No pilling expectedmatteMineralSolid
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Plus
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 4 wearer reports.
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Which sunscreens pill under makeup?
Pilling — the little rolls that form when your sunscreen and foundation rub against each other — has nothing to do with the SPF number. Below are sunscreens we've assessed for how they behave under makeup: from wearer reports where we have them, from the formula where we don't. Where we have neither, we say unknown instead of guessing.
Why it happens
- Film-formers and primers in the sunscreen set into a stretchy layer that foundation lifts off.
- Powder over cream — matte foundations and mineral filters sit on different bases that don't always mesh.
- Rubbing and rushing — applying foundation before the sunscreen has settled, or buffing it in, turns layers into crumbs.
None of this is a safety issue. It's a routine issue — and it's fixable.
Finish matches the recorded finish; SPF 50+ matches the recorded label. Hiding pilling removes only “yes” assessments, not mixed or unknown results. These filters apply together to this selected demo list, not the full catalogue. Formula-only readings are estimates, not wear tests.
14 assessed as lower pilling · 9 sometimes · 4 pills
No pilling expectednaturalSolid
Mixsoon Bean Sunscreen SPF 50+
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 3 wearer reports.
No pilling expecteddewyMineralWorth It
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 3 wearer reports.
No pilling expectednaturalMineralSolid
The Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Sunscreen Aqua Gel
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 3 wearer reports.
No pilling expectedmatteMineralSolid
Obagi Medical Sun Shield Matte Broad Spectrum SPF 50
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 5 wearer reports.
No pilling expectednaturalSolid
Naked Sundays CabanaClear Invisible Water Gel Serum
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 3 wearer reports.
No pilling expecteddewyMineralSolid
Kanebo Allie Nuance Change UV Gel
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 3 wearer reports.
No pilling expecteddewyWorth It
Tocobo Bio Watery Sun Cream
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 4 wearer reports.
No pilling expectednaturalMineralSolid
ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 3 wearer reports.
No pilling expectedmatteMineralSolid
Supergoop! Mineral Mattescreen SPF 40
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 3 wearer reports.
No pilling expectednaturalMineralSolid
EltaMD UV Elements Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 44
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 1 wearer report.
No pilling expectednaturalSolid
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 PA++++
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Based on 1 wearer report.
Lower pilling — formula estimatenaturalMineralWorth It
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
Lower pilling — formula estimatematteMineralWorth It
Heliocare 360 Gel Oil-Free SPF 50
The available assessment suggests less pilling; formula estimates are not wear tests. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
Sometimes pillsnaturalWorth It
Eucerin Sun Protection Oil Control Dry Touch Sun Spray Transparent SPF 50
Reports are mixed — layering technique and the products underneath matter. Based on 3 wearer reports.
Sometimes pillsmatteSolid
Vichy Ideal Soleil Mattifying Face Fluid Dry Touch SPF 30
Reports are mixed — layering technique and the products underneath matter. Based on 3 wearer reports.
Sometimes pillsnaturalWorth It
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Invisible Mist SPF 50+
Reports are mixed — layering technique and the products underneath matter. Based on 3 wearer reports.
Sometimes pillsmatteMineralWorth It
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen for Face SPF 50
Reports are mixed — layering technique and the products underneath matter. Based on 3 wearer reports.
Sometimes pillsnaturalSolid
Elemis Pro-Collagen Skin Protection Fluid SPF 50
Reports are mixed — layering technique and the products underneath matter. Based on 3 wearer reports.
Sometimes pills — estimatenaturalMineralSolid
Colorescience Even Up Clinical Pigment Perfector SPF 50
Reports are mixed — layering technique and the products underneath matter. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
Sometimes pills — estimatenaturalWorth It
Numbuzin No.1 Clear Filter Sun Essence
Reports are mixed — layering technique and the products underneath matter. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
Sometimes pills — estimatenaturalWorth It
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+
Reports are mixed — layering technique and the products underneath matter. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
Sometimes pills — estimatedewyMineralWorth It
Kose Sekkisei Skincare UV Defense Essence Gel
Reports are mixed — layering technique and the products underneath matter. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
Pills under makeup — estimatedewyWorth It
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Moist Sun Serum
The formula or wearer reports point to rolling on many routines. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
Pills under makeup — estimatedewySolid
Naked Sundays CabanaClear Water Gel Serum SPF 50+
The formula or wearer reports point to rolling on many routines. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
Pills under makeup — estimatenaturalMineralWorth It
Hada Labo Gokujyun UV White Gel
The formula or wearer reports point to rolling on many routines. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
Pills under makeup — estimatenaturalSolid
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
The formula or wearer reports point to rolling on many routines. Formula estimate — no wearer reports yet.
How to test your own routine
- Apply your usual skincare, then sunscreen, and let each layer settle for a minute or two.
- Press foundation on with a damp sponge or fingertips instead of buffing in circles.
- If it rolls up, change one thing at a time — the moisturiser underneath first, then the primer.
- A sunscreen that pills with one foundation can be flawless with another. It's the pairing, not just the bottle.
How this ranking is made
Each sunscreen's under-makeup assessment comes from wearer reports we've collected, the formula's film-forming and powder ingredients, or a human review — and each row says which. Where reports and formula disagree, reports win. Cast and pilling are different problems: a clear-looking sunscreen can still pill, so we compared them side by side.
This is a curated sample from our catalogue, not a full ranking — the whole catalogue lives in the app. Pilling is a cosmetic judgement, not a safety one.
Free tools & guides
No sign-up.
- ToolWhite cast for your skin tonePick a tone and see which real sunscreens leave a cast on you. 30 seconds.
- ToolIngredient decoderPaste an INCI list and see what each ingredient actually does.
- ToolPore clogger checkerFind the comedogenic ingredients, weighted by list position.
- ToolFungal acne checkerSpot the ingredients malassezia yeast can feed on.
Early access
See the full under-makeup assessment
Every sunscreen we track has a pilling reading, a finish and a verdict — so you can pick one that survives your actual routine.
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