Explore More
Tinted moisturizers are ideal for anyone who wants to achieve the perfect “no makeup” makeup look. They’re usually lightweight, easy to blend in and give just enough coverage to make your skin glowy without looking cakey.
“Tinted moisturizer is basically a sheer foundation. So if you like a lovely sheer wash over your skin and not a full coverage then [tinted moisturizer] is the product for you,” celebrity makeup Charlotte Hayward told The Post. “They are great for giving a light coverage so your skin tone looks more unified [and healthier] without looking like you’re wearing makeup — this [also] makes them quite foolproof to apply.”
We also spoke with the legendary Carmindy of What Not to Wear and her new brand Carmindy Beauty (a personal favorite, now on Amazon). She guided us through choosing the best-tinted moisturizer for your skin, what to look for in a tinted moisturizer, and which ones are her favorite, personally and professionally.
Click to go straight to our winners of the best tinted moisturizers by category:
What makes a great tinted moisturizer?
“The ideal tinted moisturizer would protect the skin from UV rays, leave a feeling of dewiness not tightness on the face, and the complexion would look slightly more even,” Carmindy said. “It would not ball up or ‘pill’ on the skin throughout the day. The majority of tinted moisturizers contain SPF but when sun protection, hydration and color pigments are combined you will most likely be sacrificing one or more actions.”
When a product promises too much, like a skin-like finish, SPF, high coverage, and hydration, it’s often too good to be true. “SPF can sometimes make the finish look a bit chalky or the sun-blocking effectiveness can get diluted, the moisturizing factor might not be as hydrating as you’d like, or the color might look uneven or not give enough coverage,” Carmindy told The Post. “So, the key is in knowing what you truly want ie more coverage, more UV protection, etc., and how you want it to look and feel on your skin (as there are even matte options for super oily skin).”
What skin types is tinted moisturizer best for?
While the limit may not exist, Carmindy helped us narrow it down to “people who only want a ‘barely there’ light tint to their skin and don’t want to spend a lot of time getting ready each day. Some people don’t like the feeling of wearing a heavy foundation yet still want a little help looking fresh, so a tinted moisturizer is a great solution for them,” she said.
Can tinted moisturizer be medium or full-coverage?
While some tinted moisturizers will claim “full coverage,” they may not be the real deal — simply foundations with hydrating properties. There’s nothing wrong with that, but Carmindy said that if you’re looking for something easy to apply with higher coverage try a CC cream instead.
What tinted moisturizers are the best?
Carmindy has one pro tip that she touts as “the best way” and we may even agree when it comes to achieving your perfect tinted moisturizer-like finish. “Create your own! I always create my own tinted moisturizer by applying sunscreen first (guaranteed protection that’s not diluted), then my Carmindy Beauty Lit From Within Daily Prep Primer (super hydrating) mixed with a little liquid foundation in the palm of my hand to create the perfect tinted moisturizer…you get to control the coverage. Some areas like around the eyes can be applied as a sheer tinted moisturizer (1-1 ratio) whereas areas that need more coverage, like around the nose or on the cheeks can go medium to full coverage (more foundation and less primer).”
Of course, she also recognizes this may not be the most ideal process for a true tinted moisturizer-lover — someone who prefers to spend very little time on makeup prep. So, she came through with a few recommendations as well that you can shop below, from Ilia to IT Cosmetics.
Best Tinted Moisturizers
Ahead, find a handful of expert-approved tinted moisturizers for a variety of skin types including oily, dry, and sensitive as well as formulas for anti-aging all at different price points. Brands include EltaMD, ColorPop, Saie, bareMinerals, NARS, Laura Mercier, L’Oreal and more.
Five of the experts we interviewed for this piece all recommended the Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint for those looking for a clean tinted moisturizer. “It’s the best all-around formula I have found,” Carmindy said.
“If you’re on that clean beauty train, look no further than Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40,” celebrity makeup artist Katie Mellinger, who works regularly with Emma Watson, AnnaSophia Robb, Leona Lewis and more, said. “As the name implies, it’s more of a serum than a moisturizer, but it contains hyaluronic acids which are fantastic for retaining skin moisture.”
“It has plant-based squalane, which boosts hydration and collagen, fights free radicals, and helps with skin pigmentation. The sunscreen in it is non-nano Zinc Oxide, [which is] great for sensitive skin and reef-friendly,” Mellinger added. “If you’re particularly sensitive, this is a good one to try as it’s silicone-free, fragrance-free, oil-free, and non-comedogenic. Plus it has a wide range of shades which I always love to see in any foundation.”
“This product plumps the skin and [gives you] beautiful, natural, dewy skin with clean coverage. It is a natural beauty brand which is packaged with beautiful ingredients for the skin,” Australian makeup artist Tobi Henney, who has worked with Megan Fox, Ashley Graham, Ellie Golding, Shanina Shaik and brands like Diane Von Furstenberg, Victoria’s Secret, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and others, added.
“[It has the] most beautiful light and dewy coverage,” said celebrity makeup artist Megan Lanoux. “Perfect [to achieve that] spring and summer hydrated look.”
Best budget: L’Oreal Paris Cosmetics Visible Lift Luminous Serum Tint
If you’re working with a small budget, you can’t go wrong with the L’Oreal Paris Cosmetics Visible Lift Luminous Serum Tint.
“This is a great tinted moisturizer for tired skin, as it creates radiance [and] diminishes fine lines and wrinkles,” Henney said. “This tinted moisturizer will [also] keep your skin looking fresh all day long.”
This L’Oreal Serum Tint is sheer, hydrating and enriched with hydrating ingredients like Vitamin E. It will deliver instant hydration to dull, tired skin while improving the skin instantly and over time.
Another great budget option recommended by Carmindy: ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Tinted Moisturizer ($15.99)
When it comes to going to the beach with some light coverage, Lanoux doesn’t mess around. “The Alastin Skincare HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen has SPF 36, is lightweight, waterproof, [offers] great hydration with powerful antioxidants to protect from pollution, IR Rays and blue light.
This tinted moisturizer doesn’t leave a white residue, plus it’s also fragrance-free and made with a reef-friendly formula. Plus for a day at the beach, you can’t beat 40 minutes of water resistance.
For something a bit more affordable, Neil Scibelli, NYC-based Celebrity Makeup Artist, recommends the Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint Face Liquid Sunscreen.
“I’ve been loving this! It’s the perfect option especially for spring and summer as it features a mineral-based SPF of 30, along with a tint of color to even the complexion,” Scibelli said. “The waterproof and sweatproof formula also contains vitamin E and minerals to nourish the skin.”
The Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer is offered in a wide variety of shades and is ideal for those who struggle with oily skin. “This tinted moisturizer has a light, matte finish [and is] perfect for oily skin as is oil-free and has a hint of color,” Henney said.
The lightweight formula, which has more than 6,400 reviews on Sephora.com, helps control oil breakthroughs and provides ideal protection from the sun’s harmful, damaging rays with broad-spectrum SPF 20 sunscreen incorporated.
“I created this product because I wanted to give skin a fresh, healthy, no-makeup look with a soft hint of color that evens and enhances without hiding the skin,” Laura Mercier explained, according to the Sephora website.
When it comes to dry skin, Mellinger raved about the Kosas Tinted Face Oil.
“I love [the] Kosas Tinted Face Oil for dry skin. [It’s] full of yummy, hydrating oils,” Mellinger told The Post. “This unique oil-based tint provides beautiful sheer coverage that is buildable if needed [and because] it’s oil-based, there is more slip in the formula, which glides over dry skin more easily.”
Key ingredients include avocado oil for moisture, meadow foam oil for plumping, red raspberry oil for repairing, jojoba oil for soothing, camellia seed oil for nourishing and rose-hip seed oil for brightening.
Mellinger recommended the Iris & Romeo Best Skin Days for mature skin and pretty much every other type of skin type as well.
“It blends beautifully, making it a perfect option for mature skin because it won’t pool into pores or fine lines. I particularly love that it contains both Rosa Damascena extract which boosts collagen and helps with anti-aging,” Mellinger said.
“It also looks gorgeous, dewy, and fresh on the skin. I use it on myself. Needless to say, I’m obsessed. At $64 dollars a jar — kudos to the glass packaging — it’s a bit of a splurge, but a little goes a long way and it’s well worth it.”
The Best Skin Days has a five-in-one formula that includes serum, moisturizer, foundation, sunscreen and blue light pollution protector and the unique gel-like texture easily applies to the face with your fingers, per Mellinger’s recommendation.
Another tinted moisturizer for mature skin recommended by Carmindy: IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Lightweight Foundation + Glow Serum with SPF 40 ($47.00)
Since tinted moisturizers usually have sheer coverage, finding something that’s thicker can be a challenge. Nevertheless, the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream is a great option for those wanting more coverage but who don’t want the thickness of a full-on foundation. An added benefit is the wide shade range.
“Most tinted moisturizers only provide sheer to medium coverage, but if you need something with more pigment, the It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50 is your best choice,” Mellinger said.
“Beyond the high SPF content and moisturizing benefits, it contains niacin which is awesome for reducing inflammation, therefore, correcting redness and acne pigmentation. It’s like having a full coverage foundation with a boost of skincare, which is hard to beat.”
Henney also raved about this IT Cosmetics product: “This is such an amazing tinted moisturizer [since] it has full coverage and is perfect for anyone with not-so-perfect skin. It’s also super hydrating and long-lasting.”
This product is the perfect blend of skincare and makeup to improve your skin over time. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 features a hydrating complex made up of macadamia and kukui seed oils that helps increase the skin’s moisture levels long-term for 24 hours of hydration while reducing the signs of visibly dry skin
“It has such a light and dewy feel. It also has just a smidge of color to add to your skin and give you a natural look while enhancing your natural beauty,” said celebrity makeup artist Ashlee Ann.
Similarly, Lanoux likes the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Light Revealer Natural Skin Illuminator to add a glow. “This gives a wonderful makeup, no-makeup look, with just enough illuminator to give your skin a mini boost of life.”
When it comes to spending a little more on makeup products, specifically when tinted moisturizers come into play, Bybel put the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in her cart.
“It gives the perfect radiant, smooth finish with buildable coverage,” she told The Post.
This option will bring hydration to the max. It features vitamin C which will visibly even out your skin tone for a brighter-looking complexion and French Polynesian kopara which helps to hydrate, condition and refine the look of your skin.
If you’re looking for a bit more tinted coverage than your average facial sunscreen, a tinted moisturizer with SPF is the way to go.
Beauty YouTuber Carli Bybel and Ann highly recommend this EltaMD tinted moisturizer as an SPF pick.
“Elta MD SPF 40 is recommended by tons of different dermatologists because of the high SPF. It also brightens and enhances luminosity,” Ann told The Post.
“It has broad-spectrum SPF protection, dermatologist-recommended, and gives a beautiful, healthy ‘clean’ look to the skin,” said Bybel.
EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 not only protects your skin against damaging UV rays but the lightly tinted formula evens skin tone — creating a smooth, flawless-looking complexion. It infuses your skin with lightweight moisture for a healthy look and comfortable wear.
For $12 cheaper than the Ilia Serum Tint, you can try out the Saie Slip Tint.
“This product looks like skin, you can apply it with fingers or a brush. It is buildable, has SPF 35 and is filled with ingredients that are hydrating and brightening,” said makeup artist, Dillon Pena.
Speaking of ingredients, this Saie tinted moisturizer features hyaluronic acid for extreme hydration, licorice root extract to brighten and refine, 100% mineral zinc oxide to offer clean SPF protection and pansy flower to deliver antioxidants and fight free radicals.
“This tinted moisturizer is oil-free, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. It doesn’t break me out and I tend to have very sensitive skin. I love the natural coverage and hydrating feel it gives without feeling oily and greasy,” said Bybel. “It gives a dewy, healthy glow and is formulated with hyaluronic acid to actually improve moisture in the skin. Easy to apply quickly and be out the door with just enough coverage.”
Ann who is also a fan of this bareMinerals product for sensitive skin said, “It will boost your skin’s hydration [levels] by 215% in the first week. It also evens your skin tone and blurs imperfections.”
The best part? The brand offers this tinted moisturizer in 20 different shades.
For more content, check out the New York Post Shopping section.
ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ5Gnwaqvy55mm52jqXq1tc2tnJ1lnaS2tMDUq6CznaKofA%3D%3D