In this article
It’s that time of year when a full layer of foundation can feel like a suffocating mask on your face. Enter the tinted moisturizer, which can still provide some complexion-smoothing coverage but has a lighter texture that won’t cake or feel heavy on your skin. You’ll get all the soothing hydration of a regular moisturizer with some bonus makeup benefits thrown in; plus many tinted moisturizers contain additional skin-care ingredients, so you’re actually helping to protect and nourish your skin when you apply it.
Tinted moisturizers are especially nice for makeup newbies because they’re difficult to mess up. The lighter coverage means they’re easy to control and a breeze to apply with your fingers, though sponges and brushes also work well. Most tinted moisturizers have a dewy finish, so you’ll get that summertime glow year-round, but if that’s not your thing, there are oil-free formulas for a more matte look. And if you’re on the hunt for even more complexion products, check out our guides to the best under-eye concealers and the best CC creams, too.
Update, July 3, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Ingredients
Foundations are designed for long-lasting coverage that holds up all day, so they often contain ingredients that could potentially dry out or irritate your skin. However, tinted moisturizers aren’t intended to be quite as heavy-duty, and many formulas will include additional skin-care ingredients like hyaluronic acid and SPF to hydrate and protect the skin. This can be meaningful if you want your face makeup to do double duty or another layer of sun protection.
Finish
Since tinted moisturizers have a lighter texture and are often infused with skin-care ingredients, most will give you a natural, skinlike finish or a radiant, dewy finish. However, there are still a few options out there that will dry down into a more matte look. I’ve specified the finish for each tinted moisturizer below.
Shade range
Compared to foundations, tinted moisturizers generally offer a lesser amount of coverage; within the category, though, they can range from the barest your-skin-but-better tint, to a slightly higher pigmentation that blurs blemishes and imperfections. Since they do tend to sheer out more than foundation, the shades can be a bit more flexible, meaning it doesn’t need to be an exact match to work. You still want to get within a stone’s throw of your skin tone, though, so the higher the shade range, the more likely you are to find something that works for you.
Best tinted moisturizer overall
Ingredients: Macadamia and kukui-seed oils, tamarind-seed extracts, SPF 30 | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 20 shades
The first time I tried Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer, I was working at Nordstrom as a web-order fulfiller and spending most of my shift lurking around the cosmetics floor. One of the Laura Mercier reps turned me on to the product after I commented on her flawless, glowy skin. She pumped a few squirts into a sample tube for me to take home, and the rest is history. In the time since, it has been my go-to for special occasions and days when I want a more-even overall look. The “walnut” shade is a near-perfect match for my skin, the finish is natural and not overly dewy, and it never causes irritation.
The creamy, lightweight formula is also beloved by makeup artists. Rio wrote about it back in 2019, and three of the experts we spoke to raved about it. “Laura Mercier is usually what most people think of when it comes to tinted moisturizer,” the late makeup artist AJ Crimson once told me. “It’s a classic and I almost feel like LM invented the tinted moisturizer.” Makeup artist Lindsay Kastuk has been using it personally her whole life and likes that it’s a fairly substantial formula for a tinted moisturizer but “blends into your skin a little better” than a full-on foundation. And makeup artist Jamie Greenberg notes that just a dime-size amount “gives the perfect amount of daytime coverage” by taking the edge off any dark marks, redness, and under-eye bags and making her skin look like it has nothing on it at all. It’s also “the only makeup I’ve ever felt comfortable putting over eczema flare-ups,” she says, adding that it doesn’t stick or cling to any dry patches, likely thanks to the macadamia and kukui seed oils — which allegedly have skin-replenishing and hydrating properties — that it contains. The latest version is formulated with SPF 30.
Experts we’ve spoken to say that Laura Mercier works with all skin types and tones. It comes in 20 different shades, as well as an oil-free version, which I’m a fan of. “Oil-free is great for people that have oily skin,” says Greenberg. “Usually you can find a tinted moisturizer that’s perfect for your skin type: If you’re looking for a more blurred, matte skin look — oil-free is the way to go. But if you prefer a more ‘dewy’ look (great for people with drier skin), Laura Mercier’s original formula is perfect.” Just note that the oil-free formula has a slightly lower SPF of 20.
Best (less expensive) tinted moisturizer
Ingredients: Glycerin, diamond powder | Finish: Radiant | Shade range: 12 shades
At $53, the Laura Mercier product above is fairly pricey. For a cheaper alternative, Glossier’s fan favorite is a more-than-solid option at half the price. The product’s motto is “more skin, less makeup,” which is exactly what you get. Writer Mbiye Kasonga describes it as “the lightest possible touch of makeup” with a “blurring, filterlike effect.” The shade range is moderate at 12 shades, but according to Kasonga, Glossier really gets the undertones right and it’s barely detectable. On the ingredient front, it’s pretty straightforward. The main ones are diamond powder (this gives skin a blurred effect) and glycerin, which softens the skin and helps it retain moisture.
Best tinted moisturizer and serum
Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalane, SPF 40 | Finish: Radiant | Shade range: 30 shades
Three of the experts we spoke with name-dropped Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint. Just like the name suggests, it’s a tinted moisturizer with a lot of skin-care benefits. “It’s a combination of skin care, SPF, and coverage that makes Ilia a triple threat and first of a kind for its formula,” says makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran. It’s infused with plant-based squalane, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and mineral SPF 40 — the highest sun protection on this list. The point of tinted moisturizer is that it’s lightweight, but Jaikaran says this one “feels super thin and light —essentially a veil of coverage.” Makeup artist Rose Siard loves the way it blurs imperfections: “It’s less pigmented and melts into the skin seamlessly,” she says. It comes in 30 different shades, which celebrity makeup artist Jonet Williamson says “are flexible and take a minute to adjust after applying.” She recommends going one shade lighter than you normally would.
Best tinted moisturizer for oily skin
Ingredients: Vitamin C, French Polynesian kopara, SPF 30 | Finish: Radiant | Shade range: 16 shades
NARS’s Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is another classic, but it’s now available in more shades to support more skin tones and skin types. Makeup artist Mollie Gloss has been using Pure Radiant for over a decade now, “and it’s still my go-to for myself and what I recommend the most to people,” she says. She likes that it has a medium coverage that can build to full if you layer it on but that the finish is still “really smoothing, really hydrating, and just looks gorgeous and easy on the skin.” The oil-free formula contains vitamin C to help with brightness and even out the skin tone, so it’s going to “get rid of any redness and discoloration while still feeling light on the skin,” says makeup artist Emma Elizabeth, adding that its natural satin finish makes it especially suited “for people that are oily or sweaty or tend to look shiny around three o’clock.”
Best tinted moisturizer for dry skin
Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, SPF 30 | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 20 shades
Elizabeth first discovered this BareMinerals tinted moisturizer while working at Sephora and likes it because it is super-easy to blend: “It looks best when you use your fingers — no brush or sponge needed.” She says it gives the skin a dewy, glowy appearance without looking wet. Williamson loves the “whipped-cream texture,” which goes on “like butter and melts into the skin, giving light-to-medium coverage.” She says it works great on all skin types, but those with dry skin might see an extra boost from the hyaluronic acid in the formula. And while it’s oil-free, it will still leave you with a healthy-looking glow — though Williamson recommends that people with oily skin set their T-zone with translucent powder just to avoid any extra dewiness.
Best tinted moisturizer for sensitive skin
Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, niacinamide, vitamin E, tiger grass, safflower oil, avocado oil | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 20 shades
Packed with hydrating skin-care ingredients, Summer Fridays’ skin tint is perfect for those whose skin is prone to irritation. “My best friend uses it and loves it. She has rosacea, and her skin is extremely sensitive,” says Kastuk. “Rosacea can flare up really quickly and be very painful, so that says a lot.” Plus the lightweight, sheer formula won’t sit on the skin and exacerbate any issues, adds Gloss: “It feels like a tinted skin-care product in its truest sense. It’s really nourishing, but it doesn’t feel oily.”
Best tinted moisturizer for mature skin
Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe water | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 7 shades
This Clinique tinted moisturizer with SPF is Greenberg’s pick for mature skin. She likes it because it’s not drying and has a semi-matte finish. It’s made with hyaluronic acid and activated aloe water, which the brand claims will keep the skin hydrated for up to 12 hours. “It stays in place once applied and doesn’t get caught up in fine lines, which would cause a creasing look or emphasize wrinkles,” says Greenberg. “It still looks breathable, dewy, and youthful.”
Best tinted moisturizer for darker skin tones
Ingredients: Baobab-seed extract, hibiscus extract, pumpkin-seed extract | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 6 shades
Ami Colē’s skin tint comes in six flexible shades that work with a variety of skin tones. “This formula is so creamy yet lightweight,” says Jaikaran. “The effect is ‘my skin but better,’ in terms of coverage. It’s light but you can get a different finish based on the tools you use.” It’s packed with ingredients like pumpkin seed extract, hibiscus flower extract, and baobab seed extract, which is why Jaikaran says it’s a great option for people with normal to dry skin. It’s something you can wear all day. She says the formula doesn’t oxidize and sits well on the skin.
Best tinted moisturizer with extra coverage
Ingredients: Dimethicone, glycerin | Finish: Semi-matte | Shade range: 25 shades
Fenty’s Skin Tint has more of a semi-matte finish and the formula is buildable to provide medium coverage, so if you are looking for something lightweight but with more of a foundation look, it might be for you. But don’t worry about it melting off. “It’s humidity- and sweat-resistant, making it a great option for hot summer days,” says Williamson, who adds that people with dry skin might want to prep with a face oil under this one.
Our experts
• AJ Crimson, makeup artist
• Emma Elizabeth, makeup artist
• Mollie Gloss, makeup artist
• Jamie Greenberg, makeup artist
• Jaleesa Jaikaran, makeup artist
• Mbiye Kasonga, beauty and fashion writer
• Lindsay Kastuk, makeup artist
• Rose Siard, makeup artist
• Rio Viera-Newton, Strategist beauty columnist
• Jonet Williamson, celebrity makeup artist
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.