The sunscreen that works under makeup is the one you apply properly every morning without it pilling or turning your foundation patchy. That has more to do with texture and technique than with anything on the label. Most people use much less than the amount sunscreen is tested with, so the protection they get is lower than the number suggests, and reapplying matters more than chasing a higher SPF. The first group is where to start. Supergoop's Unseen and Tatcha's Silk Sunscreen are the clear, primer-like ones. EltaMD's UV Clear tinted and Good Weather's Warm Glow add a little color, and innisfree's serum sunscreen is the one to try if creams feel heavy on you.

Whether a sunscreen works under makeup mostly comes down to how it dries. Give it a few minutes to set before anything goes on top, and press the next layer in instead of rubbing. If yours pills, the cause is often too much skincare underneath rather than the sunscreen, so a light serum like Biodance's or a cream like Dr. Barbara Sturm's is plenty before it. Mineral formulas like Avène's and Isdin's Eryfotona are the gentler choice for sensitive skin, and the Allies of Skin version adds a little self-tan if you want some color under everything.

Once the sunscreen has set, keep the makeup on top simple. MAC's Studio Fix concealer where you need it, a cream blush like Westman's Baby Cheeks or Dior's Rouge Blush, a coat of MACStack mascara and Ogee's tinted lip oil are enough for most days. Reapplying over makeup is the step everyone skips, and it is easier than it sounds. Ultra Violette's Preen Screen mist and Supergoop's (Re)setting powder go on top without undoing your face. Utu's tinted stick and EADEM's Sunsuede stick are easy to keep in a bag, and on a lighter day Merit's Uniform or the ILIA skin tint can replace foundation altogether.

You don't need a shelf of sunscreens to get this right. Pick one that suits your skin, give it time to set, and choose one way to reapply over makeup. If you take one thing away, the best sunscreen under makeup is the one you enjoy putting on every day, because a formula you skip does nothing for your skin.