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OUR HEAD OF BEAUTY GOES BAREFACED TO TEST NEW TINTED SPFS FROM SUPERGOOP!, BEAUTY OF JOSEON AND MERIT... 09:30, 02 Jun 2025Updated 11:35, 02 Jun 2025 This article contains affiliate links,
we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more I have a confession: I don't like applying suncream to my face. I feel guilty even typing it, being a beauty
editor and all. Don't get me wrong, I completely appreciate the importance of wearing it every day, and I will do it, but I've just never found the whole applying and wearing
experience pleasant. Even formulas promising to be non-sticky, fast-absorbing and ultra-lightweight feel claggy or greasy to me. I just feel _cleaner_ when I'm not wearing the extra SPF
layer on my skin. But this year, after turning 32, I've really started to notice a change in my skin. Patches of pigmentation on my cheeks have started to appear, and I don't have
that youthful glow that I've taken for granted my whole life. So, in a bid to keep my skin looking as healthy as possible for as long as possible, I've made it my mission to take
daily suncare more seriously – because, as we all know, diligent SPF usage can ward off signs of premature ageing. I may be a little late to the 'I love SPF party', but I have
picked a good year to become a devotee. I've seen more and more launches from SPF brands promising tinted coverage to rival foundations, water-light textures to rival your usual day
serum, and pore-diffusing formulas that mimic a good primer. In fact, three landed on our Mirror beauty desk the exact week I made it my mission to find my perfect product in Beauty of
Joseon's Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen, Supergoop!'s Mattescreen or Merit's The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen. Spoiler: One of them has indeed turned out to be _juuuust_
right... A note before we start: _I will just say that all of these SPFs can give a nice tint, but they won't ever be a foundation, and vice versa. SPF tests are based on applying 2mg
per square centimetre of skin, which is a lot more product than most people use for make-up. So, I'm trying to find a tinted SPF that comes as close to a foundation as possible while
still being very much an SPF._ SUPERGOOP’S MATTESCREEN SUNSCREEN SPF30 SHOP IT FOR £36.50 PROS: * Genuinely mattifying without feeling chalky or tight * Smooth, silicone-primer-like texture
that grips make-up * Helps foundation stay in place all day * Mineral formula with zinc oxide, ideal for sensitive or reactive skin * Light tint that blends well and reduces white cast *
Doesn’t pill under other skincare or make-up CONS: * £34 price tag is on the higher side * One universal shade made to blend with a 'broad range of skin tones' – but darker skin
tones report it can give a slight ashy cast * Matte finish may not suit those who prefer a dewy look * SPF30 is good, but not the highest available (worth noting, though, that the brand has
many other SPF50s) ZOE SAYS: "I absolutely love this SPF because it feels like a primer, cutting down my number one issue with many SPFs: how greasy they feel. It actually reminds me of
the Smashbox silicone-based primer I used to wear when I went out for a big night out and wanted to make-up to really last. I will keep wearing this under a foundation, but I think
it's easy to see from my before-and-after shot that it doesn't offer much in the way of coverage. However, with only one universal tint shade currently available, there's no
way it could be so tinted that it suits only one skin tone. I do like how it mattifies my skin, and it really doesn't feel like an SPF to apply, so it's hard to fault it for
anything other than it being a factor 30 instead of 50 and not covering blemishes or pigmentation." BEAUTY OF JOSEON DAILY TINTED FLUID SUNSCREEN BROAD SPECTRUM SPF30 SHOP IT FOR £17
PROS * The texture is super lightweight and serum-like * Has a soft, natural finish that’s not too matte or too glowy * Comes with a sheer tint that gives a nice blurring effect * No
fragrance * Available in 12 flexible shades * The price is pretty reasonable, especially for something you’d use every day CONS * SPF30 is fine for everyday use, but might not cut it if
you're out in strong sun for long * Doesn’t shout about its UVA protection, which could be a worry if you’re prone to pigmentation (like me) * It’s not the longest-lasting, on account
of it being very sheer ZOE SAYS: "When I first applied this, I was almost certain it wouldn't be for me. It's water-light, which is really lovely, but it's _so _sheer.
For a girl like me who has a very shiny face anyway (read: oily), it made me feel like Edward Cullen from Twilight when he goes into the sunshine. However, once I let it settle in, it really
grew on me. It genuinely feels weightless on my skin, and I love the shade choice available. From my photos, I can also see how much it evened out my skin tone, despite not giving much
coverage in a typical base sense. I left this out for my 64-year-old mum to try, and she LOVES it. She says it makes her look so youthful. If you're looking for an anti-ageing tint, or
you love the K-beauty 'glass skin' look, this will be for you." MERIT BEAUTY THE UNIFORM TINTED MINERAL SUNSCREEN SPF50 SHOP IT FOR £34 PROS * Feels lightweight on the skin,
almost like you’re not wearing anything * Has a natural, satin finish– not too matte or too dewy * Comes in 15 shades that are designed to adapt well to a variety of skin tones * Uses 100%
mineral zinc oxide for SPF 50 protection, and doesn’t leave a white cast * Made without silicones, oils, or fragrance, so it’s a good shout for sensitive or acne-prone skin * Sheer but
buildable coverage that evens out tone without looking heavy or cakey CONS * Can cling to dry patches if your skin isn’t well prepped * Some users have reported a bit of pilling when layered
over certain moisturisers or serums * At £34, it’s definitely on the spendy side for a daily SPF Article continues below ZOE SAYS: "I teased earlier that I found my perfect SPF match,
and this is the one I was referring to. I love it, and I never thought I'd say that about an SPF. I went a shade darker in the tint than I normally would in a foundation, and it gave me
both the look of instant bronzing drops and a lightweight foundation. I felt like my skin looked healthier and smoother, and even my patches of pigmentation were covered. It's
definitely lighter than a foundation, but it also meant I could skip a base layer. In fact, I tested layering it under my regular foundation, and I have to say it looks much better on its
own. It's very quickly become my holiday, weekend and working from home go-to– and it's definitely worth the price."