Sunscreen… or foundation in disguise?
Tone-up sunscreens are always a gamble. Some blur and brighten beautifully, others quietly turn your face into a mismatched base product you didn’t ask for. Unfortunately, Numbuzin No.3 Porcelain Base-Skip Tone Up Beige leans closer to the second category.
This product promises high sun protection with a “base-skip” effect, meaning it’s meant to replace foundation altogether. In theory, that sounds convenient. In practice, it comes with a few compromises worth talking about.
What is a Tone Up Sunscreen?
Let’s break down how tone-up sunscreens work first, then how the Numbuzin No.3 Porcelain Base-Skip Tone Up Beige one performs.
- mineral UV filters (sun protection)
- pigments (tint/coverage)
- silicones (smoothing/primer effect)
So instead of being invisible like a typical sunscreen, they behave more like a light foundation or BB cream with SPF built in.
- evens skin tone
- blurs redness and pores
- can replace foundation
- quick “one step” morning routine
- heavier texture
- limited shade range
- harder to reapply
- may pill or separate on oily skin
Key Ingredients
Starting off with the key ingredients:
- Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide: These are mineral (physical) UV filters responsible for the SPF 50+ PA++++ protection. Provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection but sits on top of the skin rather than absorbing in
- Silicones (Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate): Silicones make up a large part of the formula and heavily influence performance. It creates a smooth, blurred finish and helps the product spread evenly
- Iron Oxides: These are the pigments responsible for the “Beige” tone. It provide visible tint and coverage, helps even out skin tone and contributes to a foundation-like appearance
- Niacinamide: Helps improve uneven tone, supports the skin barrier, commonly used to brighten the complexion. That said, niacinamide can be irritating for some people, particularly those with sensitive or reactive skin, which is worth keeping in mind.
- Centella Asiatica & Botanical Extracts (green tea, licorice root, chamomile, and heartleaf): Provides soothing and antioxidant benefits, help calm visible redness and support overall skin comfort
The complete ingredient list: Water (Neutral), Zinc Oxide (Good), Cyclohexasiloxane (Neutral), Propanediol (Good), Propylheptyl Caprylate (Good), Caprylyl Methicone (Neutral), Trimethylsiloxysilicate (Neutral), Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone (Neutral), Titanium Dioxide (Good), Niacinamide (Good), Disiloxane (Neutral), Butyloctyl Salicylate (Bad), Centella Asiatica Extract (Good), Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract (Good), Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract (Good), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Good), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract (Good), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (Good), Artemisia Capillaris Extract (Good), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (Good), Houttuynia Cordata Extract (Good), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract (Good), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil (Good/Bad), Disteardimonium Hectorite (Neutral), Magnesium Sulfate (Good), Triethoxycaprylylsilane (Neutral), 1,2-Hexanediol (Neutral), Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate (Good), Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone (Neutral), Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer (Neutral), Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate (Neutral), Glyceryl Caprylate (Neutral), Caprylyl Glycol (Good), Mica (Neutral), Aluminum Hydroxide (Neutral), Ethylhexylglycerin (Good), Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane (Bad), Tocopherol (Good), Butylene Glycol (Good), Pentylene Glycol (Good), Iron Oxides(CI 77492) (Good), Iron Oxides(CI 77491) (Good), Iron Oxides(CI 77499) (Good)
Free of artificial fragrance but has essential oils and non-comedogenic.
Application
- Around textured areas
- Around the nose
- Along the hairline
- If you try to layer or touch up
Results
Once applied my skin did even out however the colour did not exactly match my skin tone so I had to use that same sunscreen on my neck which is fine as you should be bringing skincare down to your neck. However, it would transfer onto my clothes with the slightest caress and stand out quite noticeably.
Also as I wore it throughout the day, it felt heavier than a typical physical sunscreen and started pilling which made reapplication a disaster. I would put more on and it would roll off my face.
The finish is dewy which is good for people with dry skin but did not stand up well against my oily skin. So, overall this sunscreen had great promise but I will not be repurchasing it.
Suitability
When to use: During the day as your last skincare step. Don’t mix it with other sunscreens and ensure you apply enough to achieve the SPF protection as stated on the bottle.
- You prefer tone-up bases over invisible sunscreens
- You don’t plan on reapplying SPF during the day
- You’re very fair and like a porcelain finish
- You want coverage built into your sunscreen
- You expect sunscreen to behave like skincare
- You have texture or layered routines
- You’re sensitive to heavy base-like formulas
- You have oily skin
- You have dark skin tones
- You want a true “no-makeup” finish
Other comments
Summary of the 1 star reviews from popular online retailers:
- has irritating ingredients such as essential oils, niacinamide and PFAS
- strong smell
- pilling and patchy
- leaves a white cast
- difficult to apply and blend
This blog is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional dermatological advice. Individual skin responses may vary.