Is your tinted sunscreen giving you enough sun protection?
Wearing SPF daily is Beauty Rule #1 here on PV, and we’re borderline obsessive about it! Sunscreen is the best anti-aging product, and of course it’s important for preventing skin cancer. As necessary as this step is, applying sunscreen can feel like a chore when there are several more steps to get your face ready. So some people may find using tinted sunscreen as an alternative solution – quick, easy, and perks up your look in no time. The fact that it offers light coverage plus sun protection makes it a busy gal’s go-to, especially when you literally just have five minutes to do your routine. But is it actually enough to protect your skin from sun damage?
One of the top common sunscreen sins is not applying enough of it. The recommended amount is "approximately two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin" but if you're not in the mood to get the exact measure of your face, an easy guide to follow is to use the 2-finger method. This means dispensing 2 strips of sunscreen along the length of your pointer and middle finger to ensure that you apply the right amount of product and get adequate protection. If your sunscreen doesn’t leave a white cast, using this amount won’t be an issue but can we really apply two fingers worth of tinted sunscreen? I tested out three local tinted sunscreens to check.
V&M Naturals Keep Safe Tinted Sunscreen SPF35 (P880 for 30ml at P29.3/ml)
I was pretty excited to try out the V&M sunscreen because of good reviews online, and it definitely did not disappoint. I wore it for an entire day for almost 12 hours, and it lasted quite well even when I had to do a bit of outdoor work in the heat. More importantly, I was able to apply two fingers worth of sunscreen on my face without getting that cakey look or feeling. It started to feel a bit sticky even when I had just applied one finger’s worth but it was a bearable kind of sticky.
As a face base, this sunscreen provides some light coverage but it doesn’t quite cover the redness on my face. I would still need to use concealer to create a more even skin tone.
Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen SPF50 (P169.75 for 10ml at P16.98/ml or P449.75 for 50ml at P9/ml)
I have used the Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen before but only in small pea-sized amounts so I tried to apply the recommended two fingers worth of product for the test. I only got as far as applying one finger’s worth when it started to look bad on my skin. The product started sinking into my pores, and you could clearly see it pilling, especially around my nose area.
Half a finger would probably be best amount to use for this tinted sunscreen so wearing a separate one is necessary if you want your skin to be protected. I also found that it clung to my dry areas so it would probably work better for oily skin types.
blk cosmetics Skin Tint Sun Shield SPF30 (P499 for 30ml at P16.63/ml)
I have previously reviewed the blk Cosmetics Skin Tint, and it has become my on-the-go base since then. It’s easy to apply and it works well on its own (sans concealer or foundation). I normally use it as a complexion correcting base than for actual sun protection product because I still use a separate sunscreen underneath.
A little goes a long way with this formula, so I was pretty sure that I wouldn’t be able to properly apply the recommended amount. I gave it a try anyway and got to about a finger’s worth, which gave my face a cakey look but eventually settled into a decent enough base after a while. As part of my test, I didn’t set with powder and I ended up having to constantly blot throughout the day because it made my skin quite oily.
If you want to be able to rely solely on tinted sunscreen for sun protection, the V&M Keep Safe Tinted Sunscreen wins this round for being wearable even at the prescribed two-fingers amount. It’s also a good one-step face base option if you don’t have a lot of redness or pigmentation to cover; otherwise you’ll need to follow up with a good concealer.
It must be noted though that V&M is the priciest of the three sunscreen formulas I tested here so if you’re under a strict budget, layering a regular sunscreen with your favorite makeup base may work better in your favor.
The Belo and blk tinted sunscreens both work best as base products as they don’t quite get near the “recommended” sunscreen amount. Half a finger to a finger’s worth would be their limit for a good application. In a pinch, I’d still use these because some protection is still better than none, but don’t expect to get the promised SPF ratings since you’ll be applying less than what you need. I really like blk’s formula though, and I’ll continue to apply a separate sunscreen underneath.
Swatches, from left: V&M Naturals Keep Safe Tinted Sunscreen SPF35, Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen SPF50, blk cosmetics Skin Tint Sun Shield SPF30
Just as you shouldn’t rely on your SPF foundation to provide you with adequate sun protection, it’s best to wear a separate sunscreen to make sure that your skin is really protected. The amount of sunscreen you apply determines the amount of protection you get, so using tinted sunscreen may not always be enough.
Have you tried these tinted sunscreens? Do you wear a separate sunscreen under?
V&M Naturals Keep Safe Tinted Sunscreen SPF35 ingredients:
Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Zinc Oxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Titanium Dioxide, Aluminium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone & Hexyl Laurate, Isononyl Isononaonate, Polyglyceryl-4-isostearate, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodiumacryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triacontanyl PVP, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Polyamide 12, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Lauryl Laurate, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Emu Oil, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Lecithin, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Fruit Extract, Sodium Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Methylene Bis Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Decyl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Oil, Fragrance, Lactic Acid, Tetra Soadium EDTA, Xanthan Gum
Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen SPF50 ingredients:
Water, Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Aluminum hydroxide, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimethicone/ Methicone Copolymer, Dimethicone, Cetearyl, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetylpalmitate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
blk cosmetics Skin Tint Sun Shield SPF30 ingredients:
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimenthicone, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-10 Dimenthicone, Cetyl PEG Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Phosphate, Parfum. May contain (+/-) CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
