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The 7 Best Face Sunscreens to Wear with Makeup

BY: Colleen Loggins Loster |Mar 22, 2018

You KNOW you're supposed to wear sunscreen on your face every day, especially if you exfoliate with acids or use retinol. Chances are, though, you haven't found one that plays nicely with your makeup. Sunscreens tend to be heavy, chalky, greasy, and ashy, which means they sit horribly under foundation. Plus, re-applying sunscreen throughout the day without removing your makeup is a nightmare. But it doesn't have to be.

Here are the best face sunscreens to wear if you're a makeup lover. These silky lotions, inventive sprays, and convenient powders make wearing a daily sunscreen seem not only doable but—dare we say—pleasant?

1. Elta MD Sunscreen

From $15.99 with one of our deals (normally $32 at the dermatologist)

You may not believe it based on his antics (remember the illegal monkey?), but Justin Bieber is serious about his sun protection. He keeps his baby face looking so young with a daily application of Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46. Elta MD sunscreens are known for their silky texture, meaning they play very well with makeup. UV Clear in particular is known for its inclusion of skin-improving niacinamide, lactic acid, and hyaluronic acid, which makes it feel more like skincare than sunscreen.

Pros:

Lightweight, silky texture
No white cast
More like skincare than sunscreen
UV Clear good for acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation
Fragrance-free, paraben-free, oil-free, sensitivity-free, noncomedogenic

Cons:

Price, depending on where you buy it
Tinted option can look a little muddy on pale skin, though it does help slightly even out tan complexions

Shop: Elta MD Sunscreen (from $15.99)

2. Bioré Sarasara UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++

Price varies, but typically about $11–$15 online

If you haven't tried Asian sunscreens yet, you're missing out. Their lightweight, watery textures are noticeably better than most American sunscreens, which tend to be heavier, greasier, and harder to blend. That's because the FDA regulates sunscreens as drugs, and the approval process for new sunscreen ingredients is exceedingly slow. Asian beauty companies don't contend with this issue and have figured out have to make sunscreens that are lightweight and still protect skin.

Bioré's Japanese sunscreen is among the best face sunscreens because of its dreamy blendability and its ability to sink quickly into the skin without leaving any greasiness behind.

Pros:

Lightweight, watery texture that sinks quickly into skin
Can help foundation go on more smoothly
No white cast—dark-skinned women in particular say it doesn't make them look ashy
Good for oily skin
Price

Cons:

Hard to find in the US and can take weeks to ship from Japan
Label is in Japanese, so it's hard to know exactly what version you're getting
Contains alcohol—this helps it dry quickly but may aggravate sensitive skin

3. Coola Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Matte Finish with Cucumber

$27.99 with one of our deals (normally $36)

This Coola sunscreen contains beneficial skincare ingredients, including brightening vitamin C and hydrating organic rosehip, evening primrose, and flaxseed oils. But people really seem to love it for its pore-blurring, matte finish and its ability to double as a makeup primer.

Pros:

Pore-blurring matte finish makes it a good makeup primer
Refreshing cucumber scent
Preservative- and paraben-free
Water-resistant for 40 minutes
Vegan and cruelty-free

Cons:

Price
May be a bit drying on very dry skin
May leave a bit of a white cast on darker skin

Shop: Coola Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Matte Finish with Cucumber (from $27.99)

4. E.L.F. Beauty Shield SPF 50 Skin Shielding Tinted Moisturizer

$12

There is a bit of a myth in the beauty world that you won't get enough SPF coverage if you only rely on a moisturizer with SPF. That myth is true if you're using a moisturizer with SPF 30. But don't dermatologists recommend using at least SPF 30 on your face? They sure do. Yet, you're likely not actually achieving the full SPF 30 with your moisturizer, and here's why: You need to use half a teaspoon of product on your face to achieve the full SPF listed on the label, and most people use less than that. (Seriously, try measuring out half a teaspoon. You'll be shocked at how much it really is.)

However, if you start with an SPF 50 moisturizer like this one from the iconic drugstore line E.L.F., you should achieve at least an SPF 30, even if you put less than half a teaspoon on your face. Plus, you get all the hydrating benefits of a moisturizer.

Pros:

SPF 50 protection with refreshing hydration
Lightweight and quickly sinks into skin
Tint can help cancel out redness
Sits well under foundation
Price
Pretty hologram-esque package
Free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates
Cruelty-free

Cons:

Tint can look a little ashy on darker skin and a little too beige on paler skin
May make oily skin oilier

5. Dermalogica Oil-Free Matte SPF 30

$43.41 with one of our deals (normally $52)

This is another sunscreen that can double as a makeup primer for both oily and combination skin. In fact, this liquid formulation pairs so well with makeup that Dermalogica suggests mixing it with your foundation to create a custom tinted sunscreen. Even if you wear this product the traditional way, you should find that it sinks quickly into skin and doesn't leave a white cast behind. Plus, it helps keep oily skin matte throughout the day, which then helps makeup stay on.

Pros:

Good for oily, breakout-prone and combination skin
Lightweight, liquid texture
Can be mixed with foundation
Zinc and niacinamide can balance sebum and reduce the appearance of blemishes
Free from parabens, artificial fragrances, and colors
Cruelty-free

Cons:

Price; sunscreen needs to be applied liberally and the cost of this product may inhibit that
A bit drying for certain skin types
Packaging makes it tricky to get some of the product out

Shop: Dermalogica oil-free matte SPF 30 ($43.41)

6. Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist Broad Spectrum SPF 50

$28

One of the best sunscreens to wear with makeup is Supergoop!'s setting mist with SPF 50. That's because you spray it on after you apply your makeup to help lock your makeup in place. We probably wouldn't recommend using this as your only sunscreen method due to the fact that you likely won't spritz on the necessary half a teaspoon's worth (or anything close to it). However, it is great if you want to reapply SPF later in the day but don't want to take your makeup off.

Pros:

Great for SPF touchups throughout the day
Helps set makeup
Refreshing rosemary and mint scent
Gets rid of powdery makeup finishes and helps skin look more natural
Good for all skin types
Water- and sweat-resistant for 40 minutes
Free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and artificial fragrance

Cons:

Spray bottle can get a little clogged, making it hard to get a superfine mist
Some people think the scent is too strong, though it does dissipate quickly

7. Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Powder

$22.99 with one of our deals (normally $30)

Like the Supergoop! setting spray, Peter Thomas Roth's instant mineral powders (the classic SPF 45 and the oily-skin SPF 30) are ideal for touching up your sunscreen throughout the day without messing up your makeup. Both versions contain vitamins A, C, and E for added anti-oxidant protection, and both can absorb excess oil on the face. The oily-skin version also contains salicylic acid, silica, and kaolin clay to help fight breakouts and absorb even more oil.