Foundation with SPF: feel the glow with these 8 favorites

Supergoop has really dialed in their makeup/sunscreen hybrid game with their Protec(tint) Daily Skin Tint SPF 50. Like everything I love from them, it’s lightweight and lets my skin breathe without pilling or sliding around–but the best part is the way it layers. One swipe is great for reducing redness and giving my face a more even appearance. Two swipes offers a more foundation-like (but not cakey) look that doesn’t settle into lines. It’s my new favorite multitasker!

Good for: dry skin, sensitive skin, anyone who prefers lighter coverage

Who doesn’t love a drug store hero? At less than $10 bucks, Maybelline’s Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation is one of the best bargains in the category. The coverage is sheer but buildable and looks so dewy and fresh, even on dry skin. It also doesn’t feel heavy or suffocating and gives skin a smoother appearance over all. Our only complaint is that there aren’t nearly enough darker shades.

Good for: buildable coverage, normal skin, budget shopping

I finally found my holy grail of foundation with SPF: Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint with SPF 40. With two young kids, I maybe get 3 minutes alone in the morning to get ready (if I’m lucky) and with Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint I can actually get meeting-ready, sometimes with time to spare. I love that you apply it to clean skin—no need to even moisturize beforehand! Simply apply about a quarter size drop and apply it like a serum. It does take a couple of minutes to set and you’ll be able to see the formula adjust to your skin tone after application. The Skin Tint provides a dewy finish and light coverage, though I personally think the coverage is enough to last me through a day’s worth of video calls. And, its mineral SPF and skincare ingredients are just the cherry on top. 

Good for: Moms who like to multitask, mineral SPF preferences, dry skin

As someone who prefers light coverage but also doesn’t ever skimp on the SPF–even in the dead of Vermont winter–I’ve become a real Daybird devotee. Their 4-in-1 Serum Skin Tint is like skincare meets sunscreen meets makeup, giving your face a dewy look that’s even and fresh. The formula is on the thin side, but instantly evens out redness with chamomile extract and gives skin a boost via Niacinamide. It’s not greasy or heavy, nor does it pill or get cakey. Honestly, it’s a busy mom’s BFF!

Good for: sheer coverage, mature skin, dewy looks

Another skincare/makeup hybrid I adore is the MDSolarSciences MD Mineral BB Crème SPF 50. The super silky tinted formula glides on easy and diffuses whatever redness/funkiness my skin has going on thanks to an infusion of caffeine and niacinamide. It’s not pilly or greasy, but leaves a matte finish that can act alone or as a primer for a more traditional foundation. 

Good for: Sensitive skin, eczema, matte finish

I don’t wear foundation regularly, but this is my go-to when I have somewhere to be that’s not a formal, full-face of makeup event. It’s super lightweight but gives just enough coverage to even out my tone and hide my sun damage while preventing more damage with SPF 30 baked in. 

Good for: a wide range of skin tones, fine lines, large pores

This cult favorite is allegedly the #1 SPF Foundation in America, raved about for its coverage and breathability. (According to one of our editors, they also make one of the best under eye concealers on the market.) Personally, we love that it’s SPF 50+ because the higher that number is the better off your skin will be. The broad-spectrum formula is also color-correcting, evening out both redness and discoloration as well as the occasional pimple that crops up. And for those of us earning our wrinkles, it also contains anti-aging properties and hydrating ingredients to plump skin and keep it from settling into fine lines.

Good for: Buildable coverage, uneven skin tones, those who want a high SPF

A viral favorite, I only recently gave Colorescience’s Flex formula a try and have to agree with every bit of hype. (I was introduced to the brand by my facialist who swears by their products and has skin a newborn baby would be jealous of, so I’ll take her word on any and all things SPF.) The lightweight mineral formula is made with their patented EnviroScreen Technology which blocks not only UVA and UVB rays but also helps defend skin against blue light, pollution and infared radiation. And while it comes out white, it’s packed with the tiniest iron oxide pigments that transform into color coverage which adapt to your skin tone. (It’s plain sorcery if you ask me!) I love the fresh-faced look it gives even without make-up over top and it’s not the least bit greasy or stingy. Choose from four different shades and per the brand’s recommendation, if you’re between shades, go lighter.

Good for: Skincare junkies, demi-matte finish, medium coverage