Glow Up & Block Out: Skincare with Built-In Sun Protection

🧴Screen Queens☀️

5 SPF-Packed Skincare Products That Do It All & Are A Must In My Skincare Rotation

Even if you live under a rock (which if you are, I need to know....is it cooler under there??) and haven't seen the headlines about the heatwave that is sweeping across most of the United States as we wrap up this month, all you have to do is step outside to know that the sun's out, and it's HOT! 🥵

Sun damage doesn’t just happen at the beach, it happens every day. Incorporating SPF into your skincare routine is one of the most important (and easiest!) ways to protect your skin from premature aging, dark spots, and skin cancer. I put beauty products to the test, and implemented them over the course of the past year into my routine to have more SPF in my daily line up. Until I started digging into what all these alphabet soup acronyms are and mean (UVs....SPF....), all I really knew was: Sun=bad for skin. Let me share with you some of the important things I've found out as we combat the first heat wave of the summer together.

😎 Surprising Times You're Soaking in UV Rays

  1. 🚗 Driving in the Car
    Side windows don’t block UVA rays, which are responsible for premature aging and skin damage. That’s why you’ll often see more sun damage on the left side of the face!

  2. 🌥️ On Cloudy or Overcast Days
    Up to 80% of UV rays still pass through clouds. Just because it’s not sunny doesn’t mean your skin is safe.

  3. 🪟 Sitting by a Window
    Whether you're working from home or reading near a window, UV rays can still penetrate untreated glass, especially UVA rays.

  4. 🏞️ Outdoor Errands & Quick Walks
    A quick stroll to the mailbox, dog walks, or walking from your car into Target totally counts as sun exposure—and it adds up daily.

  5. ❄️ Snowy or Sandy Environments
    Snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays, and sand reflects about 15%. Even cold or beachy weather can hit your skin with a UV double whammy.

  6. ✈️ Flying on a Plane
    At 30,000 feet, UV exposure is much higher. Those window seats? Gorgeous views, but SPF is still a must.

  7. 🏠 Indoor Lights (sometimes)
    While not as strong, some fluorescent and halogen lighting can emit low levels of UV radiation—particularly in work or studio environments.

I love stacking as many tasks as possible throughout my day....my tag line? "I'm just trying to get 30 hours out of a 24 hour day!" The good news? You don’t need a separate sunscreen step for your face anymore. These products combine skin-loving ingredients and sun protection, so staying safe and glowing is easier than ever. 

But, before I dive into my personal favorite beauty care products that have SPF already built in, let's talk about SPF, and what the heck it is, and why we should care about it:  

☀️ How Does SPF Work?

SPF = Sun Protection Factor.
It measures how well a sunscreen protects your skin from UVB rays (the ones that cause sunburn).

If your skin would normally burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen, SPF 30 means you can stay in the sun 30 times longer (about 300 minutes) before burning — IF reapplied properly.

🛡️ Think of SPF like a shield:

  • SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB rays

  • SPF 30 blocks about 97%

  • SPF 50 blocks about 98%

  • SPF 100 blocks about 99%

No sunscreen blocks 100%—so reapplying is always key!

Also, no matter the SPF rating, experts recommend:

  • Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, especially if you’re outdoors.

  • Reapply immediately after swimming, sweating a lot, or towel drying.

Higher SPF gives more protection, but doesn’t extend the safe time between reapplications significantly because the physical factors that remove sunscreen are always at play.

It's safe to say for me, sunscreen is non-negotiable and luckily, more and more skincare products are combining the benefits of hydration, priming, and even foundation with sun protection. 

Today, I’m breaking down five skincare MVPs that include SPF, so your glow comes with a side of protection.

Whether you’re heading out bare-faced or prepping for a full face of glam, these products pull double-duty to save your skin and your time. Let’s get into it! 

🌞 The Lineup: High-Level Overview

1. First Aid Beauty – Hydrating Sunscreen Mineral Milk SPF 30

 

  • Texture: Lightweight milky lotion

  • Feel: Hydrating, non-greasy

  • Star Features: Mineral-based, made for sensitive skin, reef-safe

  • Why I Like It: It disappears into the skin without a white cast (!!!), and it layers beautifully under makeup. I routinely test First Aid Beauty products, so when they launched this one earlier this year, I was pumped to be select to try it in exchange for giving my honest thoughts about it. It is one of the lightest sunscreens I have used for my face. The selling points for me and why I'll keep buying this one are that it doesn't have the sunscreen smell to it and isn't oily at all. I have oily skin to begin with and adding in oily products causes me to break out like crazy. Regular sunscreen on my face has me broken out for well over a week post use, and I've been using this one daily since Q12025, and I haven't experienced a break out from it to date....which is really impressive to me! 

2. Peter Thomas Roth – Water Drench Broad Spectrum SPF 45

 

  • Texture: Whipped water-cream

  • Feel: Cooling and ultra-light

  • Star Features: Hyaluronic acid-rich formula that plumps and protects

  • Why I Like It: It feels more like skincare than sunscreen—perfect for dehydrated skin days. I love using this one when I am gua sha-ing in the morning when I can tell that my skin needs some extra love. It too is very light (which is always going to be a selling point to me) and doesn't have a harsh sunscreen smell. It is a little pricier than what I normally go for, but a little goes a looong way and it tends to last me for months since I only use it to troubleshoot when my skin needs the extra moisturizing.

3. e.l.f. Suntouchable! Whoa Glow SPF 30 Primer

 

  • Texture: Silky with a luminous finish

  • Feel: Lightweight, dewy

  • Star Features: Doubles as a glowy makeup primer

  • Why I Like It: It gives that subtle lit-from-within glow (like a filter in real life!). It is a sparkly/glittery tinted primer with the SPF built in. This is my daily go-to primer regardless of the season. It does have the sunscreen smell, and is slightly oily on it's own, however, it leaves my skin looking dewy and it layers really well under my make up. For the price point, being able to have a SPF base in a tinted primer, I'm here for it!

4. CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 with Sheer Tint


  • Texture: Creamy with tint

  • Feel: Moisturizing and smoothing

  • Star Features: Niacinamide + ceramides for barrier support

  • Why I Like It: It gives just enough tint to even out skin tone on no-makeup days. This is my go-to for my beach/pool/outdoor in summer days...you know, the ones where you know you are going to sweat every ounce of makeup you have on off....but still want to hide some of those imperfections (like my red spotting on my cheeks). It's a great no fuss tinted sunscreen and it makes me feel put together despite not rocking a full face of make up. I've been using it for 2 summers now and love it!

5. No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced All-In-One Foundation SPF 50


  • Texture: Creamy medium coverage

  • Feel: Lightweight for a foundation

  • Star Features: Skincare + foundation + high SPF all in one

  • Why I Like It: It’s your full face in a single step and SPF 50 is a major bonus! I love this for a medium coverage foundation. It delivers exactly what I want it to, without me feeling like I have to keep layering on my skin. Over the past few years I have really liked lightening up on the amount of products that I put on my face, and for the past 2 years, this has been my go to for that "I want a little bit of foundation feeling but not full glam".

🧴 SPF Breakdown: Know What You’re Getting

ProductSPF Level
First Aid Beauty Hydrating Mineral Milk      SPF 30
Peter Thomas Roth Water DrenchSPF 45
e.l.f. Suntouchable! Whoa GlowSPF 30
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral SunscreenSPF 30
No7 Protect & Perfect FoundationSPF 50

🛡️ How to Combat UV Damage

  1. Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF
    Use SPF 30 or higher every single day—rain or shine. “Broad-spectrum” means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

  2. Reapply Often
    Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, or immediately after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

  3. Seek Shade
    Limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest.

  4. Cover Up
    Wear hats, sunglasses, and lightweight long sleeves—especially during prolonged exposure.

  5. Add Antioxidants to Your Routine
    Vitamin C serums and other antioxidants help neutralize free radicals caused by sun exposure, preventing further damage.

  6. Hydrate & Repair at Night
    Use hydrating, barrier-repairing products (like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide) to help your skin recover overnight.

✨ Good skincare is proactive, not just reactive. Sunscreen isn’t just about avoiding a burn—it’s about keeping your skin healthy, youthful, and protected for the long haul.  

💬 Final Thoughts:

The United States is currently locked in a major heat wave, especially across the Midwest, East Coast, and parts of the Plains. A high-pressure “heat dome” is trapping scorching temperatures—many areas are seeing 90–100 °F highs, humidity that makes it feel even hotter, and night-time lows that barely dip below the mid‑70s.

The UV index is also surging—sunburn can happen in just 15 minutes under these harsh sun rays. The sun isn’t just hot—it’s aggressively high-energy light that can damage skin even in a matter of minutes.  

🔒 How to Stay Safe, Cool & Protected

  1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink water constantly—even if you're not thirsty. Avoid alcohol and high-sugar drinks that dehydrate you .

  2. Limit outdoor time. Stay in shade or indoors, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays peak ourmidland.com.

  3. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen. Apply SPF 30 or higher liberally—and reapply every two hours if you’re out in the sun or sweating .

  4. Wear protective gear. Opt for a wide-brimmed hat, lightweight & loose clothing, and UV-blocking sunglasses to limit exposure .

  5. Cool down smartly. Spend time in air-conditioned spaces, use cooling towels, or take cool showers. If you don’t have AC, find a public cooling center or indoor spot

  6. Learn heat illness signs. Early symptoms include cramps, heavy sweating, headache, and dizziness—move to cool areas and hydrate if they occur. Don’t hesitate to call 911 for signs of heat stroke like confusion or fainting

     
     
    Stay safe and beat the heat! Always make sun protection—hydration, sunscreen, shade—your top priority during a heat wave. 

     ❤️Brittny 

🔗 Shop the Lineup

Here are the Amazon links for each one:

First Aid Beauty Hydrating Sunscreen Mineral Milk SPF 30: https://amzn.to/3I9uvCf

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Broad Spectrum SPF 45: https://amzn.to/44B3Ztp

e.l.f. Suntouchable! Whoa Glow SPF 30 Primer: https://amzn.to/44qAMCi

CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 with Sheer Tint: https://amzn.to/4k3uUUb

No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced All-In-One Foundation SPF 50: https://amzn.to/3Tzarf5

*If you use my link, I may earn a small commission—thank you for supporting Brittny Tried It! 💕

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