Best Tinted Sunscreens: The SPF Upgrade Your Skin Has Been Waiting For

Once upon a time, the only thing I expected from a sunscreen was to not get a sunburn and tan. Even if it came with a chalky white cast, or made me look like I had accidentally powdered my face for a theatre performance, I simply accepted my fate and the cost just for UV protection. Thankfully, sunscreens have grown up — actually, the entire skincare game — and so have we.  

Somewhere between the rise of skincare routines and people realising there's no shame in desiring healthier skin, tinted sunscreens entered the holy conversation. As a newbie, I just assumed it was nothing but makeup disguised as a skincare product — just like BB and CC creams, which are the lighter versions of foundations with SPF amounts in pennies. Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. 

Tinted sunscreens aren’t about making you look like you’re about to do a photoshoot; they aim to look like someone never forgot to wear SPF. Importantly, they are one of the smartest products you would want to add to your skincare routine — especially as a person with brown skin. 

At its core, it’s still a sunscreen — protecting your skin against ultraviolet (UV) rays like regular broad-spectrum SPFs. What differentiates it is the addition of iron oxides — mineral pigments — which give the formula its tint.  

Seemingly, that adds two advantages: first, it neutralises the dreaded white cast — especially in mineral and hybrid sunscreens — making it useful for Indian skin tones. Secondly, it protects from high-energy (HEV) blue light — the light rays from your phones and laptop screens worsening your pigmentation, dark spots, melasSUNSCREENma, and acne marks, and contribute to skin ageing. Iron oxides reduce the exposure that many regular sunscreens lack. It prevents them from getting worse while subtly blurring their appearance while you wear it.  

As a person living in a country where hyperpigmentation is practically a universal complaint, that’s a pretty compelling reason to grab this one. 

But if you still think you get a foundation with an SPF, then you’re in a delusion. Tinted sunscreens offer sheer coverage but won’t entirely hide your active breakouts, marks, or pigmentation like a concealer, BB, or CC cream either. What it does is blur the uneven tone and give a healthier skin finish. Your friends may notice you look well-rested but wouldn't notice you're wearing anything — and that’s the point.

If you want light coverage for regular days and want to avoid using makeup, use tinted sunscreen. For those who prefer mineral sunscreens but hate the chalky white cast, go for a mineral-tinted sunscreen — you don't need to sacrifice anything here.

There’s no rocket science required to understand this. Just get the basics right. Indian skin tone is more prone to tanning and pigmentation rather than causing skin cancer. SPF value protects against UVB rays affecting the outer skin layer — between 30-50 is an ideal choice — but a PA rating is non-negotiable, as it protects against UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into your skin. PA+++ is good, but PA++++ is considered best. And I always go for the one with the maximum rating here. A well-formulated tinted sunscreen blends far more naturally into medium and deeper complexions.

Another thing to include in the checklist is to choose the right shade. Many tinted sunscreens are available in a range of shades, and all you need to do is choose the one that suits your skin tone — use the same technique you do while choosing a foundation. Consider yourself lucky if you get your hands on a sunscreen that suits your skin type with a universal tint — same results with less effort. Additionally, pay attention to the finish and texture: lightweight fluid or gel-based formulations are mainly for combination to oily skin, and creamier textures are for dry skin. 

A tip: if you want to use a tinted sunscreen just for extra protection and want to avoid looking cakey after reapplication, apply a thin layer of tinted sunscreen after regular sunscreen.  

Here’s a list of the tinted versions of the sunscreens — some of which you must already be using.  

La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Tinted Fluid SPF50+  

ISDIN Fotoprotector Fusion Water Magic Color SPF 50 PA++++  

Heliocare 360 Color

Bioderma Photoderm Aquafluide SPF 50+ PA++++ 

Eclipse Solaire Tinted Aqua Fusion Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ 

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50 

iS Clinical Eclipse SPF 50+ 

Clinique Superdefense City Block