When it comes to skincare, I favour low-maintenance, hybrid formulas that can shave minutes off my daily routine. Enter tinted SPFs, which not only protect my skin from UV rays but give me glowy, pigmented coverage. Eliminating the need for multiple steps, the best tinted SPFs I’ve tried – including Ultra Violette, Merit and Supergoop! – can cost upwards of £30 for a small tube. Thankfully, I’ve found that budget buys can do the job just as well.
Case in point: Garnier’s vitamin C daily UV brightening fluid glow. Sitting alongside the brightening serum, SPF spray, micellar water and liquid toner, the affordable SPF hails from the brand’s bestselling vitamin C range. Lauded by beauty editors and skincare buffs alike, all the formulas are genuinely good and incredibly affordable.
The last step in my skincare routine, Garnier’s budget buy is my go-to tinted SPF. The formula is lightweight and easily blendable, while the SPF 50 formulation has all bases covered when it comes to sun protection. Designed to be one-shade-fits-all, the cream gives your skin a glowy and lightweight coverage. Plus, the slimline tube is perfect for packing in your bag and topping up during the day.
The best part is that it costs a little less than £10 thanks to Amazon’s ‘everyday essentials week’. With SPF50, it offers high UV protection, while the formula itself has a super lightweight, gel-like consistency that is seamless and smooth to apply. It’s easily blended with your fingers, and the texture isn’t greasy – it absorbs quickly, too. While there’s a slight sunscreen scent, it’s not off-putting.
The pigment is glowy and blurring rather than tinted, as it’s designed to suit all skin tones – those on TikTok praise it as being brown- and dark-skin-friendly. I’ve found that the pinky hue adapts to my skin tone for dewy, plump and glowy results, and the coverage works to mask small blemishes too. The light coverage is equally impressive, with one application lasting a good six hours.
Some might find the coverage a little too light, but the formula sits nicely under other face bases. If you’re layering it under foundation or concealer, you won’t find any piling, with the Garnier formula doubling up as an SPF primer. For the price and generous tube size (40ml), this is a hero drug store buy.
