There was a time in my life when I couldn’t even step out the door without permission. full coverage foundation upon. And although I still love it that way, best foundation It can lift your skin to a smoother, brighter, and more even version. I no longer reach for them every day. Instead, like many of us, I found myself gravitating towards more natural everyday makeup and relying more on lightweight bases like: tinted moisturizer Or my new go-to skin tint.
But if you’ve ever wondered the difference between foundation, tinted moisturizer, and skin tint, you’ve come to the right place. We revealed everything you need to know about this trending base product and asked makeup artist Ruby Hammer MBE for her expert tips on how to make the most of your skin tone.
What is a skin tint? How is it different from a tinted moisturizer or foundation?
“Skin tints are the most sheer version of tinted moisturizers,” Ruby explains. “In fact, it’s so lightweight that it’s more like a serum than an actual moisturizer, offering just a touch of coverage.” In general, skin tints provide the perfect coverage you’d expect from a classic foundation. It is far from the level of power. Rather, it’s a master at making your skin glow naturally while evening out your skin tone at night and giving your skin a healthy glow. Even better, many of them are skincare/makeup hybrids, infused with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide that actually care for your skin and give it that glow with ease.
What is the best way to apply skin tint?
One of the reasons skin tints are now a staple in my daily makeup bag is that they’re easy to apply. It’s so thin that you can apply it to your skin with just your fingers and it always looks beautiful. And fortunately, experts agree. “My preference is to use my fingers to dab the skin tone into place for a barely-there glow,” Ruby explains.
However, if you want to cover a little more ground, our tools can help. Ruby suggests that if you’re using a tint with a bit of coverage and aren’t sure if it’s applying evenly, using the BeautyBlender can be helpful. Or if you want to enhance your skin tone and see the effect. more After increasing the coverage, use the larger brush to brush over areas that need a little more opacity.
Introducing the best skin tints for all skin types.
1. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30
(Image credit: Micah Ricketts)
(Image credit: ILIA)
When I first tried this product, I was very impressed with how effectively it acted as an entry point into the broader skin tint category. It’s definitely a skincare-first formula. It also contains hyaluronic acid to moisturize, niacinamide to smooth the skin, squalane to protect the skin barrier, and zinc oxide to boost antioxidant protection. Plus, it also has SPF 30 to protect your skin from sunburn (though we recommend applying your regular facial sunscreen first to get enough coverage). Although it is super lightweight, it is highly effective in toning the skin at night and reducing redness caused by breakouts and dark spots caused by pigmentation. My skin always looks so fresh, healthy and plump when I use this. I think it’s suitable for most skin types. However, if it’s really oily or you don’t like a dewy finish, we recommend dusting it with powder to tame the shine.
2. Yves Saint Laurent NU Bare Look Tint
(Image credit: Yves Saint Laurent)
If you’ve been using foundation for years and are looking to step into the world of skin tints, this would be a great entry point. It has a unique, almost gel-like texture, which to me feels more like a classic foundation than the watery feel of a classic skin tint, but it doesn’t feel heavy at all when applied to the skin . The creamy consistency adheres to the skin, blurring pores, blemishes, and uneven skin tone, creating a smooth, even canvas for whatever product you apply on top. But it never veers into cake territory, and the finish stays moisturized and skin-like, lasting amazingly well all day long. What if I need extra coverage? It’s also very layerable, so you can hide blemishes with just one.
3. Beauty Pie Super Luminous Skin Glow Filter
(Image credit: Micah Ricketts)
(Image credit: Beauty Pie)
If you’re looking for coverage, this isn’t for your skin tone, but if you’re looking for something that will make your natural skin look a little brighter and fresher, you can’t go wrong. The latest complex from Beauty Pie is described by the brand as a “tinted hyaluronic acid complexion brightener,” and we think that’s exactly what it says. Sure, this is definitely sheer, but this won’t hide any blemishes or dark circles. However, it has the unique ability to make your skin look like its healthiest version. Just massage this into your skin on your most tired morning, without even looking in the mirror, and you’ll be sure to transform your tired complexion into a fresher, radiant, juicier look. Honestly, it’s hardly makeup, but I can’t stop wearing it.
4. Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
(Image credit: Hourglass)
Yes, this is an expensive makeup product, but not only does every beauty editor I know rave about it, but celebs like Hailey Bieber and Sofia Richie also love this luxurious skin tint. Known for being a fan. And if you want to fake that glow that you usually only get after a triple-digit facial, you can’t go wrong with this. Katie Thomas, Marie Claire’s senior beauty editor, swears by that.
“The Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint is divine. There are no other words to describe it. The brand popped into my brain to figure out what my dream skin product would be and create one just for me. As the name suggests, it’s definitely a veil of color – although it’s very light so it’s not suitable for people who have blemishes that they want to cover or areas of redness that they need to hide. , it’s weightless on your skin and blends in beautifully. You’ll have the most naturally glowing skin ever.” -Katie
5. Rose Ink Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum
(Image provided by: Rose Inc.)
With Rosie Huntington-Whiteley joining the skin tint market, hydration has become the name of the game. It specifically focuses on moisturizing the skin (it claims to last up to 24 hours) and smoothing and blurring uneven skin texture and fine lines. I think this skin tint is best suited for people who are dealing with dry skin or natural skin loss. Skin elasticity with aging. You don’t get much coverage with this product, but it does a great job of really plumping up your skin and creating a kind of bouncy, fresh-faced effect. And best of all, it won’t stick to dry areas or worsen the texture.
6. Fenty Beauty Ease Drop Blurring Skin Tint
(Image credit: Micah Ricketts)
(Image credit: Fenty Beauty)
The problem with many skin tints is that they are incredibly moisturizing. While it’s ideal if you have dry skin, it’s often not what oily complexions are looking for in a base product. Thankfully, Fenty Beauty has the perfect solution with a skin-blurring skin tint in a non-comedogenic formula that won’t clog pores or worsen breakouts. Plus, the soft matte finish makes your skin look fresh and natural without adjusting your skin’s radiance or radiance when excess sebum is prone to secretion. I think this is a little more work-intensive than the other skin tints on the list. Purely because this formula is not as slippery and moisturizing as others. However, you can blend it a little or use the following help. Using a damp makeup sponge, you can achieve a really beautiful and healthy look with this product. You can also layer up the coverage a bit if you’re currently dealing with breakouts. Although it can’t completely hide it, I was impressed with how it reversed some redness in spots.
7. Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint
(Image provided by Milk Makeup)
People with oily skin types will look away. This Skin Her tint is actually more like a whitening face oil with a hint of pigment. In fact, it’s formulated with a blend of grapeseed, avocado, mandarin, jojoba, and olive oil to give your parched skin plenty of moisture and hydration. So while this might not work for oily skin (unless you set it with a powder, I think it will wear off in just a few minutes), if you like your base product to inject a ton of shine into your skin, then this is the best choice for you. I can’t find anything. Than this. It is glossy and shiny, brighter than a light bulb, and feels great on the skin.
8.Shiseido Synchro Skin Self Refresh Tint
(Image provided by: Shiseido)
Shiseido’s Synchro Skin is one of my favorites for the way it not only automatically adjusts to your skin’s unique tone, but also adapts to your environment to extend the lifespan of your skin. It applies beautifully to the skin, the gel-cream texture almost blends in and feels feather-light for those who are hardy. And the coverage is quite impressive as well. The dark circles and uneven texture under the eyes disappear underneath. However, I appreciate this as someone with oily-combination skin, and I think its staying power lies in the fact that the formula is slightly drier than others. So, dry or dehydrated skin types may find this to be clumpy.