When the heat is on, we don't want a heavy layer of makeup. But we still want a little coverage, plenty of glow, and UV protection. Below is the best lightweight makeup with skin-loving ingredients and essential SPF, says editor Trudi Brewer.
A new generation of complexion products is answering that call, marrying make-up with skin-loving ingredients and serious sun protection.
Until recently, tinted moisturisers and SPF-infused foundations rarely offered reliable UV defence. SPF levels were often too low, UVA protection was patchy, and sweat resistance was virtually non-existent. Now, the beauty landscape has shifted. Suncare-first brands are moving into make-up — and doing it properly. Think lightweight complexion products with higher SPF, alongside lip balms, and even blush designed to withstand the realities of summer. That said, a little SPF on your foundation label doesn't mean you're ready for the pool. For real protection, choose products from brands with sunscreen expertise — and remember to reapply SPF every two hours, especially after swimming, sweating, or towelling off.
BeautyEQ tip: Think of SPF in make-up as your supporting act, not the headline. Apply a dedicated broad-spectrum facial sunscreen underneath your make-up as your primary protection. If your foundation, blush or lip colour brings an extra layer of SPF to the party? Consider it a very welcome bonus.
The Base
Jane Iredale Glow Fixation SPF 30 Sheer Tint Skin Enhancer, $120
Think less makeup and more glow with this new skin tint. The formula sits between skincare and makeup, delivering a sheer wash of colour that instantly brightens, evens, and enhances the complexion. It has the consistency of a lightweight serum that glides over the skin and melts in seamlessly, leaving a luminous, lit-from-within finish instead of a layer of obvious makeup.
Wear it alone for an easy, barely-there summer base, or under foundation for a luminous boost.
The ingredients
First, the important bit: non-nano zinc oxide provides mineral broad-spectrum UV protection, while squalane helps support the skin barrier. Next, niacinamide helps visibly brighten and create a more even-looking complexion, while allantoin soothes and supports the skin barrier.
The take-home
The result is makeup that doesn't just sit on top of your skin—it feels like part of your skincare routine. If your summer makeup philosophy is fresh skin over full coverage, add this to your bradar. It comes in five blendable shades, from Fair to Light and Dark to Deep.
The Brightening Concealer
RMS Beauty Refresh Tinted Eye Brightener SPF30, $97
Here’s your morning wake-up call for tired-looking eyes. An ultra-sheer SPF tint that helps correct dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines, delivered with a clever, cooling metal rollerball tip.
The Ingredients
The brightening GlowPlex blend with niacinamide and plant-based peptides, including quinoa seed and pea extract, corrects dark circles, while Tightenyl helps firm with caffeine and coffee seed extract. The SPF30 mineral protection uses non-nano zinc oxide to help shield the delicate eye area from UV damage, a great backup for under sunglasses.
The Take-home
The finish is sheer, fresh and luminous — think more well-rested than heavily concealed. And because it’s hypoallergenic and ophthalmologist-tested, it’s designed with even sensitive eyes in mind.
The Skin Illuminator
MECCA COSMETICA In a Good Light Illuminating Drops with SPF30, $50
These lightweight illuminating drops have been in our beauty bags since their launch. Why? They deliver SPF30 and instant, lit-from-within radiance. The silky, serum-like formula smooths and evens out the skin tone, while light-reflecting pearls leave your complexion looking fresh, hydrated, and luminous.
The ingredients
The UVA and UVB filters blend organic and mineral options, including octinoxate, octisalate, Uvinul A Plus, Tinosorb S and titanium dioxide. For skincare benefits, niacinamide helps support a smoother, more even-looking complexion, while panthenol and glycerin hydrate and comfort skin. Vitamin E and evodia rutaecarpa fruit extract add antioxidant benefits.
The take-home
Wear it solo for a sheer glow, mix it into skincare for an all-over radiance, or layer it over makeup to highlight, bronze or blush. Buildable, long-wearing and gloriously glowy. There are four glow-giving colours. Pictured here: Sunlight.
The Lip Gloss
Naked Sundays SPF50 Glow + Go Lip Oil, $32
We’re religious about applying SPF to our face, neck, and décolletage, but we often forget our lips. They’re particularly vulnerable to UV exposure, yet rarely get the same daily protection; now you can give lips a sheer wash of juicy colour in a high-shine formula while delivering serious sun protection.
The ingredients
Infused with antioxidant-rich watermelon extract, raspberry seed oil, lycopene from tomato extract, vitamin E, and nourishing jojoba and coconut oils — wrapped in a glossy SPF50 formula that uses UVA and UVB filters, including organic screens like avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene.
The take-home
Lightweight and non-sticky, it leaves lips looking hydrated, plumped, and deliciously glossy, with a fresh watermelon tint and taste that feels made for summer.
The colour Balm
FUCA Lip & Cheek Balm SPF50 in Bloom, $49
A brand with attitude, founded by Australian Jess Armstrong. The name stands for “F U Cancer” — born from Armstrong’s own breast cancer experience and the skin sensitivity she experienced during treatment. This high-performance, skin-kind skincare brand is made without the nasties, like fragrance, essential oils, synthetic dyes, parabens, sulphates, silicones, PEGs, oxybenzone and mineral oils. This is a multipurpose balm for busy people.
Ingredients
No, I repeat, no nasties in this formula. It’s free from what the Armstrong calls the dirty dozen. Zinc oxide provides broad-spectrum SPF protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Castor Seed and coconut oils leave skin feeling plump and nourished, and plant-derived candelilla wax gives it a buttery texture. The soft pink-peach colour comes from a blend of natural mica powders.
The Take-Home
This beauty brand was made with a purpose: to be gentle on the skin and to streamline your daily beauty routine. The collection also includes a handy Creamy Contour Foundation Stick. Fuca donates one per cent of all proceeds to Breast Cancer Network Australia. Pictured here is Bloom.
The Gloss
Revlon Illuminance Gloss Balm SPF50 Pink Shine, $31
With a waxy balm texture and long-lasting shine, this Gloss Balm also gives lips a fresh citrus bite. It acts like a high-end product, without the price tag.
Ingredients
With organic UV filters like octocrylene, octisalate, and the staple avobenzone, it is also packed with nourishing squalane, shea butter, and vitamin E, plus citrus peel oil. The SPF 50 is a blend of clever organic filters.
The Take-Home
This balm's glossy, glazed-lip look is more appealing than the chalky or waxy feel some dedicated SPF lip balms have.
With eight shades to choose from, it’s affordable enough to buy multiple shades; pictured here: Pink Shine.
The Bronzer
Quick Screen SPF50+ Bronzing Primer & Serum Drops, $40
Get a summer faux glow with this hydrating, skin-priming 3-in-1 bronzer and SPF. A multitasking serum bronzer you can apply over sunscreen or mix into your foundation. Think of it as an instant bronzing glow-giver and a primer that grips makeup.
Ingredients
Hyaluronic acid, which helps attract and retain moisture, plus gluconolactone, a gentle exfoliating and skin-conditioning agent. And the glow? It comes from iron oxides, titanium dioxide, and mica, which provide an immediate cosmetic bronzing effect. The sunscreen is an organic blend of homosalate, octisalate (ethylhexyl salicylate), octocrylene, and avobenzone, and it lives up to its claims of broad-spectrum SPF50+ protection.
The take-home
For anyone looking to simplify your summer beauty routine, this radiance-making screen ticks multiple boxes. It feels like a lightweight serum but lasts like a sunscreen, and it’s suitable for all skin types.
The skin mist
Naked Sundays Hydrating Glow Mist Top Up Spray SPF50 with Pentavitin, $43
The skin mist
Just because you’re wearing makeup doesn’t mean you can’t top up your SPF. This UV-laced skin mist is infused with antioxidants, making it easy to top up your protection all day while keeping your makeup in place.
Ingredients
Infused with vitamin C-rich Kakadu plum, hyaluronic acid, watermelon extract, and Pentavitin, a wheat-derived saccharide with moisture-binding properties that helps keep skin hydrated long after application. It also includes organic UV filters — including avobenzone for UVA protection — and is designed to make topping up sunscreen over makeup almost effortless, while leaving skin looking fresh and glowy hours after application.
The Take-Home
This is the most convenient way to reapply sunscreen throughout the day, which is often the hardest part of a daily SPF routine.
The best lightweight makeup with built-in SPF.