I Swear by Foundations With SPF for Extra Sun Protection—Here Are My Most-Worn Formulas
Including water-resistant and transfer-proof finishes
In the midst of these heatwaves, I want my skin to be as protected from UV rays as possible. That's why I love a multi-tasking foundation with SPF that can provide an extra barrier when I'll be spending several hours in the sun.
However, it's important to understand that SPF in foundation may not always be as effective as a regular SPF. That's primarily because we don't tend to apply nearly as thick a layer of foundation as we do sunscreen, meaning your skin won't be quite as protected. That's why I like to apply a lightweight SPF or SPF for under makeup underneath my foundation, so I can be sure my skin is fully prepped for the weather.
But when it comes to the winter months and the UV index is much lower, I often opt for one of these formulas alone for their 2-in-1 appeal. Each one of these base products not only layers well with my daily skincare, but sits comfortably in sweaty weather. From water-resistant finishes you can swim in to mineral options that offer instant protection, I swear by these formulas for coverage and boosted protection.
Best foundations with SPF: Quick shopping links
- Best everyday: £13.60 at Lookfantastic (save 20%)
- Best full coverage: £47 at Cult Beauty
- Best water-resistant: £15.15 at Amazon (save 49%)
- Best mineral: £34 at Merit
- Most hydrating: £39 at Lookfantastic
- Best powder: £25.55 at Lookfantastic (save 30%)
- Best luxury: £58 at Sephora
Best foundations with SPF, tried & tested
I will never stop raving about the Beauty Of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid. Despite being tinted and offering the right amount of coverage to combat redness and uneven skin tone, it's actually a sunscreen first and a foundation second—meaning it really will protect the skin. It has a very watery consistency that blends like a dream, and it gives a hydrating boost that offers radiance too. I have a few acne scars to contend with, and it covers them beautifully and doesn't melt away in the heat. For me, it's the ideal everyday formula that feels weightless but really does even the skin and give a healthy, natural glow.
If you're on the hunt for a full coverage foundation with a high SPF, I've yet to find a formula better than RMS. It covers virtually all of my blemishes and discolouration, providing a blurring effect across the skin—with the addition of SPF 50. A little of this goes a long way, so it's one I like to layer with a regular sunscreen. Despite its high coverage, it doesn't feel thick or uncomfortable on the skin, instead acting more like a thicker tinted moisturiser. Containing a blend of niacinamide, marigold flower extract, jojoba seed oil and ashwagandha, it also smooths the skin, controls excess oils, and promotes radiance. A true all-rounder for the summer months.
I'm yet to encounter a base product more waterproof than this. Whether you're jumping in and out of the pool or need something to contend with sweat, Shiseido's Sports BB won't budge. Despite being lightweight, it offers impressive coverage that eradicates my need for concealer, and it's easy to blend with a brush or just with your hands. It has a fairly matte finish, but it also provides some radiance that keeps the skin fresh and healthy. With high SPF 50 and a quick-drying finish, it's my favourite to take on holiday when I want one base product that can do it all.
Mineral sunscreens are some of the best at protecting the skin because they get to work instantly—no sinking in time required. Merit's The Uniform is one of the very best mineral formulas that offers foundation-like coverage too. Although it's billed as a sheer coverage product, I find that it does a brilliant job at covering redness and uneven skin tone, even when I'm having a few breakouts. It's another base product that feels comfortable and light on the skin thanks to how easily it blends, and it has a gorgeous skin-like finish that is neither too matte nor too shiny. Plus, it's non-comedogenic and oil-free, making it suitable for acne-prone skin too.
A skincare-makeup hybrid, Laura Mercier's tinted moisturiser with SPF 30 is one of my most worn base products of all time. Although it promises sheer-light coverage, it's another one that works brilliantly at evening skin tone and masking darker spots—and the formula is buildable, so you can get more coverage if you need it. But my favourite thing about it is how hydrating it is, leaving the skin perfectly dewy and luminous. It's completely weightless, but works to soothe the skin which is a welcome treat in hot weather. It never clings to or accentuates any drier patches, and it stays put throughout the day.
Powder foundations seem to have fallen out of favour in recent years, but I'm here to tell you that they should not be dismissed. I've been using this bareMinerals formula since I was a teenager, and I'm always pleasantly surprised by the coverage and finish. You might expect it to give a dull, matte look, but it's extremely radiant and blurring with a skin-like appearance. Most unexpectedly, it has incredible coverage that conceals even angry red blemishes—perhaps better than some liquid formulas. It works wonders for oily skin, but the breathable formula means it suits normal and combination skin too. It's a mineral SPF 15, so I recommend layering it with a higher SPF in the summer for optimum protection.
I'm yet to try an Hourglass product that I don't get along with, and this is one of the best foundations with SPF if you want radiance, coverage, and protection. It has a slightly tackier formula than other liquid foundations straight out of the tube, but it blends like butter and gives medium coverage that doesn't crease or transfer—essential in hot weather. It also benefits the skin as you wear it; as well as SPF 30, it uses Advanced Hydra-Smoothing Technology (a blend of hyaluronic microspheres) to lock in moisture while visibly improving skin texture. A lighter layer is ideal for daytime wear, but I also love it for building coverage for full glam occasions. The result is a truly flawless, glowy finish with zero cakiness.
