Best Tinted Moisturizer with SPF for Mature Skin

If you grew up in the '70s or '80s, sun protection meant a white stripe of zinc down the lifeguard's nose. For the rest of us, the plan was usually baby oil and a reflector.

We've come a long way since then. Still, a lot of us have a drawer full of SPF products we stopped using because they left a white cast or turned our foundation into paste. The formulas have gotten a lot better, and a tinted moisturizer with SPF can now handle both jobs in one step. Below is what to look for, plus one pick for your 50s and one for 60 and up.

Quick Tips Before You Buy

• Look for "broad spectrum" on the label. That's the part that covers both UVA and UVB rays.

• Stick with SPF 30 or higher. It's the everyday baseline dermatologists recommend.

• Go sheer to medium. A thinner layer has less to settle into fine lines.

• Moisturize first. Tinted SPF goes on smoother over skin that isn't thirsty.

• Use more than you think. The American Academy of Dermatology says about a teaspoon for your face.

• Reapply if you're outside for a while. Every two hours is the general rule.

Why SPF Never Felt Right on Mature Skin

Your skin isn't the skin you had at 35

Most of us have drier skin than we used to, and the texture shows up more. Fine lines around the eyes and mouth, a few dry patches that never quite go away. Thick, matte formulas sit right on top of all of it, which is why the same foundation that looked fine years ago can look heavy now.

The old formulas didn't help

Older sunscreens were thick, and the mineral ones especially could leave a gray or white cast. Put a formula like that over dry skin and it clings to every patch. So plenty of us skipped it, or wore it as a separate step and hoped the foundation on top would cover the evidence.

What to Look for in a Tinted Moisturizer with SPF

Broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher

"Broad spectrum" means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30 or higher for everyday use. Daily SPF is one of the best habits you can have for your skin long term, right alongside getting your skin checked regularly.

Ingredients that help with dryness

A few names worth knowing when you flip the box over:

• Niacinamide helps strengthen and soothe skin.

• Vitamin B5 helps skin feel softer and more comfortable.

• Vitamin E helps protect skin from free radicals.

• Hyaluronic acid helps skin hold on to moisture.

A finish that skips the chalk and the cake

If you can see your foundation when you lean in close, it's probably too heavy. Sheer to medium coverage with a natural or satin finish is the range to look for.

Mineral or chemical?

The AAD suggests mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) for sensitive skin. Either type works as long as it's broad spectrum and SPF 30 or higher, and a lot of everyday formulas use a mix of both. The easiest way to know what you're getting is to check the "Active Ingredients" list on the back of the box.

Which One Fits Your Routine?

• Want coverage and SPF in one step? Better Than 'Block Serum Foundation, with SPF 50+ and light to medium coverage.

• Want the lightest layer possible? Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30, which is clear and can be worn on its own or under a sheer tint.

Best Tinted Moisturizer with SPF for Mature Skin over 50

If you’d rather not do sunscreen, primer and foundation as three separate steps every morning,  Better Than 'Block Serum Foundation SPF 50+ handles it in one. It gives you broad spectrum SPF 50+ with light to medium coverage and a natural finish, and it feels weightless once it's on.

It's also doing some skincare while you wear it. Niacinamide helps soothe and brighten, vitamin B5 helps skin feel soft and comfortable, and vitamin E helps protect against free radicals.

Smooth it on with your fingers for a sheer layer, or use a foundation brush when you want a little more coverage. If your skin runs dry, put your moisturizer on first and give it a minute to sink in.

Best Tinted Moisturizer with SPF for Mature Skin over 60

If your skin has gotten drier and you'd like your SPF to feel more like skincare than makeup, start with Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30. It's clear, it adds hydration for dry skin and it smooths the look of pores and fine lines. It also carries the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation.

On days you're keeping it simple, you can wear it on its own for a natural glow. When you want a little tint, smooth Quench-n-Tint Lightweight Tinted Moisturizer over it for sheer coverage and a hydrated satin finish. Want more coverage in just one spot? Tap a little Better Than 'Block right there instead of adding more all over. For more ways to work SPF into your routine, shop the SPF collection.

How to Apply It so It Never Feels Heavy

Start with moisturized skin

Put your moisturizer on first and let it sink in for a minute. A tinted SPF glides over skin that's already had a drink and clings to skin that hasn't.

Build in thin layers

The best tool for this one is already attached to your hands. Your fingers warm the formula up so it melts in instead of sitting on top. If you want more coverage somewhere, add a second thin layer just there, not a thicker one everywhere.

Reapply without redoing your whole face

Said yes to the patio table at brunch? Blot, then press on a little more with clean fingers, mostly on your nose and cheekbones. For more favorites, browse our Fine Lines & Wrinkles collection.

Do You Still Need Sunscreen Underneath?

The AAD says makeup and moisturizers with SPF are a convenient option, as long as you use enough and reapply when you're outdoors. The catch is the amount. About a teaspoon for your face is more tinted moisturizer than most of us would ever put on.

If you know you'll go lighter on the tint, put your protection in the primer step instead. Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 goes under any foundation, so your SPF doesn't depend on how much coverage you feel like wearing that day.

SPF You'll Actually Want to Wear Every Day

The lifeguard's zinc stripe has been retired. These days your SPF can look like your skin, with a little extra glow if you want it.

Try Better Than 'Block at home and feel the weightless SPF 50+ for yourself.