The journey that ultimately led me to discover the Josh Rosebrook Tinted Nutrient Day Cream was long. We all know that protecting your face from UVB and UVA rays is uber important. But let me share something with you: I hated sunscreen for most of my life. Because, like clockwork, I would develop large, painful, under-the-skin pimples the day after applying sunscreen. This problem persisted for years.
Instead of sunscreen, I used to rely almost solely on hats to shield my face from the sun’s rays. That is until I found an ingredient-conscious sunblock by COOLA. Their standard facial sunblock was a game gamer for me. And, as a bonus, it made my oily skin matte, in a very attractive way. Almost like I was wearing foundation!
I’ve since explored quite a few various vegan sunscreens and tinted SPF creams, including the ones by Josh Rosebrook. Now I’m officially converted! Below I’m sharing my absolute favourite suncare picks. Each is stellar in different scenarios, whether you need a straight-up no-fuss sunblock or you are looking for a tinted SPF coverage with a specific finish.
All of the brands mentioned in this article are cruelty-free. And all the products are vegan! I’ve tested each of these on my acne-prone, sensitive, oily skin and none of the them caused me any breakouts.
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COOLA’s Tinted CC Cream SPF is hands-down my absolute favourite clean beauty sunscreen! The fact that it has a fairly universally flattering peachy-beige tint to it is an added bonus. It has since replaced the original COOLA Matte formula as my favourite SPF. (The original formula was great, but did leave a touch of a white cast.)
If you have oily, acne-prone skin and aren’t looking for a dewy finish, you should check out COOLA’s matte SPF formulas. Personally in the summer, I find my skincare routine, finished with the Matte Tinted SPF BB Cream is enough to keep my skin looking fresh (aka: not shiny) throughout even the stickiest of sun-soaked days.
The rave reviews for the Suntegrity 5-in-1 Tinted Sunscreen say enough. This is a delightful, barely-there feeling sunscreen that works perfectly on its own or under makeup. It also hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid, astaxanthin, and red algae. The formula is also infused with pomegranate, cucumber, green tea, and other great botanicals.
My one cirtique is that I wish they would expand the shade range! They offer four tinted shades, and the darkest is more of a tan colour.
Another fan favourite: the Sun Prep Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 25 by Hynt Beauty is a must-try! It wears perfectly under makeup and has a bit of a skin-priming effect. Plus, it does not create an ashy, white cast and sinks beautifully into the skin. I love that it contains a balanced plant blend, such as aloe, sesame, and green tea.
For all you dry-skin gals out there, this product is for you! Unlike the other suncare products mentioned in this article, Ilia’s Sheer Vivid Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 has a dewy-wet finish and a creamy consistency. During the drier months, I sometimes need to use a little sunscreen. Especially if I’ve been using AHA’s the night before! This is one of the tinted SPF BB Creams I reach for when I want something that feels more like a moisturizer.
ACNE TIP:
Retonoils or AHA’s, like Lactic Acid, are great for treating acne-prone skin. But they can sensitize your skin even further to the sun! Also, sun exposure can make red marks stick around longer, or get deeper in colour. So, I’m sure to use a Tinted SPF on the following day.
What’s wonderful about this formula is that it provides quite a bit of colour deposit. So if you prefer wearing minimal makeup, but still want some medium coverage, this is a great choice. The formula pairs well with cream concealers, but layering foundation over top can be hit or miss. It also comes in 30 shades!
Tip: If you find that this tinted SPF is too shiny, you can easily change the finish by applying a mattifying powder, like the RMS Tranlucent setting power.
COOLA’s Cucumber Matte SPF 30 has got to be one of the best (if not the best) face SPFs for oily skin. It is the product that made me change my mind about sunscreen being incompatible with my acne-prone, oily skin. The shea butter and cucumber extract found in this sunscreen nourish the skin while calming any redness. It’s an all-around beautiful and well-priced SPF.
I absolutely adore this formula and how my skin looks with it on! This silky SPF somehow magically gives me porcelain doll skin. Similar to a primer, it dramatically minimizes the appearance of my large pores and acne marks.
My main critique is that it leaves a slight milky cast to the skin. This is fine for those with pale skin, but anyone with a decent amount of melanin should check out the above recommendations instead.