9 Best Face Sunscreens Under Makeup for Pill-Free, Smooth Wear, According to Testing

The eye-catching packaging may draw you in, but it's the lightweight feel that makes this sunscreen stand out. This chemical SPF contains cress sprout extract to boost the skin barrier and protect from pollution, while wild butterfly ginger root extract protects skin from free radical damage. During testing, users praised the texture and ease of application, but some found the scent unpleasant.

TESTER NOTES: "While I have dry skin, most sunscreens I've used either feel too thick, too oily, or too greasy," a tester said. "This sunscreen is the only one I've tried out of dozens that leaves my skin looking and feeling comfortable. It's so lightweight that it feels like I have nothing on my face. I love that it gives me a natural glow (or dewy look) with minimal stickiness/tackiness. I also appreciate how easy it is to find in my bag thanks to its fun shape. Plus, no white cast!"

Too much fun in the sun can make skin look dull, uneven, and dehydrated, which is where this anti-aging formula stands out. The formula is infused with vitamin C for a brighter-looking complexion, niacinamide to help soften the look of dark spots and uneven tone, and hyaluronic acid for lightweight hydration that can make fine lines appear less noticeable. It has a subtle citrus scent, so sensitive-skin users may prefer a fragrance-free option.

TESTER NOTES: “This sunscreen offers the perfect amount of hydration without being greasy or heavy,” says GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. “It feels as light as a serum on my skin. I put this on in the mornings, and it provides a great hydrating base for my makeup. (The brand also conducted its own 12-week consumer study in which 92% agreed the product primes skin before makeup application.)”

This GH Beauty Award-winning sunscreen earned perfect scores for avoiding stinging, burning, redness, breakouts, and eye irritation. Testers also liked its texture, saying it absorbed quickly, hydrated without feeling greasy, and left no noticeable film or residue. However, some said it isn’t as hydrating as other facial sunscreens tested and can leave a shiny finish.

TESTER NOTES: "This sunscreen blended in so smoothly,” a tester said. “It made my skin feel hydrated and not greasy. It immediately absorbed for a barely-there feel. I've been using it every day for the past two weeks and have noticed an improvement in my skin texture, too! My previous sunscreen felt tacky, and now I can never go back.”

This sunscreen feels more like a lightweight moisturizer than a traditional SPF. In testing, it left skin so hydrated that many testers skipped their usual moisturizer, thanks to hyaluronic acid and other moisture-attracting ingredients that help soften the appearance of fine dry lines.

It also includes tranexamic acid, an ingredient that can help improve the look of uneven tone and dark spots over time. Testers gave it the highest overall satisfaction score, especially for how hydrated it made skin feel and for not stinging or burning. The main drawback: A few reviewers with sensitive skin found it irritating.

TESTER NOTES: "I loved that it is creamy and smooth rather than tacky, and didn't leave a white residue," a tester said. "The lack of scent and the lightweight feel of the lotion made me honestly forget that I even had sunscreen on. I love that this product disappears under my makeup!"

A favorite among our testers and a GH Beauty Award winner, this Korean sunscreen stood out for how well it worked across different skin tones and types. Its lightweight formula contains green tea to help nourish skin and cica (centella asiatica), a popular Korean skincare ingredient known for calming visible redness and irritation. Testers especially appreciated that it blended in easily without leaving a white cast, a greasy finish, or a sticky feel. Though the scent is faint, some testers didn't like its “sunscreen smell.”

TESTER NOTES: “I have very sensitive skin and most sunscreens cause me to break out,” a tester said. “I've been using this product daily for a month without issue. I live in hot, humid South Florida and love how lightweight it is; it doesn't feel heavy. It does not leave a cast or oily residue. It goes on easily, not sticky at all, protects well, and does not interfere with makeup.”

Oily skin types know how tough it can be to find a face sunscreen that doesn’t leave skin feeling and looking greasy and shiny, but this one is up to the task with its matte finish. It also won’t cause breakouts, bumps, or redness, which can be easily triggered in oily complexions.

TESTER NOTES: “This product absorbed quickly, and I love that it left my face looking smooth and matte,” a tester said. “I would use this product again. It left my face feeling hydrated. Though it was thick and took some rubbing in, it eventually absorbed and did a great job.”

Those partial to mineral sunscreens—who often have sensitive skin—will appreciate this one, since it doesn’t irritate or cause breakouts. Testers said it didn’t irritate their skin, feel greasy, or disrupt makeup, making it easy to wear every day. It protects against UVA and UVB rays and also helps defend skin from pollution, though a few testers said it left a white cast and took longer to absorb.

TESTER NOTES: “Love the packaging, size, ease of pump, great light scent, it works—even when I spent four hours outside in Southern California gardening and all day on the Fourth of July,” a tester said. “It works great alone or under makeup and washes off easily with soap and water.”