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Updated August 16, 2024: This article on the best sunscreens to wear under makeup was updated after an additional round of product testing. Our editors are currently testing sunscreens from brands like Coola for consideration in this guide.
We all know the golden rule of a great skin care routine — Always. Wear. Sunscreen. As any dermatologist will tell you, the perfect sunscreen for you is the one you’ll stay loyal to. For those of us who wear makeup on the daily, that means you need one of the best sunscreens to wear under makeup that doesn’t pill, smell, or cause your makeup to melt off like Dalí painting by the time the sun goes down.
Sunscreens and makeup don’t always play nice together. Some mineral sunscreens cause a white cast that throws off the undertones of your best foundation, while others err on the greasy side, preventing your makeup from staying put all day. A new crop of face sunscreens from established brands like La Roche-Posay to emerging ones like Eighth Day have recently released sunscreens that don’t just layer well under makeup, but work like makeup primers to lock down your glam.
To find the best sunscreen to wear under makeup, you’ll need to consider your skin type, how much makeup you wear on the regular, and personal preferences like mineral versus chemical formulas. (The former has seen major improvements this year with silky-smooth mineral formulations that feel like nothing on your skin). Note that you’ll need two finger lengths worth of sunscreen to effectively protect your skin, so you’ll want a sunscreen that’s breathable and comfortable for you.
As a beauty editor, I’ve reported on the sunscreen market for eight years, testing hundreds of SPFs on my combination skin along the way. The below sunscreens to wear under makeup are my holy grail for any beauty beat — they wear beautifully under liquid and cream foundations, skin tints, bronzers, and blushes.
Best Sunscreens Under Makeup of 2024
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E.l.f. Skin Suntouchable Whoa Glow Sunscreen & Primer
If you like to mix complexion cocktails of bronzey liquid illuminators for a lit-from-within glow, E.l.f.’s Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30 allows you to skip that step in a single SPF. This top E.l.f. beauty product comes in three sheer shades and deposits natural-looking radiance with protective SPF 30. The cruelty-free formula applies beautifully on dry, oily, and combination skin — and our breakout-prone testers also tout it as one of the best sunscreens for acne-prone skin, as it blurs imperfections and evens out tone. Many affordable sunscreens tend to pill under makeup, but amazingly, this one doesn’t.
Editor testing and review notes: “I’ve tried so many prestige face sunscreens, from blurring formulas to ones made specifically for makeup application, and this SPF is just as good — with a price point that doesn’t make me feel stingy about using on the daily. I’ve worn it under makeup and experienced zero pilling or excess grease, and it works wonders as a dewy primer under both matte and glowy complexion products.” — WWD Shop Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $14
La Roche-Posay SPF 30 Face Moisturizer Sunscreen
A great face moisturizer with a wallop of SPF is one of the easiest ways to ensure you’re getting accurate sun protection without worrying about makeup that pills or streaks throughout the day. La Roche-Posay’s SPF 30 Face Moisturizer goes on like your favorite daytime face lotion with a creamy texture that disappears on the skin while you smooth it on. It also contains ingredients like skin barrier-strengthening ceramides and niacinamide that hydrates and brightens skin with continued use.
Editor testing and review notes: “This is a great two-in-one product for those who don’t like the feeling of sunscreen on top of a face lotion. Those with oily skin could easily forgo face serums when using this makeup-friendly sunscreen, too, thanks to its brightening and soothing ingredients. Just wash your face, apply this moisturizer, and continue with your glam routine. After testing this with liquid and cream foundations, I didn’t experience any pilling, excess shine, or sunscreen smell during hours of wear time.” — Sullivan
Price upon publication of this article: $24.99
Clinique Moisture Surge Broad Spectrum SPF 28 Facial Moisturizer
Clinique’s Moisture Surge with SPF is one of the best sunscreens to wear under makeup for combination and oily skin types. While many sunscreens are formulated in lotions, this one has a jelly texture that feels cooling on contact, delivering lightweight hydrators like aloe and hyaluronic acid. Most importantly, it absorbs quickly, meaning you don’t have to worry about product pilling or your foundation sliding off when you dab it on top.
Editor testing and review notes: “This is one of my favorite face sunscreens to wear under makeup when I’m in a rush. I’ll scoop out a dollop, massage it on, and bam — I’m moisturized and primed for my five-minute makeup routine. A little goes a long way and because it’s so sheer, I’m able to pat on a little extra product where I need it on my combination skin. It always gives me just the right amount of moisture, never making my skin feel overly shiny or wet.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $31
Naturium Dew-Glow SPF 50 Moisturizer
Say hello to your new favorite one-and-done SPF moisturizer and makeup primer. Naturium is a cult-favorite, editor-loved brand that offers a slew of skin care finds created with powerful natural ingredients and proven clinical skin care ingredients for max skin benefits. The Dew-Glow Moisturizer contains squalane to soften skin, while niacinamide helps to brighten your skin over time.
This top-rated sunscreen goes on like a great moisturizer (rather than a goopy sunscreen), leaving you with a dewy skin finish that’s primed for foundation, skin tints, or tinted moisturizer. It’s cruelty-free, dermatologist-tested, and fragrance-free, making it an excellent choice for sensitive skin types.
Price upon publish date of this article: $21.99
Supergoop! SPF 40 Unseen Sunscreen
This Supergoop! SPF is a cult-favorite product that’s turned into a mainstream hit — just scroll through the sunscreen’s 13,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and you’ll get a taste of the hype. Rather than a standard lotion or face cream, this sunscreen has a velvety gel texture that grips onto a full face of makeup. It smooths down to a demi-matte finish, mattifying shiny areas of the skin without tamping down your glow.
Editor testing and review notes: “The Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen is one of very few sunscreens I’ve tried that actually makes your makeup look better and last longer when you wear it. Although it has makeup-gripping superpowers, it never leaves my skin feeling suffocated: There’s a certain breathability to this formula that makes you feel like you’re wearing nothing on your skin. I’ve tried dupes of this product, too, and I can assure you that none of them are quite as good as the real thing.” — Sullivan
Price upon publication of this article: $38
Saie Sunvisor SPF 35 Moisturizing Face Sunscreen
For glowy glam, start with Saie’s Sunvisor SPF Face Sunscreen. This top-rated face sunscreen to wear under makeup has a golden, glistening tint that creates a filter on your skin with major radiance. This makes it a great sunscreen for mature skin as well as dry skin types that tend to read dull (those with oily skin will want to opt for a sunscreen with a less emollient texture and a matte finish). What’s most surprising about this sunscreen is that it’s an all-mineral formula; it has the weightless feel of chemical sunscreens, no flashback, and zero scent.
Editor testing review notes: “I’m a radiant makeup girl through and through — my dry skin can never have enough moisture and highlighter is a desert island beauty product in my book. One thing I’ve learned is that the wrong sunscreen can ruin a dewy makeup look, rendering it matte or melty depending on which end of the moisture spectrum the sunscreen falls. Saie’s sunscreen has become my favorite to wear under makeup for everyday beauty looks; with its subtle sheen and hydrating properties, I only need a touch of concealer and a pinch of blush to perfect my no-makeup makeup look.” — Sullivan
Price upon publication of this article: $38
Eighth Day SPF 30 Rejuvenating Moisturizing Primer
Developed by Dr. Antony Nakhla, a dermatologist and reconstructive skin cancer surgeon, Eighth Day offers one of the most luxurious — and effective — sunscreens to wear under makeup. His formula protects the skin with a proprietary type of non-nanoparticle zinc that applies sheer and is suitable for the most sensitive skin types. Dr. Nakhla formulated the sunscreen with a light pigment that counteracts white cast and flashback in photos, also making it a great sunscreen for dark skin types to wear under makeup. And like the brand’s cult-favorite face serum, it’s powered up with peptide-rich plasma for firmer, bouncier, and brighter skin with consistent use.
Editor testing and review notes: “This sunscreen is a great option for those who want to streamline their beauty routine with high-quality, multitasking goods. Rather than plain-old sunscreen ingredients, Eighth Day’s sunscreen features actives you’d find in luxury anti-aging serums for healthier-looking skin in the long run. I love that this was formulated with makeup in mind — rather than pilling when you apply product on top, it grips it in place to extend your glam’s wear time.” — Sullivan
Price upon publication of this article: $140
Fenty Hydra Vizor SPF 30 Invisible Moisturizer
If you prefer a sunscreen that feels like absolutely nothing on your skin, then Fenty’s Hydra Vizor SPF is the one for you. This lightweight lotion leaves no traditional sunscreen trace on your skin — you won’t feel greasy, slimy, or smelly with this one on — instead supplying the feel and light sheen of a great face moisturizer. A light pink tint rubs in smoothly with a touch of glow in its wake; and is comfortable to wear under a light complexion product or full-coverage foundation.
Editor testing and review notes: “I packed this sunscreen for a beach vacation a few months back, and I’ve had a hard time parting with it since. The lotion melts in immediately after I apply it, only leaving behind a dewy finish and soft-to-the-touch skin. Go with the unscented version if you have a sensitive nose: Even on the hottest days at the beach, I never noticed a fragrance or felt like it was preventing my skin from breathing — it’s a surprisingly gorgeous formulation to wear on its own or under makeup.” — Sullivan
Price upon publication of this article: $40
Cerave SPF 30 Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Those who need a sunscreen for acne-prone skin know that the wrong SPF formula can wreak havoc on your skin. This one is a surefire way to avoid breakouts, redness, or irritation — over 60,000 five-star reviews on Amazon attest to just that. It’s formulated with a lightweight texture, plus ceramides to support irritated skin. Because of its featherweight texture and breathability, acne-prone types will have no concerns over their skin feeling suffocated when layering it under breakout-friendly foundation.
Editor testing and review notes: “Few sunscreens feel like nothing on my skin — many err on the greasy side, some are scented, and others impart a subtle white cast that makes me hesitate before I reapply. Cerave’s face sunscreen, on the other hand, goes on featherweight without fragrance. I love that it never breaks me out but also doesn’t leave my skin feeling thirsty: It’s a true two-in-one moisturizer and sunscreen. Because it’s so lightweight and breathable, it’s easy for me to massage on another coat if I’m at the beach; it doesn’t pill, sting, or feel slick.” — Sullivan
Price upon publication of this article: $15.89
Tower 28 Sunny Days SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen
One of the best ways to wear sunscreen under makeup is by going with an SPF that provides skin tint-level coverage that camouflages dark spots, breakouts, and redness. That’s what you get with Tower 28’s Sunny Days Tinted Sunscreen — this formula is on par with top tinted moisturizers with SPF courtesy of its medley of skin-loving ingredients like soothing white sage and 17 shades. No-makeup makeup folks won’t need foundation with this sunscreen; however if you’d like to build coverage, it’ll lock down any liquid or cream foundation you apply on top. It earned a seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association, proving its safe to use on the most sensitive skin types.
Editor testing and review notes: “Redness is my number one skin woe — and summer only makes that unwanted flush more pigmented. Tower 28’s sunscreen is a one-step way for me to tamp down that discoloration; I love that it masks any visible redness while the formula’s ingredients get to the root of the issue. This sunscreen to wear under makeup is my go-to when I need a quick tone-evening base layer. All I have to do is dab on some bronzer and blush, and I know I’m set for a 10-hour day in the city.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $32
Kopari Beauty Bright As Day SPF 50 Sheer Mineral Sunscreen
Kopari has been making waves for its sunscreen offerings this summer, with over 28 million TikTok posts regarding the brand’s SPFs. This new launch is a great lightweight sunscreen to wear under makeup with a watery texture that melts right into your complexion without elbow grease. A light peach tint counteracts any white cast from the all-mineral formula, also providing some color correcting that creates an even canvas for any makeup you decide to apply on top.
Editor testing and review notes: “This sunscreen fully neutralizes my complexion to create a perfect blank slate for a full glam makeup look. The lightweight texture allows the formula to nearly disappear on my skin — the only thing I notice after applying it is a smoothed-out, more even-looking effect. A touch of mica in the formula provides some reflective sheen, but not so much that oily skin types will fear looking greasy.” — Sullivan
Price upon publication of this article: $38
How We Tested and Selected the Best Sunscreens to Wear Under Makeup
Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections.
One beauty editor compiled this list of the best sunscreens under makeup after fielding testing of 49 sunscreen formulas for dry, oily, combination, and acne-prone skin. We considered testing input from different skin types and skin tones for each selection on our list, ensuring that we offer a range of sunscreens to wear under makeup for all shoppers. Our list includes both mineral and chemical formulations, and tinted and non-tinted sunscreens.
During two rounds of product testing, we applied each sunscreen on clean skin, waited two minutes, then followed up with a full face of makeup. Our testers wore these sunscreens under both liquid, cream, and powder makeup formulas, including foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer, and highlighter. The picks on our list stood out for their ability to both extend the wear time of makeup and in some cases, make glam looks appear more radiant. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Author
Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion and lifestyle stories. She has over six years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She keeps her finger on the pulse of all things related to beauty and wellness, as well as the latest shopping trends and clothing brands.
Source: Shop – wwd.com
