Whether she’s bopping around on her off days or hard at work on set, there is one major constant in Kerry Washington’s beauty routine—sunscreen. She has sensitive skin, so she’s always looking for a lightweight product that won’t cause irritation or dryness. Plus, she wanted something that won’t leave behind a white cast on her skin. That’s why Neutrogena’s Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint Face Liquid Sunscreen has become her go-to.
“For every day, I feel like the Mineral UV Tint is so great because it has my natural skin tone in there so I can be protecting against sun damage that causes wrinkles, dark spots, fine lines, discoloration, and cancer, but not feel like I’m sacrificing my beauty regimen,” says Washington, who has worked as a brand ambassador for Neutrogena for 10 years.
Neutrogena’s Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint Face Liquid Sunscreen ($20) comes in four shades. The pigment in them helps to cancel out the inevitable white cast that comes with mineral sunscreens. Some of the white cast is still visible, but the pigments make it easier to blend. Washington says this allows her to wear it seamlessly under makeup or on its own. “I really like the new mineral UV tint because the fact that they have pigment in them makes it that when I apply, there’s not like that white residue that I have to figure out how to combine with makeup,” she says.
- Elizabeth Kream, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology and associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital
It’s made with a blend of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to offer broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays along with moisturizing vitamin E to combat the dryness that mineral sunscreens often have. “It’s soothing and moisturizing and it’s not cakey,” says Washington. When I put it on, “I don’t feel like I’m loading up my skin on anything that’s greasy or chalky or limiting in any way.”
Dermatologists love mineral (aka physical) sunscreens. “Opt for a physical sunscreen with a tint,” says Elizabeth Kream, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “The tint typically means that the active ingredient iron oxide is also on board, and this ingredient also provides visible light protection in addition to UV protection. Visible light is what we see—it’s what goes through windows and is a known exacerbator of melasma and photo-aging.”
Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that derms love for its protective and moisturizing qualities. “It can help brighten the complexion, minimize free radical damage caused by UV light, and support healthy collagen production,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York-based dermatologist. “As such, it can help brighten the complexion, minimize free radical damage caused by UV light, and support healthy collagen production.”
When wearing the sunscreen sans foundation, Washington often pairs it with the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Concealer ($16). “If it’s a no-makeup makeup day, I feel like the Mineral UV Tint is so perfect for that because it allows for me to have the coverage with a natural skin tone. And then I’ll add some concealer, maybe a little under the eye if I have a little hyperpigmentation,” she says. Next up, she applies the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Multi-Use Stick ($13) to add some color to her look. It comes in one shade, a mauvy-rose color. “It has just a very natural, very universal color and it’s great for eyes, for lips, and for cheeks,” she says.
