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Achieving a glowy, radiant-looking base doesn’t mean you have to layer on multiple products. In most cases, less is more! That’s why we love tinted moisturizers; they are multitaskers that deliver the best of both worlds: makeup and skincare. Depending on your needs, these hardworking formulas work as the perfect makeup base with added hydration, sun protection, and more.
Kristen Arnettis a professional makeup artist, educator, writer, speaker, product developer, and brand consultant.
If you like a full-coverage face of makeup, tinted moisturizers may not be for you. However, if a minimal, lightweight makeup look (and application process) is more you, we’ve got you covered. Ahead, we rounded up the best-tinted moisturizers for every skin type, but first, we tapped the experts to break down what to look for when shopping for a tinted moisturizer.
What to look for
Coverage Level:
Some formulas offer barely-there translucence, while others build up to medium coverage. At the end of the day, it’s all about personal preference. Makeup artist and writer Yanira Garcia Andel swears by tinted moisturizers for her ideal look. “Tinted moisturizers even out skin tone without feeling heavy like many foundations. In many ways, they are an extension of your skincare as many are made with skin-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to help hydrate and smooth out the texture.” If you’re looking for versatility, we recommend using a tinted moisturizer with medium buildable coverage.This allows you to build layers for fuller coverage or sheer it out for a more simplistic look.
Finish:
From dewy to matte, choose a finish that complements your skin type and desired look. If you have dry skin, look for one with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. If you have oily skin, use a tinted moisturizer with a satin or matte finish that will mute extra shine. If you are prone to acne, makeup artist Kristen Arnett recommends avoiding products with dewy and radiant finishes. “Many tinted moisturizers have a fair amount of mica (glitter) in them, which makes the skin look radiant but can also contribute to skin irritation and make your skin look shinier. If texture is your concern, the glitter particles can worsen the look of texture, not improving it.”
Shade Range:
When shopping for traditional foundation, finding your perfect shade is super important. However, with tinted moisturizers, it’s not that imperative. That’s because the pigment is less intense and coverage is more sheer. “Tinted moisturizers tend to have less shade variety, but due to their low coverage, that’s often not a big deal as people can fall between two shades and get away with the discrepancy,” explains Arnett. Instead, look for tinted moisturizers that match your skin tone (light, fair, medium, deep) to ensure a seamless match. Of course, you can also play and layer on concealers, bronzers, and blush to enhance your face (or not), which is the beauty of makeup—it’s all up to you!
From drugstore gems to luxury splurges, we’ve curated our favorite formulas for most skin types and concerns.
Shop the best tinted moisturizers
Shades: 8 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Semi-Matte
This tinted moisturizer proves less really can be more. The buildable formula starts with a whisper of coverage that can be layered to medium perfection, making it ideal for both no-makeup makeup days and those moments when you need a bit more coverage. What sets it apart is its ability to give a blurring finish that smooths out the skin without making your face look flat.
Shades: 12 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural
If your skin feels like it’s constantly craving moisture, you’ll love this pick from Summer Fridays. Packed with a powerhouse blend of hydrating ingredients (like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and nourishing avocado oil) it quenches dry skin while delivering suppleness. The secret weapon? Tiger Grass, which calms and soothes while reducing redness. The fluid formula melts into skin, never settling into fine lines or catching on dry patches.
Shades: 12 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Radiant
For those with fair skin, this tinted moisturizer is your 3-in-1 solution. Thanks to non-nano zinc oxide, you get serious sun protection while sodium hyaluronate and vitamin C work overtime to keep your face plump and protected. The buildable coverage lets you customize from barely-there to a more full finish. Best of all? The Bulgarian Rose complex adds a subtle luminosity that enhances the skin’s natural radiance without ever looking artificial or glittery.
Shades: 16 | Coverage: Buildable/Full | Finish: Dewy
While most tinted moisturizers whisper, this one can speak volumes, transforming from a natural-looking veil to full-on foundation territory with just a few layers. Its buildable formula never cakes, even when you’re going for maximum coverage. Its rich, creamy texture feels more like a luxurious moisturizer than makeup, thanks to skin-loving ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and vitamin E.
Shades: 2 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural
This tinted moisturizers has earned its permanent place in countless beauty editors’ makeup bags (mine included!) and dermatologists’ daily recommendations. EltaMD’s UV Clear Tinted SPF 46 is that rare product that actually lives up to the hype; a multitasking favorite that feels like nothing on your skin while doing so much for it. What sets this formula apart is its perfect balance of skincare and coverage: zinc oxide provides sun protection without the dreaded white cast, while niacinamide works to calm inflammation and fade dark spots. The lightweight formula disappears into skin like a luxury serum, leaving behind a natural-looking tint that somehow manages to adapt to your skin tone while subtly blurring imperfections.
Shades: 7 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural
This long-wearing formula wears for a full 12 hours, no touch-ups needed. Hyaluronic acid and activated aloe water create a moisture-locking shield that keeps your skin plump and dewy even through sweaty commutes and humid afternoons. This moisturizer won’t melt away or get patchy during the day. The lightweight cream texture feels like nothing on your skin while providing just enough coverage to perfect without masking.
Shades: 12 | Coverage: Medium | Finish: Matte
If you avoid tinted moisturizers because you prefer a shine-free finish, then you’ll like this pick. The formula creates an ethereal soft-focus effect that minimizes the look of pores and fine lines without settling into them. We love that it helps to control shine throughout the day without compromising on hydration. The medium coverage feels weightless while providing just enough coverage without the dewy finish.
Shades: 17 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural
Your sensitive skin will love this pick from Tower 28. This fragrance-free, non-irritating formula proves that protection doesn’t have to come with irritation. Non-nano zinc oxide provides a physical barrier against UV rays without the potential irritation of chemical filters, while calming white sage extract acts helps to calm stressed-out skin. We love that it contains no artificial fragrances and no alcohol, making it super gentle for reactive skin. The lightweight formula neutralizes redness without masking your natural beauty (hello, freckles!), while prickly pear extract adds an extra layer of protection against blue light damage.
Shades: 14 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Radiant
We love this tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier for mature skin because it creates a soft-focus effect that enhances natural radiance without settling into fine lines. Its star ingredient, French algae, works to restore skin’s youthful glow while plant-based hydrators plump and smooth, making expression lines look softer and less noticeable. The formula’s lightweight coverage looks better as it warms into the skin throughout the day, never caking or emphasizing texture. With broad-spectrum SPF 25, it also helps to protect your skin from future signs of aging.
Shades: 6 | Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural
This option from Ami Colé is ideal for melanin-rich skin, thanks to its translucent formula that enhances (and never masks) deeper skin tones. The buildable coverage works with natural undertones while African baobab seed extract delivers that coveted hydration we all need. Plus, the antioxidant-rich hibiscus pumpkin seed extract create the perfect combination for radiant, even-toned skin. We also love that this clean, vegan formula feels weightless, allowing buildable coverage that won’t patch throughout the day.
Shades: 16 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Radiant
This luxe-feeling skin tint features a blend of vegan collagen peptides and ceramides that delivers the most radiant and dewy finish. The barely-there coverage lets your natural luminosity peek through while delivering a juicy, glass-skin finish. Infused with soothing cactus extract, this clean, skincare-powered formula is ideal for every day use and perfect for those no-makeup makeup days when you want your skin to look fresh and glowing.
Shades: 14 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural
We’re huge fans of Supergoop for packing serious sun protection in all of its products, and this pick is not exception. Formulated with SPF 50 and zinc oxide, the featherlight formula glides on like your favorite moisturizer while providing the right amount of coverage. Hyaluronic acid-infused clay keeps you protected without that dreaded chalky cast or greasy feeling, and ectoin helps to defend against modern-day stress factors like blue light and pollution. Perfect for those mornings when you want to streamline your routine without compromising on sun safety—because who doesn’t love a multitasker?
Shades: 20 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural
If you’re prone to breakouts, you’ll appreciate this option from bareMinerals. The lightweight formula delivers a natural finish without the usual anxiety of a breakout starting, thanks to lightweight ingredients like hyaluronic acid and olive-derived squalane (which won’t clog your pores). Plus, it multitasks with mineral SPF 30 and just enough coverage to let your skin breathe.
Shades: 20 | Coverage: Light/Medium | Finish: Radiant
Infused with Japanese tsubaki oil and antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract, this option from Westman Atelier is like a facial in a bottle. The silky formula transforms from a weightless oil to a cushiony serum that feels like velvet on the skin. This opulent treatment visibly firms and brightens with ginseng extract, making it the perfect investment for those who refuse to compromise between makeup and skincare.
Shades: 30 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Radiant
This editor-loved tinted serum perfectly balances your tricky T-zone with oil-free plant squalane while keeping dry patches at bay with hyaluronic acid. The formula includes pore-refining niacinamide that tackles both shine and texture, while delivering a dewy-not-oily finish. With 30 flexible shades and mineral SPF built right in, it’s the ultimate multitasker that’s ideal for combination skin.
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