I tried 3 tinted SPFs promising foundation coverage– one covered my pigmentation
Our head of beauty goes barefaced to test new tinted SPFs from Supergoop!, Beauty of Joseon and Merit...
I have a confession: I don't like applying suncream to my face. I feel guilty even typing it, being a beauty editor and all. Don't get me wrong, I completely appreciate the importance of wearing it every day, and I will do it, but I've just never found the whole applying and wearing experience pleasant. Even formulas promising to be non-sticky, fast-absorbing and ultra-lightweight feel claggy or greasy to me. I just feel cleaner when I'm not wearing the extra SPF layer on my skin.
But this year, after turning 32, I've really started to notice a change in my skin. Patches of pigmentation on my cheeks have started to appear, and I don't have that youthful glow that I've taken for granted my whole life. So, in a bid to keep my skin looking as healthy as possible for as long as possible, I've made it my mission to take daily suncare more seriously – because, as we all know, diligent SPF usage can ward off signs of premature ageing.
I may be a little late to the 'I love SPF party', but I have picked a good year to become a devotee. I've seen more and more launches from SPF brands promising tinted coverage to rival foundations, water-light textures to rival your usual day serum, and pore-diffusing formulas that mimic a good primer. In fact, three landed on our Mirror beauty desk the exact week I made it my mission to find my perfect product in Beauty of Joseon's Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen, Supergoop!'s Mattescreen or Merit's The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen.
Spoiler: One of them has indeed turned out to be juuuust right...
A note before we start: I will just say that all of these SPFs can give a nice tint, but they won't ever be a foundation, and vice versa. SPF tests are based on applying 2mg per square centimetre of skin, which is a lot more product than most people use for make-up. So, I'm trying to find a tinted SPF that comes as close to a foundation as possible while still being very much an SPF.
Supergoop's Mattescreen Sunscreen SPF30
Shop it for £36.50
Pros:
Genuinely mattifying without feeling chalky or tight
Smooth, silicone-primer-like texture that grips make-up
Helps foundation stay in place all day
Mineral formula with zinc oxide, ideal for sensitive or reactive skin
Light tint that blends well and reduces white cast
Doesn't pill under other skincare or make-up
Cons:
£34 price tag is on the higher side
One universal shade made to blend with a 'broad range of skin tones' – but darker skin tones report it can give a slight ashy cast
Matte finish may not suit those who prefer a dewy look
SPF30 is good, but not the highest available (worth noting, though, that the brand has many other SPF50s)
Zoe says: "I absolutely love this SPF because it feels like a primer, cutting down my number one issue with many SPFs: how greasy they feel. It actually reminds me of the Smashbox silicone-based primer I used to wear when I went out for a big night out and wanted to make-up to really last. I will keep wearing this under a foundation, but I think it's easy to see from my before-and-after shot that it doesn't offer much in the way of coverage. However, with only one universal tint shade currently available, there's no way it could be so tinted that it suits only one skin tone. I do like how it mattifies my skin, and it really doesn't feel like an SPF to apply, so it's hard to fault it for anything other than it being a factor 30 instead of 50 and not covering blemishes or pigmentation."
Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF30
Shop it for £17
Pros
The texture is super lightweight and serum-like
Has a soft, natural finish that's not too matte or too glowy
Comes with a sheer tint that gives a nice blurring effect
No fragrance
Available in 12 flexible shades
The price is pretty reasonable, especially for something you'd use every day
Cons
SPF30 is fine for everyday use, but might not cut it if you're out in strong sun for long
Doesn't shout about its UVA protection, which could be a worry if you're prone to pigmentation (like me)
It's not the longest-lasting, on account of it being very sheer
Zoe says:" When I first applied this, I was almost certain it wouldn't be for me. It's water-light, which is really lovely, but it's so sheer. For a girl like me who has a very shiny face anyway (read: oily), it made me feel like Edward Cullen from Twilight when he goes into the sunshine. However, once I let it settle in, it really grew on me. It genuinely feels weightless on my skin, and I love the shade choice available. From my photos, I can also see how much it evened out my skin tone, despite not giving much coverage in a typical base sense. I left this out for my 64-year-old mum to try, and she LOVES it. She says it makes her look so youthful. If you're looking for an anti-ageing tint, or you love the K-beauty 'glass skin' look, this will be for you."
Merit Beauty The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF50
Shop it for £34
Pros
Feels lightweight on the skin, almost like you're not wearing anything
Has a natural, satin finish– not too matte or too dewy
Comes in 15 shades that are designed to adapt well to a variety of skin tones
Uses 100% mineral zinc oxide for SPF 50 protection, and doesn't leave a white cast
Made without silicones, oils, or fragrance, so it's a good shout for sensitive or acne-prone skin
Sheer but buildable coverage that evens out tone without looking heavy or cakey
Cons
Can cling to dry patches if your skin isn't well prepped
Some users have reported a bit of pilling when layered over certain moisturisers or serums
At £34, it's definitely on the spendy side for a daily SPF
Zoe says: "I teased earlier that I found my perfect SPF match, and this is the one I was referring to. I love it, and I never thought I'd say that about an SPF. I went a shade darker in the tint than I normally would in a foundation, and it gave me both the look of instant bronzing drops and a lightweight foundation. I felt like my skin looked healthier and smoother, and even my patches of pigmentation were covered. It's definitely lighter than a foundation, but it also meant I could skip a base layer. In fact, I tested layering it under my regular foundation, and I have to say it looks much better on its own. It's very quickly become my holiday, weekend and working from home go-to– and it's definitely worth the price."
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