Whether full coverage foundation feels a bit too heavy, you're heading to hotter climates and need make-up that won't sweat straight off your face, or you simply want to fake a flawless complexion that’s so convincing it could be your own god-given skin, a tinted moisturiser is the answer.
Responding to our demand for make-up that looks and feels completely seamless, the skin-tint category has boomed recently, and there’s now a multitude of brilliant, innovative products on the shelves that’ll brighten, unify and hydrate in one fell swoop.
For those on a mission to recreate the hyper-dewy glass skin look, the new school of glossy creams is sure to impress, while anyone that simply wants to head out of the door with minimal faff will enjoy a tinted SPF hybrid.
Not just ideal for creating a fresh-faced base, a tinted moisturiser is effortless to apply, too. Most work best when massaged on with fingers, with the warmth of your skin working to melt the product evenly over skin. Set the centre of your face with a powder for extra longevity, or double down on the dewiness with a cream bronzer or blush (or both)!
So, from moisturisers with mega coverage to the glowiest tint in town, see the very best tinted moisturisers the ELLE team have tried here.
1
The Satiny One
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30
1
The Satiny One
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30
A classic for good reason, NARS’ tinted moisturiser is the one I personally reach for most mornings. It’s satiny yet luminous, and offers just the right amount of coverage to mask the melasma on my cheeks and redness around my nose. The finish isn’t so sheeny it’ll be all over your white collar by lunchtime, but it’s not drying on skin either: the perfect middle ground.
2
The All In One
Trinny London BFF SPF 30 Cream
2
The All In One
Trinny London BFF SPF 30 Cream
This supremely practical base ticks all the boxes: it’ll be your moisturiser, sunscreen and foundation. The white cream contains broad-spectrum SPF 30 as well as encapsulated balls of pigment, which burst once you start massaging it in, releasing a translucent tint that covers blemishes without looking cakey.
3
The Super Light Coverage One
Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer
3
The Super Light Coverage One
Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer
I've been impressed by everything I've tried from this New York-based brand, and while the Glowy Super Skin foundation is my personal favourite, this tinted moisturiser comes in at a close second.
It’s lighter than most high-factor formulas, and imparts just a hint of coverage that looks great alone, but can be beefed up with a strategic swipe of concealer if you’ve got blemishes you want to keep under wraps.
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4
The Light Catching One
Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer
4
The Light Catching One
Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer
One of many viral hits from Selena Gomez’s make-up brand, Positive Light is one of the subtler tints we’ve tried. If you’re after a rich, comforting moisturiser, skip to the next option, but anyone with oily skin that wants a light, breathable base will love this.
5
The Sun Protecting One
Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil
5
The Sun Protecting One
Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil
Australia has the strictest sunscreen regulations in the world, which is why it’s the birthplace of so many brilliant SPF brands. Out current fave, Ultra Violette offers a whole line-up of stellar sun-protection products. This tinted option, Daydream Screen, combines moderate coverage with SPF 50, and plenty of shades to satisfy us all.
6
The One For Oily Skin
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Tint SPF 20
6
The One For Oily Skin
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Tint SPF 20
If you're prone to oily skin or have ever been stuck with your makeup melting off in a crowded tube, Shiseido's ultra-lightweight tinted moisturiser is a must-try.
It's formulated with the brand's ActiveForce technology that works to resist heat, humidity and oil, making it ideal for wearing on balmy days and weathering a summer heatwave.
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7
The High Coverage One
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
7
The High Coverage One
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
Now 20% Off
This one likely needs little introduction. The original CC cream (which is marketing jargon for ‘tinted moisturiser’), Your Skin But Better delivers coverage to rival your favourite foundation, with none of the dryness that often emerges after a few hours. It’s heavily hydrating, properly tone-unifying, and offers high SPF protection. An all-round delight.
8
The Buzzy New One
Dr Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm SPF 50
8
The Buzzy New One
Dr Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm SPF 50
Dr. Jart is no stranger to a cult complexion product (if you’re rosacea-prone, jump on the Cicapair Color Correcting Treatment immediately) and now there’s a new tube to get to know.
The brand’s latest BB Cream contains niacinamide to control excess oil production, and heaps of good old glycerin to ensure it grabs onto moisture and stays looking dewy all day. The shades are ideal for anyone with cool undertones, but if you’re very warm, we’d suggest trying the one above instead.
9
The Blurring And Smoothing One
Iconic London Super Smoother Blurring Skin Tint
9
The Blurring And Smoothing One
Iconic London Super Smoother Blurring Skin Tint
You might be familiar with Iconic London's illuminating hero products, but the brand's Skin Tint swaps the signature shimmer for a hydrating and blurring formula that gives a satin-matte, filter-like finish.
Extensive colour matching has been put into the range with 18 shades that cover fair, light, medium, tan, deep, and rich skin tones, so it's easy to find your perfect fit.
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10
The One For Redness
Rosalique 3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula SPF50
10
The One For Redness
Rosalique 3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula SPF50
Ok, so what this one lacks in sex appeal it more than makes up for in effectivity. Boring but absolutely brilliant, Rosalique's redness-balancing moisturiser is something everyone with rosacea needs to try.
It's tinted green (stay with me) but transforms into a skin-matching tint once applied to the skin, knocking back glowing redness and making your complexion look beautifully balanced. Apply less than you think you'll need (or the colour will look off) and massage it in with fingers for the best result.
11
The One For Sensitive Skin
Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue
11
The One For Sensitive Skin
Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue
Sensitive types will likely already know (and love) Bareminerals: when it comes to gentle base products, the brand cannot be beaten. For something lighter than the original powder, consider this gel-like tinted moisturiser. It’s light enough to keep breakout-prone skin happy, but delivers a surprising level of pigment that’ll cover red patches with ease.
12
The Classic One
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Skin Perfector
12
The Classic One
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Skin Perfector
Another long-loved classic, Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturiser ranks high in the coverage stakes, so it’s ideal for anyone nervous about relegating the foundation. It’s heavily moisturising too, so never turns cakey or highlights pores.
