You had me at zero white cast! The newest rave in the beauty community is Merit’s The Uniform – a tinted mineral sunscreen (SPF 45). They describe it as:
A mineral sunscreen that provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and a sheer tint that blends in with a light-as-air finish. It’s a sunscreen so perfect, you’ll actually want to wear it every day.
As a woman with medium-deep skin tones, representation in the beauty space has always been tooth and nail – with an emphasis on SPF products. I’m sure my skin-tone counterparts can agree – the fear of white cast is all too real. Most recently the backlash for Tower28’s Mineral Sunscreen could be considered a perfect example (though I haven’t tried the sunscreen for myself – the videos are damning). So, you could sense my hesitation and slight eye roll when yet another tinted SPF popped up on the market.
After sifting through countless TikTok video reviews and diving deep into Sephora comments, I caved and picked up the sunscreen everyone’s talking about. At a whopping $38, it’s stands out with it’s competitors:
- Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen: $38 for 1.7 oz (50 ml) → $22.35/oz
- Supergoop! Protec(tint) Daily SPF Tint SPF 50: $44 for 1.18 oz (35 ml) → $37.29/oz
- ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Ultralight Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50: $50 for 1.7oz (50 ml) → $29.41/oz
- LIGHTSAVER Tinted Activated Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 33: $45 for 1.69 oz (50ml) → $26.67/oz
Merit seems to be the best cost-effective option per ounce. It’s important to note it isn’t marketed as a moisturizer or foundation. Still, compared to the best selling tinted SP foundations/moisturizers at Sephora – it’s still a money saver.
- Saie Slip Tint SPF Moisturizer: $36 for 1.3 oz (40 ml) → $27.69/ounce
- Tower 28 Beauty SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation: $32 for 1 oz (30 ml) → $32/ounce
I headed to Sephora, swatched a few and opted for the shade 04 Rich Warm (also note it’s Clean stamped: vegan, non-comedogenic, and cruelty-free).
The application was effortless. I smoothed it on with just my fingers (no brushes at all) and it glided on seamlessly over my base (a layer of La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizer followed by Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer). The finish was smooth, streak-free, and natural. Most importantly, there was no film or any ashy residue in sight. I was able to make it work by finishing the rest of my makeup (concealer, bronzer, blush, and setting powders). The sunscreen held up and blended beautifully with my layering combos.
Surprisingly, it pulled slightly deeper on my skin than expected. While the tint is definitely sheer, it’s not without nuance, so I would say shade selection still matters, even in a lightweight formula.
The biggest takeaway? It’s not truly “tinted” in the traditional sense – at least not compared to formulas like Saie’s Slip Tint or Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint. Instead, this SPF is sheer, with a subtle wash of tone designed to enhance, but not cover. But the best part? Zero white cast.
The texture and finish impressed me enough to consider a re-purchase in a better-matched tone – 10 Deep Neutral-Warm. Perfection. Just one note – I would love to see a tinted moisturizer SPF option with light-medium coverage (also a travel sized option!).
If you’re looking for a clean, lightweight SPF that plays well with skin prep and won’t leave you looking ghostly, this one definitely earns its hype.
