Multitasking Makeup: Our Favorite Formulas with Built-In SPF
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Sunscreen is the single most important product to incorporate into your skin care routine, both for protecting yourself against harmful rays and preventing signs of aging (according to the American Academy of Dermatology, as much as 80% of visible aging comes from UV exposure).
Thankfully, we live in the golden age of SPF. Gone are the days of thick, greasy formulas that we hacked our way into making work with the rest our routine. But we’re not just talking about cosmetically elegant or multitasking formulas (though there are no shortage of those). We’re talking about high-performing tinted moisturizers and powders, setting sprays, and so many other SPF makeup formulas (even eyeshadows) that help ensure you’re adequately covered by stacking your protection.
But is makeup with SPF as good as sunscreen? Well, don’t start clearing out your sunscreen collection. “Many makeup products provide an excellent addition—not replacement—to the sunscreen armamentarium,” says Dr. Alicia Zalka, a board-certified dermatologist and Surface Deep founder. “But the terrific news is that makeup that contains a pigment, such as a tinted moisturizer with SPF, or lipstick with pigments, or even eyeshadow with color, can add another level of sun defense. So if you apply a layer of mineral sunscreen, then a foundation or tinted moisturizer with SPF topped with powder, that’s a winning combination,” she adds.
Regardless of the SPF delivery system you choose, the most important factor here is to start strong with a generous application of a traditional sunscreen, then think of your makeup and subsequent reapplications as a form of added protection. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best makeup with SPF.
Shop Dermstore's Best SPF-Infused Makeup
1. Tarte BB Blur Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen 1 fl. oz (Various Shades)
$42.00
2. Supergoop!® Shimmershade SPF 30 0.18 oz. - First Light
11 reviews
$24.00
3. SENTÉ Even Tone Mineral SPF 50ml (Various Shades)
4 reviews
$75.00
4. jane iredale Amazing Base SPF 20 (0.37 oz.)
238 reviews
$48.00
5. Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50 1.8 fl. oz. - Medium
78 reviews
$54.00
6. MDSolarSciences Hydrating Sheer Lip Balm SPF30 (0.15 oz.) (Various Shades)
31 reviews
$25.00
7. ISDIN Isdinceutics Mineral Facial Powder Brush
4 reviews
$60.00
8. COOLA Make-Up Setting Spray SPF 30 Green Tea and Aloe
40 reviews
$36.00
9. RMS Beauty SuperNatural Radiance Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen - Medium Aura
10. Glo Skin Beauty Oil-Free Tinted Primer SPF 30 50ml (Various Shades)
26 reviews
$50.00
Teresa Greenfeld has worked in fashion and beauty for over 15 years as a writer, editor and content strategist. She has been privileged to work at Carbon38 as a Senior Editor, at OliviaPalermo.com as the Fashion and Beauty Director, and has amassed a resume that includes Vogue, Allure and Elle magazines. Her passions include back-to-back sheet masks, reading peer-reviewed papers on skin care, and obsessive sunscreen application. Though born in Manhattan, she currently lives in LA, and will always consider herself a New Yorker at heart.
