QQ: Does the SPF in Foundation Count? We Asked Experts

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Not a day goes by where I'm not preaching the gospel that is wearing sunscreen every day. It’s singlehandedly the most important part of one’s skincare routine, especially if you're all about anti-aging. For those who love a multi-step routine, it’s no biggie to use it each day, but for those who prefer to streamline things, there are thankfully a ton of skin tints and foundations that contain SPF to help you double up on coverage (because, as you'll read below, foundations with SPF don't count as your only sun protection).

I'm constantly testing out different foundations because A) it’s my job, and B) I'll never stop searching for the perfect base product. So, without further ado, I present you with the best foundations with SPF. From drugstore picks like L’Oréal and Maybelline to clean beauty brands like Kosas and Tower 28, there’s something for everyone on this list.

I did the v-hard work of testing dozens of foundations with SPF to compile the best of the best—keep scrolling for all of my top faves. Plus, get the 411 on choosing the best one for your skin type, finish preference, and more.

Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation SPF 45

Not only does this foundation have good ol' SPF 45, it's also truly just such a good formula—and my favorite from this list. It gives my skin a glowy sheen, thanks to acai oil, camellia oil, and jojoba esters, and glides over my skin with ease, all the while offering up a solid medium coverage to hide zits, dark spots, and more. It adds a little extra coverage against the sun's rays with a mix of chemical and mineral UV filters.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, acai oil, camelina oil

• Finish: Dewy

• SPF: 45

• Shades: 28

Glowing customer review: “Melts into skin, great spf, really easy to apply and has an amazing coverage."

Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

If you can’t summon the glow from within, store-bought is just fine! Listen, if you want to look like a dewy bb, this serum-based foundation from Ilia is the answer. It's loaded with shea butter, which is the GOAT for giving your skin hella moisture and a strong glow. I pair it with a highlighter on my cheekbones, and I can practically be seen from space. But it's also packed with hydrating squalane and hyaluronic acid, as well as niacinamide to help brighten and zinc oxide for sun protection.

• Key ingredients: Squalane, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, shea butter

• Finish: Dewy

• SPF: 40

• Shades: 30

Glowing customer review: "I wanted a foundation that made it look like I was NOT wearing makeup. This foundation has been worth every penny and I will be purchasing more in the future."

CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream SPF 50+

One of the top-selling CC creams on the market (um, just look at the 19,000+ five-star reviews on Amazon) I still remember saving up to buy this product in college. There are so many shades to choose from, which I truly appreciate as someone who needs varying shades of foundation depending on the season (I refuse to leave my apartment in the winter, obviously). And while it’s a CC cream, it’s surprisingly full coverage without feeling heavy or cake-y on my face.

This has a denser texture, so I prefer to stipple it on with a foundation brush, especially when I want more coverage. But it is spreadable enough that you could def blend it in with your fingers.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin E

• Finish: Natural

• SPF: 30+

• Shades: 22

Glowing customer review: “Love this! I love the coverage and the smoothness! I love that it stays matte all day for me. I also love that it has SPF! Definitely glad I tried this since I have been using another brand for years!!”

Protec(tint) Daily SPF Tint SPF 50 Sunscreen Skin Tint

Unlike many SPF skin tints that offer only light, medium, or dark shades, Supergoop offers 14 different shades to choose from, which might not sound like a lot in the age of 40+ shade ranges—but the range between skin tones is pretty fantastic (peep some swatches on deep skin by CocoaSwatches).

But the shade range is just the start of why I love this product, because the formula has a light-to-medium coverage that feels like nothing on your skin, says celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon. “I love the lightweight feeling of a skin tint that also delivers results," she explains. "This one is truly buildable, which, in my opinion, is rare for a skin tint."

• Key ingredients: Ectoin, hyaluronic acid,

• Finish: Natural

• SPF: 50

• Shades: 14

Glowing customer review: “Love this product! It’s such a great everyday wear product. It’s a must to wear sunscreen everyday and it’s so easy to do it when it’s a part of your makeup routine! Love this and the coverage and hydration!”

Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation

I'm all about getting a good deal, and this Infallible foundation from L'Oreal is something I've considered gatekeeping (but would never, ofc). This lightweight, sheer-yet-buildable foundation comes in a whopping 40 shades, including ultra fair, tan, medium, and deep.

But it's also packed with chemical and mineral SPF 25 to help give you a little bit of protection over your daily sunscreen. Beauty editor Beth Gillette is also a fan. "I love how easy this is to pounce into my skin with a makeup sponge," she says. "It gives me a natural finish, and then I can go in and add a little extra coverage to any pimples or dark spots with a brush."

• Key ingredients: Octinoxate, titanium dioxide, dimethicone

• Finish: Natural

• SPF: 25

• Shades: 40

Glowing customer review: “I love the product.its like a no makeup look all day.i feel fresh and least worried about fine lines appearing on face after other foundations”

Mineral Beauty Balm SPF 50 Tinted Matte BB Crème

It can be tough to find a mineral sunscreen that doesn't leave behind a chalky, white finish, but this tinted BB cream from MDSolarSciences is actually the GOAT. It spreads easily and gives you that your-skin-but-better look. Not only does it offer a solid medium coverage, but it's also formulated with de-puffing caffeine and brightening niacinamide to address other skincare concerns. Aharon also approves. “This is such a great one for sensitive skin, and I love the velvety finish—it works beautifully as a semi-matte primer too," she says.

• Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc Oxide

• Finish: Natural

• SPF: 50

• Shades: 4

Glowing customer review: “I have been using MD Mineral Cream daily for years. I am on the back side of 60 and am continuously told how great my skin looks. The cream goes on like silk, provides a nice tone to natural skin tone and protects the skin from its worst enemy, the sun. I love this product. Not to mention that it’s a great gift idea for friends.”

Dream Urban Cover Flawless Coverage Foundation Makeup SPF 50

When I wanna cover up every crevice on my face, I reach for this full-coverage foundation from Maybelline. I keep coming back to this drugstore buy because it offers up opaque coverage but feels shockingly lightweight on my skin. Offering a matte finish, it defies the wear and tear of the day, maintaining its coverage from morning to night—a rare feat among many formulas, especially the usual suspects you expect from foundation with SPF, considering this boasts a whopping SPF 50.

And because it isn’t super pricey, I don’t mind being generous with it; I even use it on my neck, which sometimes gets left out when using expensive formulas.

• Key ingredients: Homosalate, octisalate

• Finish: Matte

• SPF: 50

• Shades: 27

Glowing customer review: “This is the best foundation I've ever found. I use the Natural Ivory shade, and it's a perfect match for my skin tone. I have a lot of redness from rosacea, and this product covers it completely but still looks natural. Also love that it has built-in SPF sun protection. Highly recommend for anyone who wants full coverage that still looks natural.”

Tint & Protect SPF 50+ Tinted Serum Foundation

If you hate a thick, goopy foundation but also want medium to full coverage, you've gotta try this serum foundation. It's got a feather-light, watery formula, but somehow also completely covers pimples, dark spots, and more without settling into fine lines or clinging to texture. FWIW, Gillette has gone through an entire bottle since this launched last fall. "This gives my skin a blurred, natural finish that basically hides everything and makes me look—dare I say—flawless," she says. And whaddya know, it boasts an impressive SPF of over 50 to help keep you protected af.

• Key ingredients: Allantoin, bisabolol, niacinamide

• Finish: Natural, blurring

• SPF: 50+

• Shades: 13

Glowing customer review: “Far exceeded any expectation I ever had for foundation. Feels amazing, good coverage, clean and dewy, not oily! My skin loves it year round.”

SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation

I was absolutely geeked when I discovered this tinted sunscreen because it provides enough coverage for me to ditch my foundation. Now, I reserve foundation for special occasions, allowing my skin to ~breathe~ without heavy oils and butters the rest of the time. But with this tint in tow, I still feel like my redness is covered. It uses fully mineral SPF filters too, which my skin loves.

Aharon echoes my sentiments, “I love the light to medium natural finish so much!" she says. "A fantastic shade range covers cool, warm, and neutral skin tones–those can be tricky to find when dealing with an SPF complexion product.”

• Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, prickly pear extract, jojoba esters, aloe vera

• Finish: Glowy

• SPF: 30

• Shades: 17

Glowing customer review: “Just wow. I am officially buying my second tube of this thing. It’s lightweight. Easy to apply with fingers, sponge, or brush. Covers my imperfections, scars, redness. And this seriously lasts all day long. And I've had no break outs, even with my super sensitive skin.”

Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Luminous Natural Matte Foundation 24H Longwear SPF 30 with Hyaluronic Acid LC1.85 oz. / 25 mL

The "24-hour wear" claim of this YSL foundation is actually p accurate (however, pls do not wear foundation for 24 hours). I can blend this on my skin in the morning before work and get through an entire day, plus happy hour, dinner, and a quick stint at the clurb—and check my makeup in the mirror before washing it off to see that my foundation still didn't budge. The formula is practically waterproof, too, so it will get you through anything a long day has ahead of you.

Despite being a matte foundation, this uses hyaluronic acid to keep my skin a little moisturized, while the dimethicone-filled formula gives me a matte, smooth finish. And ofc, it's got SPF 30 too, which I love for layering my sunscreen.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, dimethicone

• Finish: Matte

• SPF: 30

• Shades: 40

Glowing customer review: “Fave foundation when I am going full glam! Makes my skin look like there is a filter on it! This matte foundation is even great on my dry skin, it is just so good!”

Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation SPF 30

When brands known for effective skincare release a makeup product, I’m always first in line. I value breathable formulas with skin-friendly ingredients, which is why this foundation is one I turn to often, especially when I know I’m going to be out all day. Celebrity makeup artist Amrita Mehta agrees, saying that it wears beautifully throughout the day and looks just as good upon removal as it did upon application. “The formula does an incredible job of keeping humidity and excess oil at bay," she says. "A little goes a long way, and you can achieve a decent amount of coverage with just one pump."

• Key ingredients: ActiveForce Technology, Responsive Sensory Technology, Smart-Correcting Powder

• Finish: Natural

• SPF: 30

• Shades: 22

Glowing customer review: “This foundation is just beautiful, it sits on the skin nicely not too matte, blurs the skin and blends out like a dream! Wears beautifully through out the day as well!”

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation Hydration and Longwear

Nothing is more "rich mom"-coded than using Chanel makeup—I don't make the rules! But it’s more than just a status symbol; Les Beiges is a beautiful, radiant, hydrating formula loved by myself, nearly every other Cosmo editor who's tried it, and celebrity makeup artists like Mehta. In fact, it's actually her go-to in her kit for a dewy look. “It has a 12-hour wear time, and the powders and pigment in it blur the skin, resulting in a smooth and flawless base," she says. "I love that the foundation is on the runnier side because it gives me more control and allows me to build coverage where I need it rather than all over."

• Key ingredients: Light-reflecting pigments, antioxidants

• Finish: Radiant

• SPF: 25

• Shades: 29

Glowing customer review: “The bestest foundation I have ever used, so natural and glowing. very long lasting. of course, Chanel never disappoints.”

Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF25

Quick reminder: Hailey Bieber is a Kosas stan, especially their concealer, which is exactly what they used to formulate this matching foundation. And it's genius for my dry skin every day. it’s formulated with everybody’s favorite hydrating skincare ingredients: niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid, so you know you’re in good hands. Plus, ofc, a lil SPF 25.

But what I love most about it is that you can really customize how you want it to look because the formula is v buildable. When applied with a brush, it goes on heavier with more coverage, but when applied with a Beauty Blender, I can tap it into my skin for a softer look. Basically, it gives me “is she wearing makeup or does she have great skin?” vibes.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, caffeine, squalane, hyaluronic acid

• Finish: Natural

• SPF: 25

• Shades: 36

Glowing customer review: “It’s a must for sensitive and acne prone skin! Can be used as full coverage or be buffed out to look and feel like a skin tint. I’ve been using it for over a year and I love it so much!”

Radiant Fluid Natural Foundation

IYKYK is exactly the energy of Clé De Peau—but I wouldn't be dong my job properly if I gatekept this for one more minute. Just a dab of this foundation does wonders to give me a soft, radiant finish that blends seamlessly into my skin to look like I'm wearing no makeup at all. And it's loaded with skincare ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, argan oil, vitamin E, and chemical SPF filters, which def make the price tag feel a more worth it.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, argan oil, vitamin E

• Finish: Glowy

• SPF: 25

• Shades: 20

Glowing customer review: “This is the best, hands down. The coverage, while being thorough, still has a 'natural' look, and feels wonderful. Combined with the under eye concealer, it's a perfect combination...thank you!”

Do I need to wear sunscreen if my foundation has SPF?

Yes, you absolutely need to wear sunscreen underneath your foundation even if your foundation has SPF in it, says dermatologist David Kim, MD. While foundation with SPF does provide some level of protection, it’s not sufficient on its own for adequate sun protection. “When you use foundation with SPF, most times you don’t apply enough foundation to achieve the indicated SPF protection," he explains. Instead, he recommends applying a dedicated sunscreen before makeup, then layering your foundation with SPF on top for added protection.

What is the benefit of SPF foundation?

Unfortunately, there are no skincare benefits to using foundation with SPF, according to Dr. Kim. TBH, the only thing SPF in your foundation is really doing is adding a smidge of extra coverage. Additionally, it’s an easy way to reapply SPF if you’re using foundation with SPF to touch up your makeup in the afternoon.“SPF foundation combines the benefits of both makeup and sunscreen in one product, which is really convenient for people who prefer to streamline their routine later in the day,” says Aharon.

But as noted above, you should also always massage in a dedicated sunscreen with SPF 30 or more every single day to get adequate protection.

How to choose the best foundation with SPF for you:

Consider your skin type

Aharon suggests starting with your skin type. If you’re oily, you might want a matte finish or oil-free formula that won't leave you feeling shiny midday. For dry skin, however, opt for a moisturizing foundation that's loaded with hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and squalane, and has a dewy finish that won't cling to dry patches. You’ll also want to think about formulation if you've got sensitive skin. Aharon recommends avoiding any potential irritants like fragrance, essential oils, silicones, or preservatives.

Assess the SPF level

Obviously, as we've stated a bajillion times at this point, your foundation with SPF should not be your only method of sun protection. But still as a rule of thumb, “look for one with SPF 30 and higher to get at least 97% of UVB coverage,” says Dr. Kim. We have a few SPF 25s on this list, but because you should also be incorporating a sunscreen underneath, this should suffice. But pls, pls, pls, make sure you're also using sunscreen.

Meet the experts:

• David Kim, M.D. M.S. is a board-certified fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York, NY.

• Lisa Aharon is a New York-based celebrity makeup artist who has worked with clients including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Camila Mendes.

• Amrita Mehta is a New York-based celebrity makeup artist who has worked with clients like Jordan Alexander and Sophia Culpo.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Iman Balagam is a beauty contributor at Cosmopolitan with nearly four years of experience writing beauty stories that range from sunscreen sticks to chin acne. She’s an authority in all categories, but is an expert when it comes to foundations, thanks to years of personally researching and testing different base products for the perfect makeup look.

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