Obviously we should be wearing face SPF year round but once spring hits, the hustle to find a daily nontoxic face SPF gets REAL. I’ve spent the past few months testing tinted face SPFs so I wanted to detail out some of the nontoxic options I’ve tried. But first, choose nontoxic!

By: Lisa Fennessy

How And Why To Choose Nontoxic When It Comes To SPF

It’s super important to choose nontoxic. First, because our bodies are our largest organ and anything we apply on our skin has direct access to our bloodstream (bypassing our livers and any internal filters). Don’t believe me? Think about a birth control patch, a nicotine patch or topical hormone meds for example. #directaccess

I’m going to give you the quick hit here on how to read a sunscreen label but for a more comprehensive approach, be sure to check out: How to Read Sunscreen Labels

Check the Active Ingredients

There are two ways sunscreens will protect you from the sun: mineral barriers or chemical barriers. We want to be sure to choose a sunscreen with a mineral barrier. On the label, under “active ingredients” this will look like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Conversely, conventional sunscreens will use chemical barriers like:

• Oxybenzone: detected in nearly every American and found in mother’s milk; this chemical acts like estrogen in the body, alters sperm production in animals and is associated with endometriosis in women.
• Octinoxate: also detected in mother’s milk, this chemical has hormone-like activity and is associated with reproductive system, thyroid and behavioral alterations in animals.
• Homosalate: disrupts estrogen, androgen and progesterone.
• Octocrylene: relatively high rates of skin allergy

RELATED: How to Read Sunscreen Labels and Hair Sunscreen for All Hair Types.

Check the Inactive Ingredients

After we’ve checked out the “active ingredients” we also want to scan the “inactive ingredients” to make sure they are void of any health-compromising ingredients too. A quick way to do this is to scan the label for This Organic Girl’s top 4 ingredients to avoid in your skincare and this will cut out most of the junk:

• Fragrance/Perfume – because it can contain up to thousands of undisclosed chemicals. The Scientific American explains more here on toxic ingredients in fragrances.
• Any ingredient ending in “paraben” like methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, etc. Parabens have been shown to accelerate cancer cell growth.
• Ethoxylated ingredients can be identified with “eth” in their name like laureth, steareth or ceteareth which can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane; a known carcinogen.
• PPGs or PEGs like PEG 180 which may also contain 1,4 dioxane.

RELATED: Hidden Ingredients in Skincare + Makeup

Everyday Wear: Best Nontoxic Tinted Face SPFs

For all of us who prefer an all-in-one tinted moisturizer with SPF, I’ve detailed out a few for you here. And yes, I’ve tried more but these are the ones I like the best. These are listed in order with my top pick listed first.

I am also looking forward to trying Black-owned UNSUN which provides more than one shade of tinted SPF.

RELATED: Best Natural Sheer Face SPF (both everyday SPFs and sport SPFs)

#1 Ayuna’s Velo

Also as of summer 2020, the newly reformulated and repackaged Ayuna VELO is the latest and greatest when it comes to tinted barriers. It’s not technically an SPF but this 6-in-1 is formulated with both zinc and titanium dioxide and it wears so naturally.

Yeah, I just said 6-in-1. It also works as a protectant from pollution, oxidation, dehydration, “light”, dryness and the proliferation of bad bacteria. Basically, it does it all.

Good news/bad news. The bad news is it’s high end with a high price tag BUT the good news is you will absolutely fall in love with Velo. Consider this the crème de la crème of nontoxic tinted face SPFs.

Ayuna’s Velo

• available in 1 shade
• this tint works to reduce white cast more than provide coverage
• can be considered a very light BB or CC cream
• depending on your skin type you could use this alone or layer over your moisturizer
• does not settle into my laugh lines
• leaves skin looking dewy and wears like a second skin
• not officially an SPF but contains zinc and titanium dioxide
• lightly scented with Ayuna’s signature scent

OVERALL: This is my top pick if you are looking for a tinted SPF that wears naturally, doesn’t oxidize and moisturizes without being greasy. A no-fuss experience that will leave your skin radiant, protected and balanced.

Shop Ayuna’s Velo here!

#2 Josh Rosebrook Tinted Nutrient Day Cream SPF 30

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Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream Tinted Broad Spectrum SPF 30

• very very light to sheer tint
• available in one “all skin types” color
• leaves skin looking and feeling dewy and alive
• no smell + packaged in glass
• this can be used as your moisturizer so no need to apply moisturizer before
• broad-spectrum SPF 30
• employs zinc oxide only as a mineral barrier – great for those who prefer to avoid titanium dioxide
• super clean with most all ingredients being organic, wilcrafted and/or non-GMO – all which work with and support skin function

OVERALL: This no-frills formula is a minimalists’ dream. This provides very little tint and is perfect for someone who values ingredient quality but isn’t looking for coverage.

Shop Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream Tinted Broad Spectrum SPF 30 here!

#3 ILIA’S Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

The other 2020 newbie is ILIA’s Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40. I’m obsessed with this trend of marrying skincare, makeup and sun protection and ILIA goes all out here.

Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

• available in 18 shades
• I tried this in 4 shades and still haven’t found my perfect shade yet – I’m guessing I’m an 8 or even a 9.
• provides light coverage
• recommended to use alone as layering will weigh product down
• does not settle into my laugh lines
• leaves skin looking ultra dewy
• broad spectrum SPF 40
• uses mineral barrier non nano zinc oxide
• fragrance free
• oil-free + non-comedogenic
• recyclable bottle (cap and dropper can also be recycled with TerraCycle
• vegan

Use the shade finder to help color match.

OVERALL: This one sits a little too dewy for me but people rave about it and it might be a good fit for you too. I constantly find myself playing with layering moisturizers v. oil or using it alone to try and find the perfect balance here. Love the inclusion of hyaluronic acids, squalane and niacinamide. Love the inclusive shade range.

Shop ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 here!

RELATED: Read my full review on the Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 here.

#4 Suntegrity 5 in 1 Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 30

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Suntegrity 5 in 1 Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 30

• available in 5 shades: fair, light, golden light, medium and deep bronze
• golden light oxidized and turned too orangey on me (see middle pic above)
• light went on very light but blended in and was sheer enough to work with my olive skin (see far right pic above)
• provides light to sheer coverage
• depending on your skin type you could use this alone or layer over your moisturizer
• does not settle into my laugh lines
• leaves skin looking dewy and wears like a second skin
• broad spectrum SPF 30
• employs mineral barrier zinc oxide only
• fragrance free and has little to no smell
• vegan
• cruelty free

OVERALL: This all-in-one product works to even skin tone, moisturize and protect from the sun. The big downside for me here is this formula oxidized on me meaning it turned a little orangy on me after application. If you give this formula a try, I would recommend going a shade lighter to counteract.

Shop Suntegrity 5 in 1 Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 30 here!

Sport/Beach: Best Nontoxic Tinted Face SPFs

Then there are those days where you plan to be outside all-day-long. For these days, I recommend something a little more fortifying. Enter; sport formulas. These tend to be a little thicker, more water resistant and they hold up longer. The great thing about a tinted sport SPF is you get all of the protection while bypassing that sexy zinc-face-look.

The downside with tinted sport formulas is they don’t come in varied shades…yet. Looking forward to discovering some more inclusive sport formulas soon. This is definitely a gap in not only the clean beauty market but also the entire beauty market as a whole. Here are my top picks for now.

#1 Think Sun Tinted SPF 30

Love Think Sun’s Tinted SPF 30. Goes on smooth and is easy to spread plus it offers some skincare benefits too with the addition of ingredients like vitamin C, E, cranberry seed oil and hyaluronic acid. I love this formula for my kid’s faces too.

• water resistant offering 80 minutes of protection
• broad spectrum protection
• zinc oxide mineral barrier
• can use on face + body
• no animal testing

Try Think Sun Tinted SPF 30 here

#2 Raw Elements Tinted Face Moisturizer SPF 30

Super clean and super charged. Raw Elements Tinted Face Moisturizer SPF 30 does not mess around when it comes to protection as well as sustainability. This is truly a beach formula and not an everyday wear formula IMO (ie, a little thick, a little greasy but delivers big-time protection).

• water resistant offering 80 minutes of protection
• non-nano zinc oxide
• 100% USDA Certified Organic
• broadspectrum SPF 30
• non-GMO
• reef safe
• 1% For The Planet

Try Raw Elements Tinted Face Moisturizer SPF 30 here.

I’m also looking forward to trying the new Babo Daily Sheer Tinted Facial Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 and the Made Good Tinted Mineral Sunscreen. Read here about my top picks on sustainable swimwear.

RELATED: Best Mineral Sunscreens & Best Eco-friendly Sunscreens.

What are you using these days?

Common questions about nontoxic tinted SPF: