The 14 Best Tinted Moisturizers to Add to Your Beauty Routine
If wearing foundation daily no longer serves you, give tinted moisturizer a shot. Like traditional liquid face makeup but with a significantly lighter texture and coverage, this coveted skincare-meets-makeup product offers the benefits of hydration with a hint of coverage—think of it as the perfect blend between makeup and moisturizer in a single step. This multitasking must-have not only simplifies your morning routine but also allows your skin to reap the benefits of both skincare and pigmented makeup, giving you the best of both worlds. If you’re on the hunt for the best tinted moisturizer for your skin, we’ve got you covered. These are 14 of our favorites that are just so good you’ll never find us without them.
Meet the Expert
- Dr. Ashley Magovern - Board-certified dermatologist and member of Dermstore's Medical Advisory Board
Our Top Picks
Best for Glowing Skin: Sisley Phyto-Hydra Teint N°2 Best with SPF: Glo Skin Beauty C-Shield Anti-Pollution Moisture Tint Best for Hydration: U Beauty The Super Tinted Hydrator Best for Easy Application: Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Best to Blur Imperfection: Tarte Amazonian Clay Lightweight BB Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Best for Dry Skin: Jane Iredale Dream Tint Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 Best for a Dewy Finish: Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid and Mineral SPF 30 Best Full-Coverage: Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation SPF 45 Best CC Cream: Erborian CC Cream Best Long-Lasting: RMS SunCoverup Super Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Best for a Natural Finish: Tarte Maracuja Tinted Moisturizer Best Overall: Epionce Daily Tinted SPF 50 Sunscreen Best Anti-Aging: Revision Skincare Intellishade Best to Layer Under Makeup: MDSolarScience Tint and Tone SPF 50 Cream
Best Tinted Moisturizers
Best Tinted Moisturizer for a Healthy Glow: Sisley Phyto-Hydra Teint N°2
$145.00
Some tinted moisturizers leave the skin looking more matter, but not this one. Thanks to plenty of next-generation skincare ingredients, this all-in-one formula leaves behind a veil of natural luminosity for a beautiful second-skin glow.
Key Ingredients: White lily extract, grapefruit, kiwi, golden apple treat, vitamin E, buckwheat seed extract
Shades: 6
Skin Benefits: Natural
Finish: Second skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Apply the lightweight tinted moisturizer with either your fingers, a makeup brush, or a sponge for a bare-skin effect.
est Tinted Moisturizer with SPF: Glo Skin Beauty C-Shield Anti-Pollution Moisture Tint
4 reviews
$51.00
This 3-in-1 protecting and hydrating tinted moisturizer provides all the skincare and makeup benefits you need daily in a single formula. Powered by natural mineral pigments and reef-safe sunscreen, the weightless skin tint adds a dose of hydration with a dewy finish for effortless-looking skin.
Key Ingredients: Vitamins C and E, squalane, bisabolol, chamomile, natural pigments
Shades: 10
Coverage: Sheer
Finish: Glowy
Beauty Insider Tip: This tinted moisturizer is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation for daily use since it meets the highest standards for safe and effective UV protection
Best Tinted Moisturizer for Serious Hydration: U Beauty The Super Tinted Hydrator
1 reviews
$108.00
Part moisturizer, part skin tint, this lightweight formula blends seamlessly into the skin for a second-skin finish. Plus, each self-adjusting shade offers deep hydration to help improve the skin’s texture while leaving it optimally moisturized with a dewy finish.
Key Ingredients: Purified oat extract, shea butter, peptides, organic Argan oil, avocado and grapeseed oils, mineral pigments
Shades: 11
Finish: Sheer
Beauty Insider Tip: Unlike other tinted moisturizers, this one continues to hydrate the skin even after it's removed.
Best Tinted Moisturizer for Easy Application: Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen
4 reviews
$72.00
Take the guesswork out of applying your tinted moisturizer with the ease of use this cult-classic offers. Light in texture but rich in benefits—think smoothing and hydrating—this supercharged tinted moisturizer works to improve skin hydration in just one hour while minimizing the appearance of the pores for skin that appears more refined overall.
Key Ingredients: Botanical polysaccharides, titanium dioxide, glycerin, rose flower water
Shades: 12
Coverage: Light to full
Finish: Dewy
Beauty Insider Tip: : To achieve light coverage, apply the formula with your fingers or use a brush for a more buildable but heavier coverage
Best Tinted Moisturizer to Blur Imperfection: Tarte Amazonian Clay Lightweight BB Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
63 reviews
$42.00
For the perfect no-makeup makeup look, reach for this lightweight tinted moisturizer, which doubles as a BB cream, too. With its moisturizing formula and natural finish, this dermatologist-tested tinted moisturizer helps blur the appearance of imperfections, pores, and wrinkles while nourishing the skin. Consider this one a win-win!
Key Ingredients: Amazonian clay, vitamins A, C, and E, chamomile
Shades: 7
Coverage: Light
Finish: Natural
Beauty Insider Tip: The serum-like consistency of the moisturizer makes it perfect for everyday wear without leaving the skin looking cakey
Best Tinted Moisturizer for Dry Skin: Jane Iredale Dream Tint Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
119 reviews
$50.00
Layer on this lightweight tinted moisturizer when color and hydration are precisely what your skin needs. Thanks to its water-resistant formula, the vegan moisturizer not only prevents transepidermal water loss to reduce the symptoms of dry skin, but it also calms and soothes it, leaving it looking better and healthier.
Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, glycerin, jojoba seed oil, sunflower seed oil, shea butter, tea leaf extract, pomegranate extract
Shades: 7
Coverage: Light
Finish: Natural
Beauty Insider Tip: No need to worry about the shade matching your skin since each one is guaranteed to be a 100% color match
Best Tinted Moisturizer for a Dewy Finish: Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid and Mineral SPF 30
$39.00
Skin that boasts a radiant glow always looks healthy, and an easy way to achieve it is with this 3-in-1, oil-free, tinted moisturizer. Offering sun protection, hydration, and sheer to light coverage in one, it gives the skin a dewy sheen without ever clogging the pores.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, titanium dioxide
Shades: 20
Coverage: Sheer to light
Finish: Dewy
Beauty Insider Tip: Apply the tinted moisturizer at least 15 minutes before sun exposure for maximum effects
Best Full-Coverage Tinted Moisturizer: Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation SPF 45
5 reviews
$55.00
For heavier coverage, add this hydrating formula to your cart. Packed with a mix of skin-friendly ingredients to lock in moisture, soothe redness and irritation, and protect against pollution and damage, this light-as-air foundation blurs away skin imperfections, leaving the skin looking flawless and glowy.
Key Ingredients: Chia seed extract, probiotic technology, ion-charged water complex
Shades: 28
Coverage: Medium to full
Finish: Radiant
Beauty Insider Tip: The non-comedogenic formula is free of mineral oil and drying alcohol, so it won’t clog the pores and instigate breakouts
Best CC Cream: Erborian CC Cream
This advanced CC cream is a must-have when you want to cancel out redness in the skin and leave behind nothing but a natural, radiant finish. Powered by encapsulated pigments that act as both color correctors and SPF, skin emerges hydrated and healthier-looking with a skin-like finish.
Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica extract, glycerin, zinc oxide
Shades: 4
Coverage: Light
Finish: Dewy
Beauty Insider Tip: Use the CC cream as a makeup primer by layering it under your foundation or concealer
Best Long-Wear Tinted Moisturizer: RMS SunCoverup Super Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50
$49.00
Reach for this tinted moisturizer, which creates a more evenly toned complexion, on those days when you need your makeup to last for hours on end. Infused with skincare ingredients, this silicone-free daily tinted moisturizer also protects against sun and blue light damage, providing a natural, radiant finish that keeps the skin well-moisturized throughout the day.
Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, shea butter, bisabolol, jojoba seed oil, olive oil, turmeric root powder
Shades: 13
Coverage: Light
Finish: Natural
Beauty Insider Tip: Let the product set for 30 to 60 seconds and dry down so that it adjusts to its actual shade
Best Tinted Moisturizer with a Natural Finish: Tarte Maracuja Tinted Moisturizer
4 reviews
$34.00
Consider this tinted moisturizer a must-have for a natural, barely-there finish. Rather than looking cakey and heavy on the skin, the superfruit-infused formula offers long-lasting wear and hydrant for a radiant finish that looks like your skin but better.
Key Ingredients: Maracuja oil, hyaluronic acid, turmeric, aloe
Shades: 20
Coverage: Sheer
Finish: Naturak
Beauty Insider Tip: For the most natural-looking results, apply the formula to prepped and primed skin, blending it out with the fingers from the center of the face outwards
Best Overall Tinted Moisturizer: Epionce Daily Tinted SPF 50 Sunscreen
133 reviews
$42.00
Although this tinted sunscreen is available in only one formula, the antioxidant- and botanical ingredient-packed product evens out the skin’s tone for a natural, healthy glow. Suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types, it allows the skin’s natural beauty to shine through without a heavy look or cakey finish.
Key Ingredients: Sunflower, argan oil, rosemary extract, apple fruit extract, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
Shades: 1
Coverage: Light
Finish: Sheer
Beauty Insider Tip: Wear the sunscreen under your makeup or on its own for a hint of color
Best Anti-Aging Tinted Moisturizer: Revision Skincare Intellishade
103 reviews
$86.00
Perfect for all skin types, this anti-aging tinted moisturizer features SPF 45 for added sun protection while hydrating and protecting the skin. Whether you wear it to moisturize the skin or to improve its tone and texture, the sheer mineral tint provides a light layer of concealing coverage to restore a youthful appearance to the complexion.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, vitamin C, white birch extract, yeast extract, plankton extract, CoQ10, octinoxate, octisalate, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
Shades: 1
Coverage: Light
Finish: Sheer
Beauty Insider Tip: The award-winning tinted moisturizer is also available in a non-tinted version
Best Tinted Moisturizer to Layer Under Makeup: MDSolarScience Tint and Tone SPF 50 Cream
$40.00
For the ultimate in coverage while hydrating the skin, mix this tinted moisturizer with your makeup and watch redness, fine lines, and dullness fade away. The SPF-enriched moisturizer is buildable, so you can dial up the amount of coverage you want without irritating sensitive, rosacea-prone, or acne-prone skin.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, green tea extract, mushroom, rosehip
Shades: 1
Coverage: Sheer
Finish: Light
Beauty Insider Tip: Bring the product down the neck to protect it from the sun while adding a touch of moisture and color
Ingredients to Look for in Tinted Moisturizers
Tinted moisturizers can be a godsend for many, but to truly reap the benefits of one, it’s important to opt for a tinted moisturizer with skin-beneficial ingredients. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ashley Magovern, M.D., key ingredients to consider in tinted moisturizers include the following:
Mineral SPF, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide: “These types of ingredients offer broad-spectrum sun protection and are typically less irritating for sensitive or acne-prone skin,” she says. Hyaluronic acid: Helps draw moisture into the skin, resulting in a plump, hydrated appearance. Dr. Magovern calls it “perfect for all skin types, especially dry or mature skin.” Niacinamide: Helps to calm down redness, reduce the appearance of pores, and regulate oil, making it ideal for those with combination or breakout-prone skin, she adds. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and green tea extract: According to Dr. Magovern, these types of ingredients help protect against environmental stressors while brightening and evening out skin tone. Peptides and ceramides: Supports the skin barrier, which Dr. Magovern shares improves skin resilience over time.
FAQs
Is tinted moisturizer or bb cream better?
Tinted moisturizers and BB creams are similar, but there are several key differences between the two. While both work to improve the skin’s appearance by hydrating and offering coverage, BB creams provide more coverage and correction, whereas tinted moisturizers have a more moisturizing effect. Their textures are different, too. Most tinted moisturizers are more lightweight lotions, whereas BB creams are thicker.
Can you use a tinted moisturizer instead of a foundation?
If foundation feels too heavy on your skin or you don’t like wearing it, a tinted moisturizer makes a suitable alternative. However, the amount of coverage you’ll get from a tinted moisturizer is lighter than that of foundation, so make sure to pick the appropriate product based on how much coverage you need on any given day.
How do you apply tinted moisturizer?
The easiest way to apply tinted moisturizer is with your fingertips, but a foundation brush works, too. Apply the product to the center of the face and gently rub it in, dragging it outward to ensure the perimeter of the face is well covered. Then, set everything in place with a dusting of a translucent setting powder.
What ingredients should you avoid in tinted moisturizers?
Avoiding certain ingredients in tinted moisturizers is key to reaping the benefits without compromising the skin’s functionality or barrier. Dr. Magovern advises steering clear of products that contain drying alcohols, essential oils, which can trigger redness or irritation in sensitive skin, heavy waxes that can be too occlusive for oily and acne-prone skin, propylene glycol, and emulsifiers and thickeners such as harsh PEGs (polyethylene glycols).
The Bottom Line
Tinted moisturizers offer more benefits than traditional foundation and concealer without a heavy feeling on the skin. Some of the best tinted moisturizers combine sun protection with hydrating ingredients to enhance the skin’s moisture content, resulting in a plump, bouncy, and glowy appearance. No matter the finish and coverage level you desire, there’s a tinted moisturizer bound to work for your skin’s needs, allowing it to look radiant and natural and have everyone asking what you’re wearing on your skin.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and beauty expert with more than 16 years of experience. She previously held the title of Executive Beauty Editor at NewBeauty magazine, where she reported on beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health and wellness. She was also instrumental in the launch of the beauty supplement brand Hush & Hush. A self-professed beauty junkie and retinol and sunscreen pusher, Elise knows what’s new, what works and who’s the best to go for every procedure under the sun. Follow Elise on Facebook, Instagram, and on her beauty blog, elisetabin.com
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