costume and makeup play tips and ideas

Tinted sunscreen can be so much more enjoyable to use than other sunscreen. Instead of leaving a cloudy, white cast over your skin, it can help hide your imperfections. And although most tinted sunscreen is made for the face, you can easily use it on your chest and arms if you have discoloration or sunspots that you want to gently camouflage in those areas. There are, however, a few tips you'll want to follow when using tinted sunscreen.

Choose the Shade That’s Best for You.

Some brands only make one color of tinted sunscreen. This might work fine if you skin happens to be the medium tone their product comes in. But otherwise, you'll want to look for a brand that offers at least a few shades. Ideally, you should be able to sample the sunscreen. Rub a little onto the back of your hand to ensure the color matches your skin tone. Since tinted sunscreen offers pretty translucent coverage, it doesn't necessarily need to match your skin tone as perfectly as foundation makeup or concealer, but you do want it to be close.

Moisturize Beforehand.

Tinted sunscreen is generally not meant to also work as a moisturizer. If you have naturally oily skin, you can probably get away with applying it without a moisturizer underneath it. But otherwise, you'll get a better application if you first moisturize, and then apply the tinted sunscreen. This prevents the tint components of the sunscreen from building up on the surface of your skin as the liquids are absorbed too fully. If you reapply the sunscreen later in the day, though, you should not need another application of moisturizer — unless you have really dry skin.

Tap the Sunscreen on With Your Fingertips.

You can apply normal sunscreen by smoothing it on, but if you apply tinted sunscreen this way, it will sometimes come out looking blotchy. So, a better way to apply it is to tap it into your skin with your fingertips. (If you wear foundation makeup, this may be how you apply that product.) Dot some of the sunscreen along your forehead, on both cheeks, and on your chin, and then tap with your fingers to blend it. 

If you follow the tips above, you should have an easier time getting flawless application of tinted sunscreen, and that sunscreen should offer both protection and a nice, even finish on your skin.

For more information about tinted sunscreen, like eltaMD tinted UV sunscreen, visit a cosmetics store in your area.