I Tried Supergoop's Protec(tint) Daily SPF Tint on My Olive-Toned Complexion
Design by Bella Geraci
Growing up in Southern California, wearing sunscreen—especially on beach days—was a must. Truth be told, though, I rarely applied it on my face. I’m probably aging myself here, but facial sunscreen just wasn’t as versatile back then as it is today. Even in the early ‘00s, it was hard to find sun protection that didn’t leave a cakey, greasy, ashy cast on my brown skin.
Fast forward to today, I can’t leave the house without slathering on copious amounts of facial sunscreen, particularly the Supergoop Protec(tint) SPF Tint. The SPF-swirled complexion product is available in 14 shades, and I love how it performs more like a medium-coverage foundation than a tint (as its name suggests).
Before its launch in March, I reached for Supergoop’s Glowscreen tinted sunscreen for its dewy, bronzing effect. This formula, however, has the same radiance-boosting effects but with actual foundation coverage. More on the multitasking formula, ahead.
Supergoop! Protec(tint) SPF Tint
$44.00, Nordstrom
Meet the experts:
Kelly A. Dobos is a cosmetic chemist based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Branford, Connecticut, and an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.
Tommy Napoli, is a makeup artist based in New York City.
Maya René is a makeup artist based in New York City.
The brand calls it a "hybrid" formula—but what does that mean?
Cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos says the word “hybrid” could be referring to how the sunscreen combines organic (in this case, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) and inorganic (avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate) ingredients that help protect your skin from the sun. In other words, it contains the active ingredients in both mineral and chemical sunscreens.
The inorganic chemicals do not contain carbon atoms and “provide color and opacity in makeup,” says Dobos. But achieving a high SPF, like Protec(tint)’s 50, without a white cast would be difficult without the addition of organic chemicals. The latter contains carbon atoms to help combat the possible outcome of an ashy, white cast. “By combining a smaller amount of inorganic sunscreen with organic sunscreens which are clear, you can achieve a higher SPF with broad spectrum protection and less of a white, opaque cast on [the] skin especially for darker skin tones,” says Dobos.
While a white cast may not be a large concern with this tinted sunscreen, board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, says that ensuring you’re wearing enough of it might be. She says that you should aim to wear a nickel-size dollop on your face and neck and to be careful not to lose product to your brush, sponge, or hands as you sheer and buff it out. Gohara says using tinted sunscreen formulations like Protec(tint) has additional skin benefits. “[Tinted sunscreens] are most effective at protecting against visible or blue light emitted from your computer screens, cell phones, and even light bulbs,” she says.
Like all tinted sunscreens, coverage is a plus, but sun protection should always take precedence. Its whopping SPF 50 well exceeds the American Academy of Dermatology recommendation of SPF 30 or higher. Reapplication of makeup may not be the easiest—especially when you’re on the go—so Dr. Gohara suggests dusting on a powder sunscreen. I like the Sunforgettable Very Water Resistant Powder Sun Protection SPF 30 for its easy, on-the-go powder formula with a compact brush applicator, which provides easy sun-protecting benefits when reapplication is needed.
The brand claims this SPF will also create a smooth, even finish. Dobos says that this is possible because of its use of silica microspheres, which “help enhance color pay-off and provide a silky, elegant feel on the skin.” She adds that the formula contains coco-caprylate (an ingredient derived from coconut oil and glycerin), which helps disperse pigments and inorganic sunscreen within the formula. This ingredient is one of the main reasons that a consistent shade in the manufacturing process is possible, granting an even base during application.
The Supergoop! Protec(tint) SPF Tint is also formulated with the buzzy skin-care ingredient, ectoin. This molecule works wonders to hydrate and maintain the skin barrier in extreme environmental conditions. “Ectoin was first isolated from a bacterium that can withstand the harsh conditions of living in a salt lake in the Egyptian desert,” Dobos says.
How I applied it
When I asked makeup artist Maya René how to best apply Protec(tint), she echoed Gohara’s sentiment: “To ensure I'm applying enough sunscreen for effective sun protection, I use a nickel-size amount for the face.” I needed no further convincing. After washing my face and applying a featherweight moisturizer (the Sisley Paris Sisleÿa L'Intégral Anti-Age Fresh Gel Cream), I squeezed a nickel-size amount onto my fingers. Then, I swept it directly onto my cheeks, chin, and nose and blended it across my entire face with my fingertips. Applying the product section by section helped me achieve a super-smooth base.
René also told me to apply sun protection to my ears and eyelids. “These areas are often overlooked but equally susceptible to sun damage,” she says. I did exactly that and used the sunscreen left on my fingers along my ears and eyelids.
Personally, I’m all for a minimal, no-makeup look, so the tint is plenty of coverage for me. I usually dab Charlotte Tilbury Lip & Cheek Glow in Beach Please Glow along the apples of my cheeks, sweep on some Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown, and I’m ready to go out the door. If you’re curious how the Protec(tint) applies in real time, watch my TikTok video where I apply the sunscreen on my bare skin, there’s also a comparison video of the new sunscreen side-by-side with Glowscreen if you’re curious to see the differences and similarities. I know I was!
If you’re looking for more coverage, René says to apply a Protec(tint) as a primer and foundation on top. “Layering your foundation and concealer product on top [of sunscreen] helps ensure you get sun protection benefits while achieving your desired level of coverage,” she says.
Makeup artist Tommy Napoli agrees. “When working from the thinnest texture to the densest, I can easily see myself using [a sunscreen] tint as a priming step to even the skin, and adding coverage with foundation and concealer where needed,” he says. If you’re going this full coverage route, use a translucent setting powder on top. This will lock it in place and reduce shine—a must in this heat-wave humidity.
My overall thoughts
My olive-toned skin is sometimes hard to match as I find many skin tints lean too orange, but I found my shade 30W with no hassle. The buildable coverage by no means completely conceals my freckles (thank goodness). The cluster of brown, speckled dots along my upper cheekbones—both real and fake—is my favorite feature, and I’m thrilled to report they still peeked through after applying a layer of my perfect shade match.
I also found that areas of my skin, like my jawline and around my nose, with slight discoloration and redness were covered and concealed, leaving an even-looking complexion.
I have normal skin with an oily T-zone and usually find that tinted SPFs slip and slide across my face after a full day of wear. I never found this with the Protec(tint)—and on particularly hot days, I dust on some of the Universal Translucent One/Size Mini Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder on top, just in case.
Now that you’ve got the 411 and my first impressions, it’s your turn to try it out yourself. Supergoop! Protec(tint) Daily Skin Tint is available now for $44 at sephora.com.
Read more on sun protection, below:
Now, watch RePaul's Drag Race all-stars nine cast react to viral beauty trends:
Follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
Originally Appeared on Allure
