The Best Sunscreens to Wear Under Makeup, According to a Beauty Editor

These SPFs work with your foundation, not against it.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:00am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph shot through condensation or rain-streaked glass, composed entirely of blurred silhouettes of makeup brushes, skincare bottles, and other beauty tools in pools of hazy, golden light, conceptually representing the integration of sun protection and cosmetic routines.Sunscreen that seamlessly blends with makeup allows beauty enthusiasts to prioritize skin health without sacrificing their preferred cosmetic looks.Coachella Today

Jasmine Hyman, the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, tested various sunscreen formulas to find the best ones that can be worn seamlessly under makeup without leaving a white cast or pilling. The article highlights five top sunscreen picks that are hydrating, non-comedogenic, and provide ample sun protection while also working well with makeup.

Why it matters

Wearing sunscreen daily is crucial for skin health, but many people struggle to find formulas that don't interfere with their makeup routines. This article provides helpful recommendations from a beauty expert to address that common challenge, allowing readers to protect their skin without sacrificing their preferred cosmetic looks.

The details

The article features five sunscreen recommendations from Hyman that she tested in various environments, including the desert heat of Coachella and the humidity of Florida. The sunscreens highlighted include options from Tatcha, Supergoop, Neutrogena, Ilia, and Sofie Pavitt, all of which are described as having lightweight, hydrating, and non-comedogenic formulas that blend seamlessly under makeup without pilling or leaving a white cast.

  • Hyman tested the sunscreens in the deserts of Coachella and the humidity of Florida.
  • The article was published on April 15, 2026.

The players

Jasmine Hyman

The Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products.

Tatcha

A skincare brand that offers a dewy sunscreen formula that feels more like a hydrating serum or milky essence.

Supergoop

A sunscreen brand that offers a formula loaded with hyaluronic acid, providing hydration and protection against various environmental stressors.

Neutrogena

A drugstore brand that offers a gel-based sunscreen that doubles as a grippy primer, making it ideal for oily or acne-prone skin.

Ilia

A clean beauty brand that offers a sunscreen primer specifically designed to be worn under makeup while providing sun protection.

Sofie Pavitt

A skincare brand that offers a sunscreen formulated for acne-prone skin, with ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, and vitamin E to nourish the skin.

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What they’re saying

“Never in my life has a sunscreen blended into my skin as seamlessly as this SPF. I wore it on repeat in Florida while swimming and exercising, and it didn't leave behind a white finish when mixed with water or sweat. And since it absorbs into the skin so nicely, it works just like a hydrating primer underneath any level of makeup.”

— Jasmine Hyman, Assistant Beauty Editor

“Derms love this sunscreen, and it's easy to see why. Yes, it's great for sun protection, but it's also a well-rounded product with hydration, soothing vitamin E, and protection against environmental irritants, which helps your skin combat aging in the long run. And the hydration-forward texture is great for soaking into the skin ahead of any summer makeup look.”

— Jasmine Hyman, Assistant Beauty Editor

“I normally hate the feeling of silicone-based primers, especially sunscreens, because they make my face feel tight and dry (even though I have very oily skin). But this one from Neutrogena finds a way to be both lightly mattifying and hydrating at the same time. I wore it in the desert amid the Coachella heat and dust, and my makeup didn't pill and my face didn't burn. Win.”

— Beth Gillette, Beauty Editor

“This is my go-to SPF for any time of the year—in the winter, I wear this when I see the sun maybe once a week, and I just wore it all weekend long under my makeup in the desert heat and sun at Coachella. It's even got enough coverage to work as a lightweight skin tint on the days when I want to go lighter on the makeup. Just some blush, concealer, and the glowy version of this SPF 30 primer is all I need for a skinimalist finish.”

— Jasmine Hyman, Assistant Beauty Editor

“I've been waiting for a Sofie Pavitt sunscreen ever since the brand launched three years ago, but she took her time perfecting the formula, which was luckily worth the wait. It goes onto the skin like any other smooth skincare step, absorbs quickly without needing to be aggressively rubbed in, and leaves behind zero whitecast. It's a dream under my favorite skin tints and blushes when I want ample sun protection and skin-loving ingredients without sacrificing my makeup routine.”

— Jasmine Hyman, Assistant Beauty Editor

The takeaway

This article provides valuable insights and recommendations from a beauty expert on how to effectively incorporate sunscreen into one's daily makeup routine. By highlighting a variety of high-performing, skin-nourishing sunscreen formulas that seamlessly blend with cosmetics, the article empowers readers to prioritize sun protection without compromising their preferred makeup looks or skin health.