Suddenly, My Entire Beauty Bag Is Full of SPF Makeup—7 Stunning Formulas I’m Obsessing Over

The best sunscreens make you forget you’re wearing sunscreen at all—that goes for body sprays, face lotions, and makeup staples (SPF-spiked foundations, bronzers, and the like). Admittedly, the latter has been difficult to find. Doing your makeup, after all, is a sensorial experience, while applying sunscreen is decidedly… not. Necessary, yes, but certainly not as fun as glazing your cheekbones with a pearly highlighter. Until now, that is.

I’ve tested a slew of SPF makeup launches over the past several weeks (summer’s right around the corner, folks!), and I’ve been floored by more than a few cosmetically elegant formulas. Think: a blush stick that glides like butter, bronzing drops that make you look like you’ve spent two full weeks OOO, and a featherlight foundation clinically shown to plump your skin with hydration. I’d wear them all even if they didn’t boast UV protection—but they do! Ahead, the crème de la crème I’ve been collecting in my beauty bag, along with dermatologist tips on how to layer them correctly.

The Best SPF Makeup, at a Glance

• Best Blush Stick: Naked Sundays SPF 50 Mineral Peptide Sticks
• Best Highlighter: Ciele Glow & Protect SPF 50+ Liquid Highlighter
• Best Bronzing Drops: Vacation Studio Tone SPF 50 Bronzing Drops
• Best Liquid Blush: Nudestix Nudescreen SPF 30 Blush Tint
• Best Tinted Lip Balm: Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Sunscreen Lip Balm
• Best Foundation: Clinique Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Foundation
• Best Setting Powder: Colorescience Brush-On Sunscreen Mineral Powder

The Best SPF Makeup of 2025

Best Blush Stick: Naked Sundays SPF 50 Mineral Peptide Sticks

Best Highlighter: Ciele Glow & Protect SPF 50+ Liquid Highlighter

Best Bronzing Drops: Vacation Studio Tone SPF 50 Bronzing Drops

Best Liquid Blush: Nudestix Nudescreen SPF 30 Blush Tint

Best Tinted Lip Balm: Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Sunscreen Lip Balm

Best Foundation: Clinique Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Foundation

Best Setting Powder: Colorescience Brush-On Sunscreen Mineral Powder

Does makeup with SPF really work?

Short answer? Yes! It’s not just marketing; makeup with SPF really does help shield your skin from UV rays. From a brand perspective, it can be difficult to earn an SPF rating from the FDA (it requires lots of time and resources), so rest assured that any product that does have it has completed the adequate testing.

That said, “I still recommend applying your sunscreen as the last step of your a.m. skincare routine, and then you can apply your foundation with SPF next,” board-certified dermatologist Tiffany Libby, MD, once told WWW about SPF foundations.

Is SPF in makeup enough?

Now, here’s the catch: SPF-spiked makeup probably isn’t enough. See, you need to apply a nickel-size amount (or half a teaspoon) of sunscreen for optimal protection; unless you’re planning on using a pretty large dollop of foundation (which is highly unlikely), the makeup alone just isn’t going to cut it.

“As long as you’ve applied your first proper layer of sunscreen to your head and neck, I am totally in favor of using foundation and concealers with SPF, as this will layer on more and help when you go to reapply,” Libby explains. Remember: You do need to reapply sunscreen every two hours, which is where an SPF-infused setting powder or blush comes in handy. Why not refresh your makeup and strengthen your sun protection simultaneously?