Getting your daily dose of sunscreen is non-negotiable but now that summer is heating up, it’s time to get more serious about SPF. When it comes to sun protection, you can never have enough!
It’s hard to find a great primer with SPF, let alone one you can find at the shelves of your local drugstore. Luckily, some of our favorite brands like ELF and NYX have recently released lightweight, matte as well as glowy options for drugstore primers with SPF that perfectly merge your makeup routine and sun protection in harmony.
Ahead, I’ve rounded up the best drugstore primers with SPF that not only help your makeup apply seamlessly and last longer, but also add an additional layer of protection against damaging UV rays. Not to mention, all of these are also infused with skin-loving ingredients that hydrate and/or brighten skin…score!
Some of these drugstore primers with SPF can even replace your actual sunscreen, assuming you apply it liberally. These sunscreen-meets-primer options have an elegantly light, silky sheer finish that plays perfectly with makeup. They are particularly great for those who find themselves skipping sunscreen because it feels heavy, greasy or tacky and hard to wear under makeup.
Keep scrolling to see the best drugstore primers with SPF that leave your skin protected and prepped for makeup. There’s a great option for every skin type in this list, whether you have oily, acne-prone or dry skin.
NYX Blur Screen Primer SPF 30 ($14)
This is a 3-in-1 blurring primer sunscreen that blurs imperfections, grips makeup for long-lasting wear and helps protect skin with SPF 30. Infused with coconut juice and cactus flower extract, the weightless formula glides on smoothly and creates the perfect canvas for makeup with a matte finish. It leaves NO white cast and appears undetectable on all skin tones.
Olay Prime + Protect Facial Sunscreen SPF 35 ($18.39)
With a silky matte finish, this super lightweight sunscreen is perfect as a primer before makeup or as a finishing touch in your skin care routine. Apply after moisturizer for an invisible finish without the greasy mess. It doesn’t clog pores and there’s no white cast – just a shine-free finish. Plus, it also contains Niacinamide and vitamin C for skin-brightening benefits.
Elf Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30 ($14)
Prime, protect, and glow! This lightweight sunscreen and primer hybrid delivers broad-spectrum sun protection, preps your skin for long-lasting makeup wear, and imparts a glowy sheer finish. Infused with aloe, hyaluronic acid and squalane, the hydrating formula has a non-greasy feel and is also fragrance-free. Use it as the last step in your skincare routine as a makeup primer, or wear on its own for a natural glow.
It’s available in three flattering shades with just a hint of shimmer: sheer peach shimmer, sheer champagne shimmer and sheer bronze shimmer. Not to mention, the elf Suntouchable Whoa Glow is a great dupe for the Supergoop Glowscreen that retails for $38.
The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30 ($14.99)
This is a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen with a sheer, dewy finish that’s invisible on all skin tones. With a lightweight cream texture, it blends seamlessly into the skin without leaving any white cast. The non-greasy, non-pilling formula leaves skin smooth, dewy and primed creating the perfect base for makeup. Even better, it’s loaded with skin-loving ingredients including an 8% hydration trio which combines Polyglutamic Acid, Glycerin and Squalane to lock in moisture and keep skin hydrated.
Elf Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen SPF 35 ($14)
This is a lightweight, clear gel sunscreen that doubles as a blurring primer with a velvety-smooth finish and grips makeup for long-lasting wear. The transparent formula absorbs pretty quickly with matte finish and looks clear with zero white cast on all skin tones. It’s also great for smoothing the look of textured skin under makeup. Plus, the formula is enriched with soothing aloe and meadowfoam oil for hydration. Also, it’s fragrance-free and water-resistant (80 minutes).
And yes, this is another affordable alternative for Supergoop! The elf Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen is a great dupe for the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen that’s $38.
Hero Cosmetics Force Shield Superbeam Sunscreen SPF 30 ($19.99)
Infused with light-diffusing pearl + apricot pigments, this is a very lightweight super-smooth mineral sunscreen that protects against UVA/UVB rays while adding a soft, luminous glow. It leaves skin feeling moisturized and glowy but not greasy or sticky and works well as a glowy primer. Also, it doesn’t clog pores, making it suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin. You can also see my full review here.
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