I Can’t Scroll Without Seeing This Tinted Sunscreen—10 Editors Put It to the Test
Welcome to Internet Famous, a monthly series in which we ask our Instagram followers to vote on a viral beauty product that’s taken social media by storm. Then the beauty team will take the winning pick for a spin and share their reviews—pictures included.
Over the years, “chronically online” has been added to the long list of phrases people use to describe me. I’m not ashamed to claim this title—after all, my daily screen time is in the double digits, TikTok is my most used app, and most of my recent purchases are the result of Instagram ads. Hey, I am who I am, but being chronically online has its advantages. I’m always up to date on the latest and greatest launches, and there’s never a shortage of inspiration. Lately, I can’t scroll on any social media platform without seeing Merit’s The Uniform: Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45 ($38), so our beauty team did what we do best and took it for a test-drive.
According to the Merit site, this product is called The Uniform “because sometimes wearing the same thing every day is a good thing.” I’m a certified outfit repeater and repeat shopper, so a sunscreen worth reaching for every day makes sense to me. It’s not a foundation or a CC cream but a tinted mineral sunscreen with a lightweight, buildable formula and a natural skin finish. If you’re a regular skin-tint wearer, you know it’s difficult to find noncomedogenic, oil-free, and silicone-free products. Consider this skin tint a major win for the sensitive-skin community. This product is available in 14 shades, and our editors tested a few of them for you below. If you’d like to see the product we’re keeping on heavy rotation this summer, keep reading.
“I’ve used a few tinted sunscreens before but never loved any because they felt greasy. Well, I’m now a Merit fan. I’ve been telling everyone about this product because it makes my face look like it has a filter on it by removing redness and evening out my complexion. The protection is also obviously great.” — Bobby Schuessler, market director
CHANEL
Sublimage le Sérum
CHANEL
Sublimage la Créme Yeux
“For me, New York summers + face makeup of any kind = a greasy, acne mess. But my nosiness got the best of me, and I had to try the tinted sunscreen the whole internet was raving about. As a Merit devotee, I wasn’t surprised that my shade match was nearly perfect or that the coverage made me look airbrushed but not cakey. I was surprised that the product didn’t leave my skin feeling oily, heavy, or clogged despite multiple two-hour subway commutes, long afternoon walks, and workouts during a heat wave. Most importantly, I’ve yet to see a pimple pop up.” — Stephanie Johnson, beauty, homes, and non-endemic director, branded content
MERIT
Flush Balm Cream Blush
Too Faced
Better Than Sex Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara
“Is this a safe space? I have always been a full-coverage girlie (yes, even in the summer). I have oily, hyperpigmentation-prone skin and accepted that tinted SPFs just weren’t enough coverage for me. So you can imagine my surprise when I took Merit’s Tinted Mineral Sunscreen for a spin. I applied this before a quick matcha run and was pleasantly surprised by how smooth, even, and bright it made my skin look. Plus, it’s not heavy or greasy, which is music to my ears. I’ve worn this to the beach, at the gym, on flights—anywhere I want a more natural look. I’ve also started wearing it as my base, so I don’t need to use as much foundation in this 100°F heat. Consider me a convert.” — Sahara Clement, copy editor, branded content
EADEM
Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm
First Aid Beauty
Hydrating Dewy Gel Cream Moisturizer With Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides
“I really love Merit’s new SPF. I’ve tried just about every cult-followed brand’s tinted sunscreen, and none have made a lasting impression—until now. I have combination skin that can get oily fast, but The Uniform creates a beautiful blurred-skin effect and a pretty glow that doesn’t look or feel greasy. It was also so easy to apply, and the shade match was nearly perfect. It didn’t separate throughout the day, pill on top of my moisturizer and base-layer sunscreen, or leave me with clogged pores. It’s become a mainstay in my daily routine, obviously.” — Kaitlin Clapinski, associate fashion editor, branded content
Saie
Dew Bronze Soft-Focus Sculpting Liquid Bronzer
Milani
Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray
“I can definitely admit to relying on concealer more than I do a good base product in the summer. I’m afraid of feeling cakey or oily as soon as I step outside or after a subway ride, no matter how lightweight the product claims to be. But for Merit, I’ll make an exception. I love how easy to blend and skin-like this product is. Not to mention, shade 06 is my perfect match. I’ve been experiencing a bit of texture, and I felt like the formula magnified it a bit as opposed to covering it up, but that’s totally okay because I plan to use this tinted moisturizer in conjunction with a full-coverage concealer in my problem areas.” — Aniyah Morinia, beauty editor
Thrive Causemetics
Liquid Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara
Yves Saint Laurent
Make Me Blush 24-Hour Buildable Powder Blush
“I say this with my whole chest: I’m a tinted-sunscreen connoisseur. It’s absolutely essential to my everyday makeup look, so I have high standards. The formula has to be zinc-based and have high SPF. (SPF 15 will not cut it.) Its consistency should be creamy and blendable (not too thick, not too thin), and the finish should be natural and dewy, like my skin but better. And bonus points for aesthetic packaging, obviously. This one from Merit is just *chef’s kiss*—it blends into my skin so flawlessly, adds subtle coverage, and gives a soft glow that I’m obsessed with. It’s one of those products that makes your skin look so good. It’s earned a permanent spot in my daily beauty lineup.” — Emma Walsh, beauty editor
Rhode
Pocket Blush in Date Cake
Tower 28
Swipe All-Over Hydrating Serum Concealer
“If you ask me, Merit walks on water. So when I heard through the grapevine (ahem, my overcrowded inbox) that the source of some of my all-time favorite beauty products was coming out with a tinted sunscreen, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I favor tinted sunscreen over foundation any day, especially in the summer, but I’m still exceptionally picky. SPF-infused formulas can often feel heavy or tacky on my skin, so I was pleased to feel how light and airy this one is, especially during an NYC heat wave. It didn’t cause me to break out, even on sweaty mid-June afternoons, and it concealed enough of my natural redness. However, I will point out that this product clung slightly to my dry spots, making me think I’ll keep this as a summer product and swap for something more hydrating in the winter.” — Alyssa Brascia, associate beauty editor
Armani Beauty
Luminous Silk Hydrating Face and Under-Eye Concealer
“I usually veer away from using tinted sunscreen as my main SPF because it’s difficult to achieve the level of UV protection promised on the packaging without gooping it on and creating a smudgy, pilly, uneven mess. However, I love applying tinted sunscreen on top of traditional sunscreen for extra UV defense with skin-enhancing benefits. Merit’s mineral sunscreen is my new go-to for that. It’s lightweight, long-lasting, and strikes a good balance between matte and dewy. It also provided the perfect amount of no-makeup-makeup coverage. I love it.” — Kaitlyn McLintock, beauty editor
Prada Beauty
Hydrating Lip Balm With Jojoba Oil
rhode
Pocket Blush in Toasted Teddy
(Image credit: @emmmahugh)
“I am a tinted-sunscreen girl. To me, it’s the perfect base for daily makeup looks, especially in the heat. That being said, some formulas can feel greasy or pilly (my worst nightmare), so it’s rare for me to find a new option that could replace my few favorites. I’m not just saying this: I’ve been reaching for this product from Merit every single morning. Not only does it reduce redness and play well with other cream products, but I love that it’s mineral-based and has SPF 45 protection.” — Emma Hughes, social media editor
Hourglass
Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil
Glow Recipe
Glass Balm Lip Treatment for Shine & Hydration
“In the past, I’ve stayed away from tinted sunscreens because sometimes the formulas can feel heavy on my skin and clog my pores. Also, when I see products that contain mineral sunscreen, I expect the dreaded white cast. But I was pleasantly surprised by this formula from Merit, and I see this product becoming a staple in my makeup bag. I love that I’m getting that much-needed protection from the sun, and the tint is a perfect match for my skin, which allows me to even out my complexion since some areas on my face are darker than others. I love that a little bit goes a long way, and I can avoid that cakey feeling that I sometimes get with other tinted formulas. Not to mention it leaves my skin feeling nice and soft.” — Sabrina Talbert, assistant beauty editor
belif
The True Cream Aqua Bomb Hydrating Moisturizer
Pixi
Glow Tonic 5% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner
