The 7 Best Sunscreens for Under Makeup in 2026

Lightweight and oil-free, EltaMD UV Clear Untinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 sunscreen is gentle on sensitive skin. In fact, it’s specifically formulated for skin that’s prone to acne and redness. It soothes and calms irritation while delivering long-lasting SPF 46 protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

This untinted sunscreen is enriched with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants. In addition to improving your skin’s natural tone and texture, it supports hydration and boosts your skin’s defenses against environmental aggressors. Plus, it won’t feel greasy or heavy on your skin, making it a great option to layer under makeup.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Lightweight, oil-free, and non-comedogenic
• Actively soothes and calms irritated skin
• Provides sheer protection without a white cast

If you prefer a lightly tinted option, consider CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sheer Tint. This mineral-based sunscreen blends effortlessly with any skin tone, giving you a flawless finish and a smooth foundation for makeup. Its lightweight and breathable texture ensures you won’t even notice you’re wearing it.

Not only does this formula offer SPF 30 protection, but it helps hydrate your skin with the addition of ceramides and niacinamide. This fragrance-free formula is dermatologist-developed and suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Mineral-based formula with a sheer tint
• Gives your skin a natural glow, no white cast
• Fragrance-free formula was developed by dermatologists

Hydrate and protect your skin with ISDIN Fusion Water MAGIC SPF 40 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen. This ultralight sun protection lotion absorbs quickly, so it doesn’t leave any residue that might clog your pores or cling to makeup. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic which makes it a great choice for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.

This ISDIN formula delivers broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Plus, it’s infused with hydrating ingredients to support skin barrier repair and protect against moisture loss. The result is smoother, more supple skin that looks radiant with or without makeup.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Ultra-light lotion absorbs quickly into skin
• Doesn’t leave any residue or a white cast
• Infused with hydrating ingredients

Whether you’re worried about breakouts or struggle with shine, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Oil-Free Dry Touch Sunscreen could be the perfect fit. This fragrance-free formula is specifically designed with oily skin in mind, so it won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts. It sets quickly to a weightless matte finish, giving you a smooth foundation for makeup.

Not only does this sunscreen offer broad-spectrum sun protection, but it actively helps control excess oil throughout the day. That means you don’t have to worry about your makeup sliding or pilling, even in hot and humid weather. This formula even offers up to 80 minutes of water resistance for extra protection against sweat.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Oil-free formula sets to a matte finish
• Doesn’t clog pores or irritate skin
• Helps control shine from excess surface oil

Why not simplify your daily routine by combining your makeup with sun protection? Instead of waiting for your sunscreen to set and hoping your foundation won’t slide, reach for this MDSolar Sciences MD Mineral BB Creme. It delivers SPF 50 protection while smoothing, and brightening your skin. It’s a unique sunscreen makeup hybrid that blurs imperfections without making your skin feel heavy or greasy.

Formulated by dermatologists, this BB creme comes in four shades so you can find your perfect fit. It’s infused with powerhouse ingredients like antioxidants and niacinamide to give your skin a healthy boost while helping you look your best.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Can be worn as a primer or makeup alternative
• Delivers sheer SPF 50 protection
• Anti-aging ingredients help smooth and brighten skin

Looking for a tinted sunscreen that perfectly suits your skin tone? Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex comes in six shades ranging from Fair to Rich Deep. It’s a broad-spectrum, tinted mineral sunscreen designed with adaptive tint technology. So even if the original shade isn’t a perfect match, it blends to a flawless finish as you apply it.

In addition to delivering SPF 50 protection against the sun’s UV rays, this formula helps support your skin’s defenses against other environmental aggressors like blue light and pollution. It’s enriched with antioxidants and infused with hydrating ingredients, too, like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Tinted sunscreen adapts to your skin tone
• Hydrates and nourishes while protecting your skin
• Lightweight formula with a flawless, natural finish

If you want your sunscreen to do even more for you, consider an anti-aging formula like Revision Skincare Intellishade Original. It’s actually a tinted moisturizer that delivers powerful SPF 45 protection against UVA and UVB rays. This formula also includes anti-aging peptides and antioxidants to help smooth and brighten your skin to give it a more youthful, radiant appearance (even without makeup).

This product is perfect if you want to eliminate a step from your daily routine. It works well as a primer under foundation or as an alternative to makeup. It’s oil-free and non-comedogenic, so you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores. And it’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and mature skin.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Tinted moisturizer with SPF 45 protection
• Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Enriched with anti-aging peptides and antioxidants

Many of the problems people experience wearing makeup over sunscreen come down to application. It’s important to let your sunscreen set before applying makeup (yes, sunscreen always goes on before primer and makeup).

But if you’re thinking about updating your skincare routine and want to choose a sun protection product that works well under makeup, here are some qualities to look for:

Lightweight and oil-free

Lotions and gels are going to be your best bet for layering sunscreen under makeup. Always go with an oil-free, non-comedogenic option to make sure it won’t clog your pores. Heavier creams can be well-suited to dry skin types, but could contribute to breakouts when trapped under a full face of makeup.

• Try CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sheer Tint for lightweight, oil-free protection or give your skin a boost of hydration with ISDIN Fusion Water MAGIC SPF 40 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen.

Makeup-friendly or matte finish

It doesn’t hurt to check the packaging for buzz words like “makeup-friendly” or “matte finish.” These products can help prevent makeup from flaking. Choosing a matte finish is particularly important if you have oily skin, as it can help prevent your foundation from sliding off or pilling over top of your sunscreen.

• Designed to create a smooth, non-greasy layer of protection on your skin, try La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Oil-Free Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 60.

No white cast

Chemical sunscreens and sheer mineral sunscreens are going to be the least noticeable under makeup. You want to avoid anything that leaves a white cast on your skin, as it could alter the color of your foundation.

• Formulated with a transparent zinc oxide finish, EltaMD UV Clear Untinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 improves skin texture without leaving a white cast.

Tinted sunscreen

If you’re worried about white cast or want to eliminate a few products from your makeup routine, swap foundation for tinted sunscreen. Many formulas feature a universal tint that blends with a wide range of skin tones. Others are tinted to specific shades, like MDSolar Sciences MD Mineral BB Creme SPF 50 which is formulated as a sunscreen makeup hybrid.

• You could also pair an SPF moisturizer like Revision Skincare Intellishade Original SPF 45 Tinted Moisturizer with tinted sunscreen like Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50 for double the protection.

If you’re tired of sunscreen pilling up under foundation or triggering irritation and breakouts, it’s time to switch things up. The key is to choose a lightweight sunscreen that absorbs quickly to form a smooth base under makeup. It’s also crucial to make sure your sunscreen and makeup are compatible (oil-based products don’t mix with water-based products).

Whether you wear makeup or not, it’s always wise to wear sunscreen. And don’t forget to reapply sunscreen to ensure continuous protection.

Shop sunscreen on Exclusive Beauty Club to find your perfect fit.