If you prefer zinc oxide based sunscreens like me but haven’t been able to find a good one that doesn’t leave a white cast on your skin, this roundup of the best mineral tinted sunscreens is sure to help you pick your perfect SPF.
UPDATED POST: Best Mineral Tinted Sunscreens 2024
Perfect for anyone looking for chemical-free sun protection, these tinted mineral sunscreens are lightweight (never greasy or goopy) and won’t leave your skin looking chalky or ashy. Whether you prefer dewy, satin or matte finish, this list has options for every skin tone and type, at all price points!
So, here’s the ultimate guide to the best mineral tinted sunscreens that tick all the right boxes in terms of texture, feel and finish (without worry of a white cast!)
Best Mineral Tinted Sunscreens
1. MyChelle Tinted Sun Shield Liquid SPF 30 ($24)
Mineral and matte! If you have combination to oily (even acne-prone!) skin, this is a fantastic mineral sunscreen for you! The oil-free formula is super lightweight and glides on smoothly leaving a non-sticky, soft matte finish that looks so natural and skin-like! And since the formula is tinted, there’s NO white cast despite being 16.1% zinc oxide formulation.
This sunscreen is available in 2 shades – light/medium and medium/dark. For a tinted sunscreen, the coverage is pretty good and evens out skin tone beautifully with sheer to light coverage. And the coverage holds up very well throughout the day without looking greasy or accentuating dry patches.
I think this would be a fantastic no-fuss, tinted moisturizer for oily and acne-prone skin! Not to mention, it’s free of fragrance-free, silicones, parabens, and also reef-safe and cruelty free.
2. bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen SPF 30 ($18)
True to its name, this sheer mineral sunscreen (11.5% zinc oxide and 4.1% titanium dioxide) has an invisible finish with zero white cast or chalkiness. Its lightweight, silky texture with a subtle tint blends in effortlessly and helps blur imperfections like a primer (there’s no coverage though!) Once blended out, it has a smooth, semi-matte finish that plays perfectly with makeup sans pilling!
Suitable for ALL skin types, this sunscreen is also boosted with an antioxidant blend of blueberry, acai, green tea extract and rosehip oil to provide an extra layer of protection from environmental stressors. Non-comedogenic, cruelty-free and vegan.
3. Supergoop! Mineral Mattescreen SPF 40 ($38)
Perfect for oily and combination skin, this tinted mineral sunscreen has a mousse-like velvety texture that absorbs quickly with a weightless matte finish. Not only does it smooth skin but also blurs the appearance of pores and helps provide shine control—whether you use it under makeup or on its own (yet it doesn’t feel drying)
True to its claims, it does work well as a matte finish makeup-gripping primer under foundation. It comes in one sheer tint that’s best for light-to-medium skin tones, but easily workable for fair and deep skin tones if you’re going to apply foundation on top of this SPF.
Besides providing SPF 40 with 17.4% zinc oxide, the formula also boasts of argan oil and antioxidants that protect against blue-light. It’s also water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, fragrance-free and cruelty-free.
4. Sun Bum Daily Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 30 ($19.99)
This tinted mineral sunscreen (with 15% zinc oxide) is formulated with good-for-skin ingredients like antioxidant-rich Banana, Wild Rosella and Niacinamide to add a moisturizing and protective base layer to your daily skincare routine.
Lightweight and sheer, it blends easily with a subtle hint of tint that works well for most skin tones. The formula is nicely hydrating and leaves a soft dewy finish, so it would be best for normal to dry and combination skin types. This sunscreen is also water-resistant for 80 minutes.
5. EltaMD UV Elements Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 44 ($36.50)
Enriched with hyaluronic acid, this moisturizing mineral sunscreen comes in a sheer universal tint that blends easily for most skin tones. The lightweight oil-free formula sets to a natural, semi-matte finish and is non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) It also contains antioxidants vitamin C and E to combat skin-aging free radicals.
In terms of protection, this has 10% zinc oxide and 5.5% titanium dioxide, plus 40 minutes of water-resistance. It’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types, including post-procedure skin.
6. ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 ($38)
This oil-free skin tint not only offers all-mineral sun protection with 12% zinc oxide but also evens out skin tone beautifully with sheer, dewy coverage. Plus, it combines super active levels of hyaluronic acid, moisturizing squalane and skin-soothing Niacinamide (2%) to help improve and smooth skin texture.
Image credit: Ilia Beauty
With a weightless feel, this serum SPF is very wearable on its own for a natural look. The BEST part is that it’s available in an impressive range of 18 shades for fair to deep complexions, so everyone should be able to find their match. It’s fragrance-free, vegan and cruelty-free.
7. Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 45 ($38)
If you have been following me for a while, you might know this one is my holy grail sunscreen. It’s also a wonderful tinted moisturizer with sheer coverage that evens out skin tone while adding a gorgeous lit-from-within glow. I LOVE it for makeup-free days but it also wears well under makeup without balling or pilling.
It offers superb sun protection (broad-spectrum SPF 45) with mineral actives zinc oxide (19%) and titanium dioxide (1.93%). Plus, the fragrance-free formula provides a healthy dose of hydration and also contains antioxidants vitamin A, C, and E. If you have dry skin like me, this one is sure to please!
However, it comes in only one universal sheer tint that blends in effortlessly on fair to medium skin tones, but for deeper complexions, the tint likely won’t be dark enough.
8. Sukin Sheer Touch Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30($17.09)
Available in 2 sheer tinted options (Light/Medium tint and Medium/Dark tint) that work for several skin tones, this drugstore sunscreen is super lightweight, doesn’t feel thick or greasy/tacky and wears nicely under makeup without pilling. Despite a high percentage of zinc oxide (21.5%), the formula is truly sheer without any white cast and leaves virtually no trace on the skin! This is my current favorite drugstore sunscreen.
If you have combination to oily skin, you will love its natural shine-free finish and might not even need to moisturize first! However, it’s great for ALL skin types. Not to mention, it contains skin-loving ingredients like antioxidant-rich blend of rosehip oil, green tea and cucumber and is certified cruelty-free, paraben-free, vegan and reef safe. My full review and swatches here.
9. Everyday Humans Rose From Above Mineral Sunscreen Base SPF 35 ($26)
This tinted mineral sunscreen (with 15.7% zinc oxide) is formulated with good-for-skin ingredients like upcycled rose oil, squalane, ceramides and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and keep skin barrier healthy while yucca root extract and bisabolol soothe skin and fight inflammation.
It’s lightweight with a blendable medium-beige tint (best for light to medium and olive skin tones) that evens out your complexion. It leaves a smooth semi-matte finish that is hydrating and can also be used as a primer under makeup. The formula is best for normal to dry and combination skin types. Fragrance-free, silicone-free and cruelty-free.
10. Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Fluid Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 ($20)
This tinted mineral sunscreen (with 20.6% zinc oxide) delivers a healthy dose of hydration with organic raspberry oil and passion fruit seed oil. It has a golden-hued tint that blends in easily and provides sheer coverage while minimizing the white cast.
Even though it has a dewy glow finish, the formula doesn’t feel greasy and wears well under makeup without pilling. Best for normal to dry and combination skin, it is free of silicones, parabens and fragrance. Also available at Target
11. CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Sheer Tint SPF 30 ($14)
Formulated with 10% zinc oxide and 5.5% titanium dioxide, CeraVe tinted sunscreen protects and moisturizes while providing sheer coverage with a healthy glow. It smooths and evens out skin tone while still allowing natural skin to shine through.
The formula is hydrating without being heavy or greasy and has a lovely luminous finish (although you could certainly layer powder on top) It’s very wearable in its own and pretty good under makeup. On my light-medium skin tone, the sheer tint blends seamlessly. According to CeraVe, it’s a universally flattering tint that’s intended to work on all skin tones (see photos here)
Plus, it also treats skin to hydrating ingredients like Ceramides, Niacinamide and Hyaluronic acid. Great for normal to dry and sensitive skin types.
12. EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 ($41)
Formulated to calm and protect acne-prone skin, this tinted facial sunscreen contains a good amount of anti-inflammatory Niacinamide along with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and lactic acid.
Super lightweight and oil-free, it has a cosmetically elegant texture with a natural matte finish and may be worn under makeup too. This one has a mix of mineral and chemical filters with 9.0% zinc oxide and 7.5% octinoxate. The fragrance-free formula is also recommended for rosacea and hyper pigmentation.
So, these are the best mineral tinted sunscreens that not only protect against harmful UV rays but also even out your skin tone. Have you tried any of these? Do you have a favorite tinted sunscreen that’s not on this list?
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