to my skin, I knew this formula was a standout. It melted into my skin effortlessly, leaving zero white cast and feeling virtually weightless; I actually forgot I had it on. It evened my complexion, camouflaged my redness, and gave my skin a healthy, natural glow. Because the finish leans dewy, those with oily skin may want to set it with their go-to setting powder to tone down any excess shine.

Beyond the stellar makeup properties, the tint has some beneficial skincare properties. The noncomedogenic, mineral-based formula uses zinc oxide to provide broad-spectrum protection without clogging pores. “In general, mineral agents such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and iron oxide are inert, stable, and much slower to break down [than chemical filters]—both in the bottle and on your skin,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Serena Mraz. Plus, it also contains prickly pear and white sage extract to soothe irritation and protect the skin from blue light pollution and free radicals.

Best Drugstore

CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen

$17 at Ulta View on Dermstore $14 at Target

Shades: 3 | Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides | SPF: 30 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No 

The CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen easily earns all its accolades as the affordable tint rivals its higher-end counterparts. While it does take a bit of effort to fully rub in (as is often the case with mineral sunscreens), the payoff is well worth it. Enriched with skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, It feels lustrous and moisturizing on the skin. Once it dries down, it leaves the skin feeling soft, balanced, and hydrated without being greasy. Our tester noted that her makeup layered beautifully over it and played nicely with the rest of her skincare. If you’re looking for the best drugstore tinted sunscreen that doesn’t skimp on performance, this one is a standout.  

Sarah, with combination skin: “I wear SPF daily, so this is a great builder for under my makeup, too. I love using this on days when I don’t have a lot of time and just need some brows and color to make me look awake.”

Best Broad-Spectrum Protection

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen

$40 at Amazon $40 at Ulta $40 at Dermstore

Shades: 5 | Key Ingredients: Cell-ox B3 shield technology, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, zinc oxide, vitamin E | SPF: 50 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No 

Sun protection is a nonnegotiable, and this tinted mineral sunscreen from La Roche-Posay goes the extra mile with broad-spectrum coverage against UVA and UVB rays and environmental stressors. The formula includes iron oxides, which can actually help minimize hyperpigmentation over time. This is especially helpful in shielding melasma-prone skin from the sun and preventing dark spots. The lightweight formula is infused with antioxidant-rich vitamin E to help fend off free radicals, making it a true multitasker. 

Beyond its host of protective benefits, the thin, runny formula blends like a dream and gives the skin a beautiful light to medium veil of tint. It’s gentle on the skin and didn’t clog or irritate our tester’s pores (a win-win). 

Sarah, tester with combination skin: “This sunscreen blends gloriously into my skin. This might be my new holy grail for sunscreen. It is great alone, under makeup, and on beach days. I can’t wait to throw it into my pool bag.”

Best Illuminating

InnBeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow

$36 at Sephora $36 at Kohls.com $36 at Innbeautyproject.com

Shades: 3 | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin C rice extract, peptides, hydrovitin 24 | SPF: 43 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Achieve a radiant, lit-from-within glow with the Innbeauty Mineral Sun Glow SPF. This radiant SPF shields against UVA and UVB rays, blue light, and environmental stressors. It blends into the skin in a sheer, glowy tint that subtly highlights the high points of your face. Infused with vitamin C-rich rice extract, it provides antioxidant protection from blue light damage and brightens the complexion. Plus, peptides and hydroviton 24 (a skincare complex designed for 24 hours of hydration) give your skin a plump and radiant look. This is the perfect product to pack on vacation when you want sun protection and a glow. We only wish it came in more shades. 

Chelsea, tester with sensitive skin: “I actually couldn’t stop looking at my skin after wearing this tinted sunscreen on the first day, because it really brings out the best of your skin tone and doesn’t feel like you just applied tinted anything.”

Best Tinted Moisturizer

Fenty Beauty Hydra Vizor Huez Tinted Moisturizer

$44 at Sephora $44 at Kohls.com $44 at Fentybeauty.com

Shades: 10 | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | SPF: 30 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Tinted moisturizers are the ultimate skincare and makeup hybrid, as they are generally more hydrating and can often replace the step of your typical moisturizer. Fenty Beauty’s tinted moisturizer with SPF is a true multitasker. This ultra-hydrating moisturizer melts into the skin, leaving a gorgeous wash of color behind. Our tester, who recently started using retinol, adored the generous amount of coverage and the hydrating punch it gave her skin. Besides its foolproof application—whether with fingers or a brush—the real standout is the powerhouse ingredient duo. Together, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide smooth, hydrate, and minimize pores. The only minor drawback? A slightly strong scent. But if you can get past that, this will quickly become your new go-to.

Leann, tester with dry, combination skin: “It was very easy to apply both with my fingers and with a makeup brush (the latter worked better for those times when I wanted more coverage). The coverage was smooth and even and felt very lightweight on my skin.”

Best for Dark Skin Tones

Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen

$16

$10 at Amazon $20 at Beautybay.com

$20

$10 at Beautyofjoseon.com

Shades: 12 | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide | SPF: 40 | Size: 1.69 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Finding a mineral SPF that won’t leave a white cast or chalky residue on deeper complexions can be tough, as many formulas lack rich shades or don’t entirely disappear when blended due to zinc oxide. However, the Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen has a wide range of deep shades that enhance rather than mask your natural skin tone. This surprisingly full coverage formula only requires a few drops for an even finish. That said, be sure to apply enough to get adequate sun protection (about half a teaspoon). The demi-matte finish gives the skin a velvety, blurred effect that’s anything but dull. We also love that it won’t leave you looking greasy by the end of the day, like many conventional sunscreens do. 

Shannon Stubbs, associate editor with dry, combination skin: “The shade seemed a little too light at first, but it adapted to my skin tone perfectly. This sunscreen applied very well and blended easily into the skin. I used a foundation brush to apply, and it left a seamless finish.”

Best Shade Range

Merit Tinted Mineral Sunscreen

$38 at Sephora

Shades: 20 | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide | SPF: 45 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

If you want a tinted sunscreen that truly matches your undertones and complements your natural complexion, you want to find a product that’s available in a variety of shades. Merit’s The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen is a game changer. This 100% mineral zinc oxide SPF offers an ultra-lightweight tint that subtly evens your complexion and leaves your skin with a natural finish. It checks all of our boxes: it blends beautifully onto the skin, has a velvety-soft formula, and creates a slight blurring effect. The cherry on top? It comes in 20 inclusive and flexible shades that cater to every undertone. Don’t be surprised when this gem becomes a staple in your routine. 

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination, oily skin: “There are a lot of shades so that it doesn’t create a white cast on the skin, but it’s not going to cover problem areas; it’s just a super sheer veil of color that blends in beautifully and leaves a natural finish.”

Best for Sensitive Skin

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint

$48 at Amazon $48 at Sephora $48 at Ulta

Shades: 30 | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, squalane, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | SPF: 40 | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Those with sensitive skin know that some SPFs can cause an uncomfortable stinging sensation, but thankfully, the Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint is a breath of fresh air. This ultra-gentle formula combines zinc oxide, squalane, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to provide a hydrating yet gentle protection with sheer to medium coverage. The results are a luminous glow that made our tester’s skin shine. While she wasn’t necessarily a fan of the scent (who loves the smell of sunscreen, anyways?), she happily overlooked it thanks to the high SPF 40 and beautiful, breathable tint. Pro tip: Give the bottle a shake before use to ensure the formula is well mixed throughout. 

Ashley, with combination skin: “I’ve used other sunscreen tints that made my eyes burn or did not have the best type of coverage. This one is my favorite because of the finish and how luminous it made my skin look.”

Best Coverage

Live Tinted Huegard Skin Tint

$42 at Ulta $42 at Target $42 at Livetinted.com

Shades: 13 | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, butterfly bush extract, Indian gooseberry, hyaluronic acid, sea buckthorn | SPF: 50 | Size: 1.35 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Looking for a tinted sunscreen that packs a pigmented punch? The Live Tinted Hueguard Skin Tint can replace your concealer and foundation in one easy (and protective) step. Our tester was amazed at how much coverage this product offered, noting how the thicker formula completely disguised her breakouts. That said, the hyaluronic-infused formula has that traditional sunscreen feel that can be slightly tacky. We recommend following up with a sufficient setting powder to tamp down any excess oil and avoid looking greasy.  

Ashley, tester with sensitive, combination skin: “The Live Tinted Huegard Tint Sunscreen gives me the coverage of my dreams. With this product, I don’t have to layer my concealer or foundation on top. Instead, its dreamy, thick formula covers all my blemishes flawlessly.”

Best for Dry Skin

Supergoop! Glowscreen Soft-Radiance Drops

$40 at Sephora $40 at Dermstore $40 at Supergoop.com

Shades: 2 | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, strawberry oil | SPF: 40 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

It’s common for sunscreens—especially tinted formulas with zinc oxide—to leave a chalky finish on the complexion. That limits options for dry skin types, as it can cause pilling or separation on dehydrated spots. That’s why we love these flexible Radiance Drops from Supergoop!—they leave a dewy, smooth finish that settles into the complexion seamlessly. They’re especially great for those with a dull complexion, as it creates a glow that makes the skin look healthy and hydrated. With strawberry oil and plant-derived probiotics, the formula delivers plenty of hydration, and it even has antioxidant-rich blue pea flower to brighten the skin with continued use. While it feels slightly sticky at first, it eventually settles in and doesn’t leave a residue behind.

Shannon Stubbs, associate editor with dry, combination skin: “I love that this makes my skin naturally glowy and healthy, like I’ve just gotten 12 hours of sleep and drank a green juice.”

Best for Oily Skin

Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Sunscreen

$78 at Amazon $78 at Sephora $78 at Dermstore

Shades: 1 | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, antioxidants, DNA Repairsomes® | SPF: 50 | Size: 1.7, 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Those with oily skin will enjoy this smoothing tinted mineral sunscreen from Isdin that leaves behind a gorgeous, natural-looking finish. It’s not completely mattifying, but it doesn’t have any shimmer or glow in the formula like some of the others on this list do. In other words, it has that “your skin but better” finish, and the subtle tint helps even out the complexion. With an SPF of 50 and antioxidants in the formula, your skin will fight off free radicals while staying protected. Although we appreciate the lack of a white cast, we do wish there were more shades available.

Anna Traver, writer with oily skin: “It has a natural to matte finish—it just looked like skin, which I really enjoyed. It wore well throughout the day, and I didn’t notice it breaking down or rubbing off.”