The best tinted sunscreen for oily skin should check many boxes, making the quest to find the ideal one a struggle. With a constant tendency to break out, a slick look, and a continuous need for attention, oily skin is tricky. That’s why, if you skew oily, you should be paying a great deal of attention to what you’re smearing on. And since sunscreen is that product you’re using every day (I hope you do!), why not give your skin a bit of tint to even tone while keeping it shielded against harmful sun rays? Easier said than done.
The best tinted sunscreens for oily skin
That’s why we rounded up the best sunscreens for oily skin that also give color, never clog pores, or leave a greasy feeling while boosting your complexion with skin-loving ingredients.
Avène Mineral Tinted Compact SPF 50
This tinted sunscreen is the reason I gave up on foundation in the last year. As an oily, breakout-prone skin type, I consider this one an ideal option. Above everything, the formula lacks oil, fragrances, and alcohol, three culprits of skin sensitivities, it’s non-comedogenic and non-irritating. I also love the cream-to-powder texture and matte finish it leaves, plus it comes in a mirror-compact, making touchups easy throughout the day. Last but not least, Avène Mineral Tinted Compact defends against sun rays with SPF 50, using only Earth-derived minerals, it’s spiked with squalane to balance oil and antioxidants to scavenge free radicals. Yep, an over-achiever.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral is a cult favorite (not only in French pharmacies), having a safe-for-all formula boosted with vitamin E to neutralize free radicals, plus silica, a powder that absorbs excess sebum. It’s just as good for skin prone to reactions and gives a non-slick matte finish, making it one of the very best tinted sunscreens for oily skin. Lightly tinted, it’s the ideal way to stay protected against sunbeams while having an even tone — who needs foundation now?!
Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen SPF 30
This is the best powder-tinted sunscreen for oily skin that imparts a sheer matte finish whilst absorbing excess oil, controlling shine, and defending against UV. Along with the broad-spectrum SPF 50 that offsets early wrinkles and dark spots, it contains humectants to hydrate and control oil, grape seed extract to counteract free radicals, and calms with green tea extract. It’s also hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic and comes in 4 shades. Toss it in your bag for effortless reapplication throughout the day.
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
Do you want the best tinted sunscreen with a clean formula that layers like a serum? This is it. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint is packed with natural zinc oxide to give SPF 40, squalane, niacinamide, and sodium hyaluronate to burst hydration, plus aloe juice and bisabolol to soothe. It has light coverage with a dewy finish, and the best part is that it comes in 30 true-to-skin shades, so you can find your ideal match with no struggle.
SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense
This is a great product for those who want to enhance natural skin tone with a sheer tint. As one of the best tinted sunscreens for oily skin, SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB defense with SPF 50 from naturally-derived minerals. Additionally, the formula is made with plankton extract that boosts the skin’s natural shield against UV for added benefits. Non-comedogenic, never feeling heavy, water-resistant, it leaves complexion even, radiant and dewy — an excellent bet for your gym days.
Elta MD UV Elements Tinted Facial Sunscreen SPF 44
This tinted sunscreen is made on a water base, making it super lightweight, is oil-free, and non-comedogenic — a special treat for oily skin. Elta MD UV Elements Tinted Facial Sunscreen contains vitamin C ester to neutralize free radicals and sodium hyaluronate to balance sebum, along with a combo of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to give broad-spectrum protection. Bonus: it’s fragrance-free, non-greasy, and doesn’t leave a white cast but assures a natural tint and a satin finish.
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream
In order to balance sebum, oily skin needs hydration. And bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Sunscreen gives you just that and some more. Boasted with minerals, this tinted sunscreen protects against sunbeams with SPF 50 while leaving a flawless natural finish and infusing skin with squalane, trehalose, and sodium hyaluronate. The 20 shades are a huge boon, making finding your perfect match an effortless task.
Paula’s Choice Daily Wrinkle Defense Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
Paula’s Choice Daily Wrinkle Defense Tinted Moisturizer stands out as the best tinted sunscreen for oily skin that craves antioxidant defense. The lightweight formula imparts a soft matte finish while shielding against premature aging with SPF 30 from minerals and a medley of potent antioxidants. Though it comes in one shade, it blends quite well with light and medium skin tones. We’re waiting for darker shades too!
Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Sunscreen SPF 30
The hue in this tinted sunscreen is sheer, rather good for imparting light coverage and focusing more on skincare and sun protection. It’s spiked with a mix of antioxidants to offset free radicals, but the hero of the game is 20% zinc oxide that ensures SPF 30, so the sun won’t wreak havoc on your skin. Maybe it’s not good at replacing your foundation, but it protects against UVA/UVB damage and free radicals.
