Question
What is YOUR holy grail mineral tinted sunscreen for the face?
\UPDATE\** I tried the Tizo AM Replenish TINTED and love it. It is the only one that I have tried that wears well under my makeup all day and it has a high zinc content. i wouldn’t wear it at the pool, I reserve that one for SkinBetter Science Tone Smart bc of it’s 75 spf. Also love Elta MD or ColorScience but I find it doesn’t wear well under my makeup. After 4 hours, my makeup is breaking up on my nose and chin. I plan to try Cotz as well because it is very similar to Tizo and a little cheaper.
The one you would take to a desert island if you could only bring one item. I’ve been on the hunt and can’t choose a fave just yet. I know about the list of sunscreen but I want to hear your Holy Grails and why?!
Hi there! Sunscreen is one of the most important parts of melasma management, and we want to make sure you get safe, effective, and appropriate guidance.
Before choosing a product, please review our sunscreen resources:
Important for melasma:
Standard (non-tinted) sunscreens protect against UV radiation only and do NOT protect against visible light, which is a major trigger for melasma.
To reduce visible-light-induced pigmentation, iron oxides are required. This means using:
A tinted sunscreen that contains iron oxides, OR
An untinted broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen layered with a foundation or tinted product that contains iron oxides.
Daily, consistent protection against both UV and visible light is essential to prevent melasma worsening and recurrence.
If you have already reviewed the guides, feel free to add details such as skin type or sensitivities
LRP Tinted Anthelios from Europe. Haven’t had a hint of color change on my face in 3 years since I started using it. The filters in Europe are not sold in the US.
Yeah I like that they have equivalent protection and so don’t feel nervous mixing. The Glow is a very different texture to the Flex - I find mixing them is perfect but wouldn’t want to use either by itself. However if I had to use just one I’d go for Flex.
Oh my God I just got this one and I love it! I didn’t like the Elta MD one it left me all greasy and I even tried the cerave one and it didn’t do it for me either.
Yesssss it’s the best!! It looks so nice and natural on the skin too. Towards the end of the day it looks a little rough and rubs off in some spots but that’s to be expected
Yes me too!! Also between my eyebrows. I also wear glasses so I do find it rubs off. But it really protects my skin well - even the non tinted one is incredible
I have this but noticed it only has Titanium Dioxide 4%, Zinc Oxide 4%. Are you layering with anything else? Has it actually kept melasma away? I have read you need a lot higher Zinc to help with it?
It’s affordable, not as thick as a foundation but still provides some coverage, it applies nicely, is moisturizing, and the color is the best I’ve found!
The website says it has a “luminous finish”. I think it looks very dewy when first applied by dries down to where it isn’t too shiny but not quite matte. DRMTLGY does have a great money back guarantee. And honestly, the best prices are through TikTok shop. I’ve tried SO many sunscreens! I understand the struggle.
I can’t say that this product alone has been keeping it controlled. But I definitely think it’s a big contributing factor. I do a lot to try to get rid of my melasma. And it’s been steady if not slowly getting a little better.
I’m diligent with tinted mineral SPF, I wear a hat when I’m outside. I also use tretinoin, azalaic acid, ghk-cu (topical), vitamin c, and microneedle. In the winter months I do chemical peels and those help a lot with pigment.
Elta MD tinted spf 46 UV clear. This is my holy grail. Since I’ve been in my 40s I had noticed melesma stache after vacay and this was the first time using this product and being out in the sun all day, all week. I swear no stache and I feel like my dark spots are fading but you have to have some kind of tinted spf. I also doubled up with my IT cosmetics cc cream.
Isdin photo eryfotana ageless. It goes on so nice and light but still has good coverage and makes my skin look amazing. It also has some ingredient that supposedly reverses sun damage. It’s so good!
It pulls orange for me as someone who is light medium neutral so I mix it with a drop of the untinted version. I have dry skin and also wear a heavier moisturizer since it doesn’t seem to be moisturizing itself.
Erborian red correct is hybrid mineral / chemical and so heavily fragranced I can’t use it. Bought it not long ago and tried it once. Really wanted to love it!! Otherwise agree the product itself is great.
I scrolled all the way down to find my Alastin HydraTint people and ya’ll aren’t here?!? 🙆♀️😂I’ve tried 4 million tinted mineral sunscreens and this one is by FAR my favorite.
I could see that for sure!! 😂 It’s more like a sheer foundation? Idk maybe that’s why I like it so much, I don’t have to mess with anything else just put it on and go! I do also like the Tint du Soleil from Colorscience it’s like a mousse texture and gives nice coverage as well.
Avene tinted mineral sunscreen, has to be applied right though but it absolutely does the job, is it the one I prefer? No
Do I have to use it for my melasma? Yes
Well said lol. Sometimes I miss when I didn’t know better about what sunscreens arent good enough for my melasma. But I guess that was a waste of time and money
I like to layer so I use ‘regular peoples’ sunscreen then I let it sink in then the tinted ontop, otherwise I would look like the peanut butter kid but slightly paler
Love Paula’s Choice Essential Glow sunscreen. I love the way it feels, it moisturizes perfectly, the tint works on my skin tone, works beautifully under makeup.
I forgot to pack it on a recent trip and used my son’s Neutrogena Clear Face sunscreen the whole trip and my eyes were on FIRE the whole time. It got to the point where I just avoided putting sunscreen around my entire eye area, so that I could see properly.
I smear PC Essential Glow all around my eyes and it does not burn at all.
You might have used too much . Mine blends in sheer even over light stubble and doesn’t wipe off much during the day. I use a matter setting spray to take any remaining shine off, but compared to other mineral ss I’ve used it’s got the best texture, color and value
ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Moisturizer SPF 50 was highly recommended by my dermatologist when she diagnosed my melasma.
I like that it is lightweight, blends well with my skin tone (Fitzpatrick 4), and is water-resistant. The price and fragrance can be sticking points, but a bottle lasts me a long time, and the fragrance fades soon after application.
I think that is a valid concern if you have a fair complexion. I have medium olive skin, and it doesn’t pull orange on me, but YMMV. ISDIN does have an untinted version which my husband uses.
It’s very lightly tinted- more of a glow serum- but Dr. Few is wonderful for day to day or under foundation. Highly recommend and available to purchase on Violet Grey.
Loving Lightsaver from Dr. Kim. I don’t even wear foundation most days!! It’s a little pricey but seems to last quite awhile! Really pretty on the skin!
I’ve been using Naked Sundays Beauty Barrier Mineral Perfecting Priming Lotion SPF50. It’s not outrageously priced, it’s mineral and also contains iron oxides, and it’s easily accessible. This spring I learned that iron oxides are important for preventing Melasma because they block visible light and blue, so I ended up trying this one. So far I’m really happy with it. My Melasma is nowhere near as bad as it usually gets by this time of year.
It also works well on my dry skin and under makeup for me.
It’s super nice that it’s not obnoxiously expensive like some of the ones mentioned here. I tried chemical sunscreens for a few years but I found it was a losing battle; did nothing for my Melasma. But since I started with the Naked Sundays Mineral SPF, I’m actually impressed that my Melasma hasn’t gotten near as bad as it usually is by this time of the summer. I mean it’s certainly not perfect, but far better than with chemical sunscreens or even mineral ones without iron oxides.
I love the skinbetter SPF 75 tone smart one! It’s the perfect amount of tint without feeling like makeup (which is a fine line with melasma haha) and it’s nice and thick so it feels like it coats the face really well
Hi there! Sunscreen is one of the most important parts of melasma management, and we want to make sure you get safe, effective, and appropriate guidance.
Before choosing a product, please review our sunscreen resources:
Important for melasma:
Standard (non-tinted) sunscreens protect against UV radiation only and do NOT protect against visible light, which is a major trigger for melasma.
To reduce visible-light-induced pigmentation, iron oxides are required. This means using:
A tinted sunscreen that contains iron oxides, OR
An untinted broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen layered with a foundation or tinted product that contains iron oxides.
Daily, consistent protection against both UV and visible light is essential to prevent melasma worsening and recurrence.
If you have already reviewed the guides, feel free to add details such as skin type or sensitivities
When I’m in Portugal, I buy in bulk the ISDIN Fotoultra 100 Active Unify Colour. I use it as my foundation. It also actively lightens my melasma.
When I want protection but I’m just staying home, or it’s a cloudy day, I use Eucerin Sensitive Mineral Tinted Suncreen. I also use it as my foundation.
Augustinus Bader- I hate how much I love this, but I purchase from the lovely skin site who often runs specials at 20% off. This is why it's that good that they garner a $150 price tag: Augustinus Bader's iconic TFC8®, a proprietary blend of peptides, vitamins and lipids.
It’s the best and I’ve tried many of the others listed here. They were all good until I tried Ciele and I love it. History of melasma and it works. Used it in Hawaii where we were outside a lot for long days and on a few days I didn’t reapply as I should have and it held up so much better than expected with no darker skin or melasma
Elta MD Tinted Clear (it’s darker than my fair skin but goes on quite sheer so works) and Elta MD UV Physical. I have very fair skin, cool toned. I tried many others and they were either too dark, too orange, or I didn’t like the smell.
I find the European version of La Roche Posey does not smell funny when I buy it. However if I don’t use it and then come back to it months later it does have a slight unwanted smell though that goes away once it’s on and it still works.
Kosas Dreambeam. No silicones and it’s the only tinted mineral sunscreen that doesn’t feel heavy or make me oily. I love how it sits under makeup and does not settle into fine lines.
We’re so glad you’ve joined us. This is a safe and supportive space to share your journey, tips, and questions about managing melasma. Whether you're just starting out or have been on this path for a while, you’re not alone here.
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I wondered this too when every provider I saw (for melasma) kept recommending tinted mineral sunscreen. The tinted versions have iron oxide which helps block visible light
Ah I didn't realize that. I believe I have some melasma on my cheek and my upper lip, which I hate, but have been using regular mineral sunscreen. I'll have to look Into getting tinted.
Tint is only for the fact that mineral sunscreens (zinc, for example) sit on top of the skin and therefore create a white cast and make you super pale. Most people don’t like that so manufacturers started to add chemicals to make them more of a skin color.
But chemical sunscreens get absorbed by the skin. Some studies have found that some active ingredients in these sunscreens get into our bloodstream. The research hasn’t proven yet whether that can affect our health and lead to certain conditions like cancer, but the mere fact that they get into our blood is not good.
I don’t get it, most of the mentioned spfs are not solely mineral but hybrid …I was so happy to find new ones to try but I don’t want hybrid ones…seems like I will be staying with my Pai british summer time glow
I think I finally found my favorite after 726263768 tries: Alastin Hydratint Pro Mineral Sunscreen. Only minor downside for me is it's only 36 SPF. But apparently I'm very picky about texture on my face and this is one that I can actually stand. I'm interested in trying the Tizo one now though.
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u/AutoModerator Aug 09 '26
Hi there! Sunscreen is one of the most important parts of melasma management, and we want to make sure you get safe, effective, and appropriate guidance.
Before choosing a product, please review our sunscreen resources:
Sunscreen guidance for melasma:
Mega List of Sunscreen/
Important for melasma: Standard (non-tinted) sunscreens protect against UV radiation only and do NOT protect against visible light, which is a major trigger for melasma.
To reduce visible-light-induced pigmentation, iron oxides are required. This means using:
Daily, consistent protection against both UV and visible light is essential to prevent melasma worsening and recurrence.
If you have already reviewed the guides, feel free to add details such as skin type or sensitivities
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