Sunscreen 101: Finding Your Best Match
Hello beautiful people! As promised, I’m going to show you the best products to give your skin protection, but also a luminous, healthy glow! These are my personal favorites that I have repurchased multiple times, because they are just that good. These are guaranteed to look flawless underneath your makeup, too! Up first is:
This. Sunscreen. Is. Amazing. It lasts me about 3-4 months, and trust me, I use a lot of it. I love it because it gives you a beautiful, smoothed out complexion, without looking orange, which I notice is common for many tinted moisturizers and sunscreens. It glides over my sensitive skin easily and is not time-consuming to rub in. It evens out my redness and pigmentation without feeling heavy, thick, or oily. It’s also great for post-procedure treatments, because it is a mineral sunscreen, therefore it won’t feel stingy or irritating. It has a matte finish, so if you are oily or just don’t love shine, you’ll especially love this! For anyone with normal/combo or dry skin, you can definitely still use it! As always, just make sure you’re using a hydrating moisturizer underneath. If you have a medium to deep skin tone, I would suggest using their clear version which is right here.
My next favorite is the Alastin Hydratint ProMineral Broad Spectrum SPF 36
This is truly a gorgeous tinted sunscreen. It’s extremely hydrating, lightweight, and gives you that major glow. It is another mineral sunscreen, which I personally prefer over chemical sunscreen. If you’d like to learn about the differences between physical and chemical, I would be happy to explain that in a later post. This sunscreen has an abundance of peptides that can help stimulate collagen and elastin production, improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and texture. It is also rich in niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, some of my favorite ingredients! The consistency reminds me of the IT Cosmetics CC Cream. It is a beautiful foundation when you need that full coverage, but also want a glow, and works well on mature skin with fine lines and wrinkles. I have used it on many mother-of-the-brides. It’s creamy, dreamy, and amazing. I’m getting ahead of myself, foundation is a whole other world. I can compile a list of the best foundations I’ve tried if that piques your interest! In conclusion, if you love a tinted SPF that’s luminous, glowy, and radiant, this is a must have in your skincare arsenal!
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Full Coverage Foundation
Well, I already brought it up, so let’s talk about it! Technically this is a foundation, but it's more like a multi-tasking product that combines skincare and makeup benefits in one. It's infused with anti-aging ingredients like peptides, niacin, and hyaluronic acid, all of which can help to hydrate and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time. It comes in a range of shades to suit a variety of skin tones and contains SPF 50 which is definitely a huge plus for me, as I always look for products with at least SPF 30. One of the biggest benefits of this foundation is that it provides full coverage while still looking natural on the skin. The formula is buildable, so you can apply more layers if you need more coverage, but even with just one layer, it can cover redness, blemishes, and uneven skin tone. Basically, it's a lazy girl's dream come true - one product that does it all? Yes, please!
Colorescience Brush-On Sunscreen Mineral Powder
Okay, if you haven’t heard of this powder you need to trust me and buy it immediately. It became a game-changer for me and I’m never looking back. Over the years I have gotten frustrated because there wasn’t any SPF on the market that I could use on top of makeup, especially if I’m spending the day outdoors. This is a must-have product for anyone who wants to protect their skin without sacrificing their makeup look. It’s a mineral-based powder that comes with a brush that you can sweep gently over your makeup to protect your skin against UVA and UVB rays. It’s lightweight, breathable and perfect for touch-ups throughout the day. Plus, it contains nourishing and anti-aging ingredients like antioxidants and hyaluronic acid that hydrate and protect the skin from environmental stressors. Trust me, this product is life changing and will quickly become your go-to for sun protection and touch-ups on the go!
Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 33
This is the first sunscreen I’m mentioning that is not tinted (there’s no white cast, don’t worry!) and gives you a glow so mesmerizing that people will actually stop you on the street. Seriously! People would often ask me what’s on my skin when I used to work at a spa and were shocked to find out that I would only have this on. This formula contains a potent blend of antioxidants, including green tea extract, to help defend your skin against free radicals and other environmental stressors that can cause premature aging. It’s also loaded with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help hydrate and plump up your skin, leaving it looking smooth and radiant. On top of that, it’s oil-free and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores or contribute to acne breakouts. If you’re combination/oily in general or in the summertime, this can double as your moisturizer and sunscreen. I love it for underneath makeup because it doesn’t alter the color of your foundation in any way and you don’t have to worry about it not blending into your skin tone.
Well, that’s all for now! Thanks for sticking around and I hope that these recommendations helped guide you on your path towards your best skin. If you have any questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, and if you try out any of these products, let me know what you think. :)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Hey! I'm Madeleine,
A makeup artist based in Los Angeles with 9 years of experience in the beauty industry. I'm passionate about helping people learn more about makeup, skincare, and wellness, and how it can enhance their natural beauty. Sign up here to get emails when I post a new blog!
Hot tip:
Use a brush to apply this product so you get a smoother application.
