If there's one fad that has gone crazy over the past several years it's the importance of SPF. I, for one, believe the emphasis on wearing sunscreen was a wakeup call for me to be lathering my face, neck and chest with it on a daily basis for protection (especially to make up for my high school and college years of guiltlessly lying in a tanning bed). The best foundations with SPF are going to protect your face while leaving your skin looking flawless, so if you're looking for a little extra protection atop your face sunscreen underneath, that's a great way to really stick it to those UVA and UVB rays and keep that healthy glow for a long time.
The 14 Best Foundations with SPF for Healthy Coverage All Year Round
Protected and glowy
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Published Apr 11, 2024
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Dasha Burobina for PureWow
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The Best Foundations with SPF at a Glance
1
Best Natural Finish
Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation
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2
Most Hydrating
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation
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3
Best Luxury Foundation
Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Foundation
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4
Best CC Cream
Thrive Causemetics Buildable Blur CC Cream
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5
Best Drugstore
Maybelline Fit Me! Dewy + Smooth Foundation
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How I Chose the Best Foundations with SPF
I asked PureWow editors (of all different skin types) about their favorite foundations with SPF. In addition to looking at the amount of SPF in each pick, I considered the formulas and ingredients and made sure to include a range of prices. I also read countless reviews and have included customer favorites that are clear winners across the board.
If you're searching for a foundation that won't aggravate your acne-prone skin, give this one a shot. This hybrid formula has hyaluronic acid and niacinamide and is designed to melt into the skin to create a barely-there makeup effect. "It offers medium, buildable coverage and is lightweight, which i appreciate because I hate the feeling of makeup on my face," says Associate SEO Editor Marissa Wu. "I also have large pores, and I find this foundation does a great job of blurring their appearance and giving me an even base to work with."
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 36 shades
- SPF: 25
- Promising Review: "It’s a must for sensitive and acne prone skin! [It] 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!" — a Sephora customer
Despite the fact that it only is available in 12 shades, this foundation is here to hydrate and offer full coverage. "It glides on smoothly while providing decent coverage of my red splotches, sun spots and dark circles that I never feel paranoid every time I wear it (like my face is streaky or overdone)," says VP of Editorial, Candace Davison. It has SPF 50+ for the ultimate coverage, too. Just make sure you wear enough for full UVA/UVB protection.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 12 shades
- SPF: 30
- Promising Review: "After warming it on my hands, I press the foundation into my skin, spritz my face with a mineral mist and it's set and ready to go. [I] highly recommend for full coverage." — a Dermstore customer
I've opted for a lot of high-coverage formulas ever since pregnancy because of my redness, melasma and hyperpigmentation, and this has been my all-time favorite. It doesn't set into my fine lines or separate with my other products and does a fantastic job at covering my blemishes and redness without feeling thick. It stays on all day long and blends well underneath cream and powder products.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 40 shades
- SPF: 30
- Promising Review: "I've never liked wearing foundation because it always felt cakey. This was so lightweight and skin-like, but covered so much. My pores disappeared and my skin just looked healthy. I also appreciate the wide range of shades and the SPF." — a Sephora customer
I love this formula so much—especially because I can just apply it with my hands. It melts into your face to look like a second skin and is easy to reapply when you need more SPF. It's super lightweight and doesn't leave a greasy feel on your skin even though it has SPF 40. It's also very hydrating and has vitamin C.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 28 shades
- SPF: 40
- Promising Review: "This foundation is the best that I have ever used. [It's] smooth and creamy, it makes my skin look dewy fresh while covering all of my imperfections. I love it and would recommend it to every woman, young and old!" — a Thrive Causemetics customer
This is my go-to drugstore foundation because of the natural finish and lightweight formula; the SPF is an added bonus. And thousands of fans of this liquid foundation have given it rave reviews online, too. It works best for normal to dry skin, so if you lean oily, you might want to try a powder foundation (see BareMinerals below). Not only does Fit Me! Dewy + Smooth come in 24 shades, but the foundation is fragrance-free and noncomedogenic (meaning it’s designed not to clog pores) and has been tested by dermatologists for effectiveness.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 24 shades
- SPF: 18
- Promising Review: "This is a dewy finish with sunscreen, everything that I need in a foundation. It goes on well, blends well and it lasts. An amazing product for the price!" — an Ulta customer
I'm a huge Bobbi Brown fan because members of my family have loved the brand, dating back to my great grandmother. The formulas are all great, but this one is especially excellent for mature skin when you want coverage and brightening. According to Angie K. (aka my mother), "It makes my skin look more youthful and effortlessly covered."
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 26 shades
- SPF: 15
- Promising Review: "I love this foundation. [It's] the exact shade I was looking for and couldn't find with any other brand. [It] applies beautifully with a damp sponge or brush [and has a] thin-ish cream but [is] completely buildable. As expected, there is a slight SPF smell. Wish it wasn't so [money]! — an Ulta customer
A CC cream that neutralizes hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tones seems like a minimalist's dream to us. "Erborian CC was late to the game but compared to the others this is like, 20/10," raves Wu. "If I put it on, I don't technically need foundation. The way it changes color and evens skin tone is amazing." It has SPF 25 and creates a smoothing and evening effect to the skin for a no-makeup, makeup look.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: NA
- SPF: 25
- Promising Review: "I was looking for something with very minimal coverage & this is perfect. skin looks smooth and natural. Feels like nothing on the face & so easy to blend in with just your fingers. Highly recommend for people looking for a cc cream/foundation with just a bit of coverage." — an Ulta customer
Hear me out, I know this is considered a skin tint, but I think it deserves a spot on the foundation list because, for a serum, it has a very richly colored formula and gives pretty good coverage. I love a dewy finish that doesn't further dry out the dry areas on my skin, and I can add a powder to the oily parts (aka my chin and sides of my nose). It's a light-as-air serum with a dropper dispenser that allows for total control. But what I love most is the added skincare ingredients, like hyaluronic acid to hydrate and niacinamide to even skin tone and soften fine lines. It does have a slightly strange scent when you apply but it goes away after blending, so no harm, no foul there. It has broad spectrum SPF 40 coverage against UVA, UVB, UVC, blue light and infrared rays. All while resulting in skin that looks like, well, skin. Just with a real-life Instagram filter.
Fast Facts
Sometimes SPF in a foundation is just a bonus when the formula is just too good. This liquid product boasts a radiant and medium-to-full coverage finish with hydrating ingredients to add a refreshing look for your makeup base. "I love the lightweight formula of this foundation. It covers my pores and doesn't dry out my skin and leaves me with an airbrushed finish," Dior user Alex C. tells PureWow.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 42
- SPF: 15
- Promising Review: "I sort of hate how much I love this [foundation] because it’s so expensive. But this gives amazing coverage, applies so smoothly, and still looks like skin...it even has some SPF!" — a Sephora customer
So, maybe you don't want to pay $50+ for a foundation, which I can understand. Luckily, you don't have to sacrifice quality for affordability. This foundation sits lightly on the skin while not sitting in your fine lines (yes, I have experience with this). I opted for alternative foundations as I have dryer spots that this formula seems to cling to, but if you have oilier skin or prefer a more matte look, this foundation is a perfect pick for you.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 42
- SPF: 15
- Promising Review: "I liked this foundation when it first released, and saw they have updated the packaging and formulation. They took some not so great ingredients out and added vitamin C. This new formulation, OMG, it’s even better than the OG! It goes on smoother, sinks into the skin beautifully, in my opinion the scent is less noticeable and it wears 100x better!" — a Target customer
On the prowl for a natural, barely-there look? Clinique’s Even Better foundation works best on combination skin is stellar at evening out skin tone and improving skin over time (an ideal situation because, hello, we all age). "I've been using the Even Better Makeup for close to 10 years. I'm 53 yrs old and it covers my redness, goes on smooth and stays put, covers imperfections well, and looks natural. I have combination skin and it doesn't break my skin out, nor does it settle into wrinkles," one customer writes. Plus, if you run hot or live in a humid climate, you can rest easy knowing this formula is sweat resistant.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 50 shades
- SPF: 15
- Promising Review: "I'm really happy with how brightening this foundation is and it seems very easy to blend in. I wanted a lighter foundation so this is perfect and it is just enough to smooth out my sunspots and imperfections. The only con is that it seems to dry my skin out a little bit but the trade off is that it doesn't appear to be clogging my pores (which is usually my main complaint!)." — an Ulta customer
For decades, BareMinerals powder foundation has been a go-to for those who don’t gel with liquid formulas. "I have used this for years! I'm not a fan of liquid foundation as it feels too heavy and I often have reactions or breakouts to them. This blends so easily and feels so light it doesn't feel or look like I'm wearing makeup!" A customer notes. It’s super-breathable while still covering imperfections and evening out skin tone. This is a great option for sensitive skin too, as it has only six ingredients and is vegan.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 30 shades
- SPF: 15
- Promising Review: "This is my new favorite loose foundation. It leaves my skin looking so smooth and looking clear and covered! It's perfect!" — a Sephora customer
For aging or tired skin, Lancôme has the technology you want. Yes, technology. It covers—and tackles—fine lines and wrinkles with caffeine and ivy extracts. Get moderate to full coverage, plus a healthy glow from reflective micro-pearls embedded into the makeup. Lancôme also promises this product won’t settle into wrinkles like some liquid foundations do. Lastly, it’s got tons of vitamin E.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 20 shades
- SPF: 27
- Promising Review: "This foundation is so lightweight [and] easy to blend out—it literally just looks like glowing skin. I'd say it gives light to medium coverage, I sometimes mix it with a fuller coverage foundation and it always wears beautifully. It holds up all day, doesn't break down at all [and] after 10 hours it still looks flawless." — an Ulta customer
More than any other foundation on our list, Dermablend’s dedicated users have stuck with the brand for years. The cream (which is lightweight yet full coverage) hydrates skin for a silky finish. It’s not vegan (beeswax is an ingredient), but it does use mineral oil to treat dryness. Want to go the extra mile? Layer the Dermablend Setting Powder on top for coverage that can last up to 16 hours.
Fast Facts
- Shade Range: 17 shades
- SPF: 30
- Promising Review: "After warming it on my hands, I press the foundation into my skin, spritz my face with a mineral mist and it's set and ready to go. [I] highly recommend for full coverage." — a Dermstore customer
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Foundations with SPF Effective?
In short, yes. PureWow spoke with dermatologist Dr. Stacy Chimento, MD, in 2020, and she noted that in order for an SPF to protect up to 97 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30+ is the best option. And anything less than that is going to need additional protection in order to be effective. However, if you aren't using much product, a base layer of SPF 30+ is a fool-proof choice. According to skincancer.org, you need to be applying at least two milligrams of SPF per square centimeter of your skin. Don't forget your neck and ears, too!
Do I Need to Wear Sunscreen If My Foundation Has SPF?
When it comes to sunscreen, more protection is always a good idea. As previously stated, if your foundation is lower than SPF 30, a base layer of sunscreen is necessary. You'll also want to wear sunscreen under your foundation if you're using less product. Whether you're mixing it with a product that doesn't have SPF or are just using a few dots of foundation, it's not enough to protect your face. A good rule of thumb is about a half a teaspoon of product for your face, according to Johns Hopkins.
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.