Have you put on SPF today?
We don’t mean to nag, but it’s the single most important step in your skincare routine, so the answer should very much be yes.
Whether it’s glorious sunshine or torrential rain, clear blue skies or overcast, you must slather SPF onto your complexion. You may think “I’ll sweat”, “I’ll break out” or “It’s too thick”, but none of that needs to be the case. In fact, some of the most forward-thinking innovation has taken place in the world of suncare - a testament to its importance.
With greater research and inclination, there has been a surge of new formulations that give high protection without laborious, thick textures, giving us the ability to slip UVA and UVB shielding products into our skin practices with ease. To put it bluntly, your anti-ageing lotions and potions are pointless without protecting your skin from the ageing sun’s rays. “Whenever I start someone on new skincare, I also start them on an SPF” explains Dr Ahmed El Muntasar GP and Award Winning Aesthetician. “The number one cause of ageing is actually sun and UV exposure. SPF is also one of the biggest cancer preventatives as well for cancers such as melanoma and so on”.
To make it even easier to transform your suncare, tinted SPFs have become increasingly popular. When the warmer weather arises, the full-coverage formulations of our base products like foundation can feel thick and weighty on the skin, causing the already sweaty temps to be excaerbated even further. These tinted SPFs kill two birds with one stone (no animal cruelty included) by shielding your skin from the sun and imparting a flattering flawless hue at the same time. It’s no-makeup makeup at its finest.
What is tinted SPF?
Dr El Muntasar breaks it down, “Tinted SPF is essentially a cream that will have sun protection or a sun protection factor with some colour to hide some imperfections”. He stresses that they may not entirely replace your traditional foundation if you prefer a full-coverage, “It isn’t similar to a full blown foundation but it will give you a bit of a blurring effect and a bit of a cover and is absolutely a good product to have. However don’t expect that it’s going to give you a lot of coverage”, he adds.
Is tinted SPF good?
In short yes, but look out for those high factors. “There are lots of good SPFs these days with tint that are SPF 50 that are broad spectrum and that can really give sun protection” says Dr El Muntasar.
Is tinted moisturiser with SPF enough?
There is a difference betweeen tinted SPFs and tinted moisturisers. The former prioritises sun protection with at least SPF30 and are sheer, while the latter is a moisturiser (the clue is in the name) with sheer to medium coverage that is about hydrating the skin and come in many different finishes; be it matte, glow or natural.
“I’m not a fan of tinted moisturiser with SPF” reveals Dr El Muntasar. “You need to apply about two finger lengths of SPF but if you apply that amount with a moisturiser, you can be quite greasy because that’s a lot of moisturiser. Many people tend to not do that which means that they actually wouldn’t get enough SPF protection”.
Dr Marko Lens, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Founder of Zelens thinks differently. “Tinted moisturiser with SPF can be sufficient”, he says. “You need to make sure that it has SPF at least 30 and that it is a broad spectrum, which means that it covers both UVA and UVB. If you are exposed to the sun, any SPF must be reapplied every two hours”.
See below for the best tinted SPFs
Best face tanning mists to spray for a sun-kissed glow
Best spray sunscreens for your face and body
Best gradual tanners to apply at home for a subtle way to make you glow
Best SPF sunscreen for the body
Best tinted moisturisers for flawless looking skin
Best fake tans for pale skin to give you that summer glow
Best dewy foundations for a fresh, glowing complexion
Best foundations for 2023: Ace that base with liquid, gel and powder formulas
Dr Sam Bunting Flawless Gossamer Tint SPF50
Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting created her line of skincare products to cut through the noise and take it back to basics; hard-working and practical products that are minimalistic and will elevate your complexion. This is one of them. It’s SPF50 to give broad-spectrum protection without the typical associations of SPF. It’s not overly thick, is easily absorbed and there’s no white cast.
Instead, there’s a choice of four tints that leave a dewy radiance and have a blurring finish. The ingredient line-up combines zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for filtering UVA and UVB rays set alongside nourishing squalane and a form of hyaluronic acid for hydration with shea butter or nourishment.
Buy now £35.00, Dr Sam Bunting
Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil 50ml
This formulation from Ultra Violette closely mimics foundation in both its application and texture. So much so that you may want to keep a brush on hand to buff it into the skin. It provides a light to medium coverage that needs to be closely matched to your complexion - and handily, there’s 16 shades to choose from, one of the most extensive that we’ve seen.
In the brand’s signature style, sun protection is a priority and the Daydream has SPF50+, but it is combined with plant-derived pentavitin for hydration and soothing and antioxidant-rich rich bran so it’s kind to the skin at the same time. Beware as a little goes a long way.
Buy now £24.70, Cult Beauty
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Hydrating Suncream Tinted SPF50
Gliding onto the skin like silk, this tinted SPF is a double-duty formula that is ideal for those with sensitive skin. Of course, all skin types can use the product, but it works particularly well for those who find traditional suncream cause flare-ups and also those with dry skin as it is infused with La Roche-Posay’s signature hydrating thermal water.
The high protection product uses the exclusive ingredient known as Mexoryl400, which is said to be the most effective shield against Ultra Long UVA rays. While it forms a protective veil, it does so without grease or a white cast. Plus it’s water and sweat resistant too.
Buy now £18.00, Cult Beauty
Sisley Tinted Sun Care Stick SPF50+
If you’ve previously believed that applying suncare is a chore, think again. Luxury Parisian skincare label Sisley is turning that idea on its head by putting its protective formula in stick form. This means it requires no tools or intervention from your fingers, just glide it directly onto the face - and we really do mean glide. The formula is infused with nourishing vitamin E, wheat germ oil, sweet white lupin, shea oil, camellia oil and mango butter, which have UVA and UVB shielding properties but are also easily absorbed, soothing and hydrating. Travel-friendly, SPF50+ and a slight bronzed tint, it’s the full package.
Buy now £88.00, Space NK
Sarah Chapman Skin Insurance SPF30
There is a reason that you’ll spot this product on the bathroom shelves of beauty editors. It’s a facial cream that can take the place of your traditional moisturiser, but that’s only where the goodness begins. It is infused with specialised optical blurring technology as well as an adaptive tint. This means just one colour works for all skin tones but it is very light coverage. It also provides a flawless filter finish and a healthy radiance in just one swipe. There’s no residue and the texture feels like a second skin, so it’s ideal for humid and warmer summer days. For all skin types, including acne prone.
Buy now £69.00, Space NK
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser Hydrating Gel Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30
As with the entirety of the bareMinerals range, this formula is kept clean, minimal and mineral-based to lessen the chances of it causing irritation to the skin. It’s a broad spectrum SPF30 protective product but what makes it stand out from the crowd is the gel-cream texture that is enriched with hydrating heroes like hyaluronic acid and olive-derived squalane that make it immediately cooling and refreshing as soon as it touches the skin - unusual for a suncream. That’s only where the benefits begin. It is clinically proven to then boost hydration on longer term basis, giving you dewy and supple radiance for up to 12 hours and without clogging pores or triggering breakouts.
Buy now £17.50, Cult Beauty
Avène Very High Protection SPF50+ Tinted Fluid for Sensitive Skin
Avene is constantly updating its products to ensure they come with the latest state-of-the-art sun protecting ingredients. The new iteration for Tinted Fluid harnesses the power of what is known as a TriAsorB filter to cover the spectrum of UV rays, including High Energy Visible (HEV) Blue Light.
While it may sound hi-tech, those among us with sensitive skin can be content in the knowledge that the brand has not strayed far from its roots and the tinted product can be used by those prone to irritation. Breaking away from the association of traditional SPFs, it is lightweight, almost undetectable and non-sticky so it sits well under makeup and that’s helpful too as it’s a very gradual, natural colour. Leaves a healthy glow.
Buy now £21.50, lookfantastic
NUDESTIX Nudescreen Daily Mineral Veil SPF30
Take a streamlined approach to your SPF practices by combining it with another key part of your routine with this hybrid product. First and foremost, it’s SPF30 where ingredients like passionflower and purple tea extracts save your skin from external aggressors, while green algae extract that is a natural source of niacinamide and so works to balance and hydrate. This is all without leaving a chalky finish and providing a subtle colourway that looks like your skin but even more radiant.
Buy now £28.00, Cult Beauty
COOLA Rosiliance Light-Medium SPF30
From the exterior packing, this looks like your average foundation (or the Fenty Beauty one, to be more specific), yet you’ll find that it takes this to the next level by combining the sheer tint that comes in three shades ranging from light/medium, medium/dark and golden with sun shielding properties. The broad spectrum protection is SPF30 and it’s infused with rose stem cells that smooth the skin and fortify its own barrier against free radicals.
Buy now £52.00, Cult Beauty
