The Best Tinted Moisturizers for a Year-Round Glow

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Ingredients:Hyaluronic acid, grape extract with reservatrol, probiotic complex, SPF 30 |Finish:Dewy |Shade range:20 shades

“Laura Mercier is usually what most people think of when it comes to tinted moisturizer,” the late makeup artistAJ Crimsononce said.And with good reason: Laura Mercier was one of the very first brands to release a tinted moisturizer product back in the ’90s, so it’s a pioneer in the category. Since then, its Long-Wear Tinted Moisturizer has evolved and undergone a few tweaks, and another reformulation was introduced early this year.There are two different versions, both recently upgraded: a hydrating formula with a natural, dewy finish, and anoil-free formulawith a more matte finish. While I opted to test the dewier one to help address my dry skin, the oil-free version offers a more blurred, shine-free look that’s great for people with skin on the oilier side. Both formulas come in 20 different shades, and both are infused with SPF 30.

Laura Mercier Long-Wear Tinted Moisturizer is a favorite of multiple makeup artists and Strategist staffers. Strategist beauty columnistRio Viera-Newton praised itback in 2019 for making her skin look flawless, and Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst says it’s one of her go-tos:“The finish is natural and not overly dewy, and it never causes irritation,” she reports. Makeup artistLindsay Kastukhas 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 artistJamie Greenbergnotes that just a dime-size amount will take the edge off any dark marks, redness, and under-eye bags, making her skin look like she isn’t wearing anything on it at all.

Greenberg also shared that it’s the only makeup she’s ever felt comfortable putting overeczema flare-ups, because it doesn’t stick to dry patches. So I took her words to heart when my own skin began peeling heavily due to tretinoin usage — while other foundations clung to and highlighted every flaky spot, the Laura Mercier blurred them out and made them less noticeable.Because the formula includes skin-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid for extra hydration and a probiotic complex to help support the skin barrier, it worked to simultaneously soothe the irritation while masking it. For everyday wear, I smeared a pea-size dollop on either side of my face, and used my fingers to blend it in. It evened out my complexion, but I didn’t look like I was wearing any makeup, and, with the help of a little setting powder, it held up admirably against exertion-heavy days, with little creasing or oxidizing (where the pigment darkens or turns orange-y over time).

Though it’s admittedly pricey at $50, a little goes a long way, and even after a month of continuous usage I still have plenty of product left in the tube. Plus, the skin-care aspect and the additional SPF make it a multipurpose product with a variety of benefits, which helped it snag the title of our best pick overall.

Ingredients: Glycerin, diamond powder |Finish:Radiant |Shade range: 12 shades

At $50, the Laura Mercier product above is fairly pricey. For a cheaper alternative, Glossier’s fan favorite is a more-than-solid option at just over half the price. The product’s motto is “more skin, less makeup,” which is exactly what you get. WriterMbiye Kasongadescribes 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.

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 artistJaleesa 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 artistRose Siardloves 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 artistJonet Williamsonsays “are flexible and take a minute to adjust after applying.” She recommends going one shade lighter than you normally would.

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 artistMollie Glosshas 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, and it helps tame redness and discoloration without feeling too heavy, according to makeup artistEmma Elizabeth, who adds 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.”

Ingredients:Hyaluronic acid, squalane, SPF 30 |Finish:Natural |Shade range:20 shades

I first discovered thisbareMinerals tinted moisturizerwhile walking around Sephora, and when I tested a patch on my cheek, I was struck by how close the color match was. I also liked that it has a cream rather than liquid consistency, which makes it easier to apply with my fingers; just a light layer helps even out my skin tone and looks very seamless and natural.Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo is another fan, reporting that it’s very light and smooth and gives her good coverage “without making my skin look fake.” She doesn’t need to use too much on a daily basis but appreciates that it builds well, so she can get more opaque coverage if needed in certain areas.

Williamson is also a fan of the formula and creamy texture, which works great on all skin types, though she notes that people 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 shine.

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.”

Ingredients:Hyaluronic acid, aloe water |Finish:Natural |Shade range:7 shades

This Clinique tinted moisturizer with SPF is Greenberg’s pick formature 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.”

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. It also has one of the highest shades ranges on this list.

Ingredients:Zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid, licorice-root extract |Finish:Radiant |Shade range:14 shades

According toKasonga, Saie’s Slip Tint has a thicker formula and more coverage than most skin tints, so she’ll use it to cover acne scars or when “I’m dealing with an active breakout and need coverage that won’t do further damage to my skin.” Though the formula does contain mineral SPF, which can sometimes impart a pale or ghostly cast, Kasonga says it “actually blends into darker skin tonesandcovers blemishes for a flawless base.” Strategist writerBrenley Goertzenis also a fan, reporting that it “applies dewy and seamlessly and is never chalky or clumpy” with a “skinlike” texture that can be easily layered with blush and powder foundation.