The 11 Best Tinted Moisturizers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
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It's safe to say that BareMinerals rescued our complexion
Whether it's the dead of summer and too hot for classic foundation, or you just want your makeup to have a lighter feel, tinted moisturizer can give you good coverage while keeping your skin fresh and hydrated. Celebrities like Meghan Markle love how these light products create a glowy finish, and her favorite tinted moisturizer (from Laura Mercier) even makes an appearance on our list.
"Tinted moisturizers are great for those who want balanced skin coverage and hydration all in one," celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin tells PEOPLE. "These tend to not give you as much coverage as a traditional foundation, but just enough for everyday wear and ease." Celebrity makeup artist Katie Mellinger adds that "they are also fantastic for more mature skin as the coverage tends to be lighter and, obviously, full of more moisture, therefore they don't pool into fine lines or wrinkles as prominently as a traditional foundation."
We tested 17 of the most popular drugstore and designer tinted moisturizers. Our testers compared each tinted moisturizer and considered how hydrating they were, what the coverage and pigmentation were like, and how the product felt on the skin. We also observed the shade range available for each product since this makeup is tinted and requires a close skin tone match.
Of all the tinted moisturizers that PEOPLE tested, these were considered the best.
Best Overall: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer
Pros
Reinforced with hyaluronic acid and SPF, this hydrating product is essentially half skincare and half makeup.
Since it's designed to be sheer, this moisturizer has a silky and lightweight feel.
Its ultra-hydrating formula elicits a lit-from-within glow in your complexion.
This is a vegan formula made without animal testing or byproducts.
Cons
The lightweight formula can settle into under-eye creases due to its thin consistency.
The options in the shade range for darker tones could be expanded upon.
A good tinted moisturizer should be lightweight, feel smooth and creamy on the skin, and provide a hint of coverage while letting your natural texture show through. Our favorite — bareMinerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid and Mineral SPF 30 — hit each of these marks, and earned a near-perfect score during testing.
With a silky and lightweight feel, this tinted moisturizer gives a natural glow, and a little goes a long way. We appreciated the inclusion of SPF, which lets you skip that step in your morning routine. The hydrating effects were evident off the bat and kept our skin soft and moisturized all day. While we found our shade immediately, and this product boasts more than 20 shades, there's still room for more inclusivity. Tinted moisturizer relies on a seamless skin tone match, and this product could stand to have more darker shades available. This makeup is not the best for under the eye since its silky finish can easily get into creases.
Overall, this tinted moisturizer was a standout for us because its feel, function, and finish are all premium quality, and on top of that it has SPF and hyaluronic acid (natural lubricant for skin). It gives the best of skincare and makeup, all while being a vegan product (made without animal testing or byproducts).
How it's held up:
This product remains at the very top of our list despite months of testing because of how truly indispensable it’s become in our daily lives. Not only does this product leave our skin feeling plump and hydrated, but our complexions are aglow with the luminous shine that stays far after the moisturizer has been absorbed. We tested it through the seasons, and we never noticed any patchy dry spots during the winter or excess oil in the summer — making it a great year-round, barely-there tint for most skin tones and textures.
Sizes: 1.18 oz. | Shades: 20 | Consistency: Silky, light | Finish: Natural glow | SPF: 30 | Best For: All skin types
Best Overall, Runner-Up: Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
Pros
This pigmented moisturizer is not just lightweight but incredibly hydrating, as well.
Though it's a thin formula, the product does not settle into our fine lines or creases.
Despite being a "tinted" moisturizer, there's surprisingly good coverage in each pump.
Cons
It's on the pricier side, so you'll have to be willing to invest a little money for better quality.
This tinted moisturizer created solid coverage, evened out our skin tone, and had a smooth finish. We loved how it provides moisture without drenching your skin and avoids creases and fine lines. When applying the moisturizer, it easily buffs into the skin and feels very light and minimal — almost like you're not wearing any makeup. We had perfect color matches, but we think there could be more shade variety to accommodate diverse skin tones.
This makeup is pricier than other options (comparable to foundation cost), but it's worth it for the quality, coverage, and SPF. While the price makes this tinted moisturizer fall second to our best overall pick, it's a close contender.
Sizes: 1.9 oz. | Shades: 16 | Consistency: Creamy, light | Finish: Radiant, dewy | SPF: 30 | Best For: All skin types
Best Budget: ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Tinted Moisturizer
Pros
This silky product never felt cakey or heavy on our skin.
Its oil-free formula blended evenly and left us with a luminous glow.
Its quality far outranks its price, which is on the fairly low side.
The oil-free formula is great for those with oily or combination skin.
Cons
The formula is missing SPF, but this can be solved by layering one underneath your moisturizer.
The ColourPop moisturizer was a team favorite, not only for its low price but also for its high value. This formula felt completely lightweight on our skin and blended in evenly and almost effortlessly. It's a sheer moisturizer so if you're looking for extensive coverage, it might not be as ideal, but it's ideal for just a light dusting across your face. And for those who really do want more product — it's buildable.
As an oil-free formula, this moisturizer is great for combination or oily skin, and it feels amazing once applied — not heavy or greasy. Instead, it's creamy, lightweight, and breathable. Plus, this tinted moisturizer is cost-effective and much less than many other products on our list. The only other thing we were missing was SPF, but if you use sunscreen before or after your daily moisturizer, this isn't a dealbreaker.
How it's held up:
This remains our budget-friendly go-to when we want to head out the door without a full face of makeup but still want to feel good about our skin. It’s funny how you notice the little things after a bit of wear like us realizing (and appreciating) that this tinted moisturizer had no distinctive fragrance — which can become something of an annoyance if you wear it every day, like we do. Our skin’s tone and texture instantly look more even with one layer of this moisturizer, even after all this time.
Sizes: 1.45 oz. | Shades: 20 | Consistency: Creamy | Finish: Matte, oil-free | SPF: No | Best For: Oily, combination skin
Best for Sensitive Skin: Huda Beauty GloWish Multidew Vegan Skin Tint Foundation
Pros
This lightweight moisturizer is thin enough to be breathable but still has buildable coverage.
Infused with squalane, this moisturizer felt like a wash of hydration for our skin.
Its skin-loving ingredients gave our complexions natural, glowy finishes.
This product is fragrance-free, vegan, and not tested on animals.
Cons
Compared to some of the other products on this list, this one is a little pricey.
For those with sensitive skin, this product is fragrance-free and 92 percent naturally derived to keep your skin calm and happy. Huda Beauty's skin tint foundation has a high-quality creamy consistency that spreads smoothly across the skin. The beauty of a tinted moisturizer is the radiant finish it creates, letting your skin glow without too much product weighing down your face. We loved how lightweight and breathable it was. The moisturizer left our skin with a bit of a dewy effect — though it still looked natural.
It has a buildable coverage, given the tint, so you can make the finish as natural or airbrushed as you like. While it's more expensive than drugstore brands, we believe this makeup is worth the price for its ability to keep your skin hydrated and radiant all day long. We also love that it's a vegan skincare product, meaning no animal testing or byproducts during production.
Sizes: 1.35 oz. | Shades: 13 | Consistency: Creamy, light | Finish: Dewy, radiant | SPF: No | Best For: Dry or combination skin types
Best for Oily Skin: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free Natural Skin Perfector SPF 20
Pros
This ultralight moisturizer felt airy on our skin, making it very comfortable for all-day wear.
Its oil-free formula blended easily into our skin and left us with a healthy, matte finish.
The product itself was hydrating without feeling or looking greasy, which helped our looks last longer throughout the day.
Cons
It has a rather sheer consistency, though it was able to even out our red spots.
Being minimally pigmented, this product did not provide much coverage.
Beloved by Meghan Markle, this tinted moisturizer is one of our favorites, too. We loved how lightweight and blendable it was. After applying the moisturizer, our skin instantly felt hydrated and silky smooth. We appreciated how it made our skin glow without looking greasy — thanks to the oil-free formula and matte finish. This is a must for those with oily skin.
While it is slightly pigmented and evens out redness, we found this moisturizer to feel slightly tacky on our skin, and minimal in coverage. We did wish it blurred our pores a bit more. This is a high-quality makeup, but due to sheer coverage, it works best for those with naturally blemish-free complexions (like Markle!). For us, mere mortals (with pores, acne, and fine lines), a fuller-coverage moisturizer might be a better fit. While this is an expensive product, its overall quality matches the price, and provides you with a hydrated, matte complexion fit for a queen (or at least America's princess!).
Sizes: 1.7 oz. | Shades: 20 | Consistency: Sheer, light | Finish: Matte | SPF: 20 | Best For: Combination and oily skin types
Related: The 14 Best Face Moisturizers for Oily Skin, Tested and Reviewed
Best Glowy Finish: Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 25
Pros
Unlike some others, this moisturizer didn't feel tacky or sticky on our skin.
It has buildable coverage, meaning you can apply as little or as much as you'd like to get a sheer or full-coverage base.
The luminous formula left us with a glowy finish that made our skin look, like the name, "healthy."
Cons
Because this product was a little more makeup-forward, its formula didn't feel as hydrating as some of the others we tested.
The beauty of a tinted moisturizer is that it can add a soft glow and medium coverage without feeling like there's too much product on your face. We liked the consistency of this moisturizer (almost lotion-like) as well as the buildable coverage should you want a more seamless finish. It didn't feel tacky on our skin, and a little went a long way during application. We loved the glowy finish it left, giving our skin a healthy radiance.
Despite its creamy feel, the moisturizer element was not as hydrating as we'd hoped, especially for those with dry skin. The product didn't absorb fully, so we think this product is best for those with balanced or combination skin types. Some of our team also had trouble finding a perfect shade match (but that can also be attributed to the products we had at our disposal). That said, the coverage of this tinted moisturizer was impressive, and we would definitely use it on a daily basis.
Sizes: 1.4 oz. | Shades: 20 | Consistency: Lotion | Finish: Glowy | SPF: 25 | Best For: Balanced, combination skin
Best for Dry Skin: Kosas Cosmetics Tinted Face Oil Comfy Skin Tint
Pros
This moisturizer is oil-based, which is good for dry skin.
The formula absorbed well, which allowed our skin to breathe and not feel tacky.
We could build up the coverage, though one layer was enough to even our complexions.
Cons
It doesn't include SPF, so you'll have to layer a facial sunscreen underneath.
The formula is sheer, so if you want something more full coverage, this may not be it (or you'll have to glob a lot of layers on).
When you have dry skin, face oils are a game-changer. This Kosas tinted moisturizer (considered one of the best Kosas products) is infused with avocado oil, meadowfoam oil, raspberry oil, jojoba oil, and more — so your skin will get a surge of hydration while the formula also soothes and evens out your complexion. During testing, we appreciated the lightweight feel and noted that it dried quickly. Once applied, it didn't feel like there was anything on our skin, yet we saw the results right away.
This product is super easy to blend, and though sheer, you can build up the coverage. We suggest pairing this product with another moisturizer for added hydration, as well as an SPF product for sun protection since this one doesn't have any. Overall, we think this is a solid tinted moisturizer for a little coverage and hydration.
Sizes: 1.0 oz. | Shades: 12 | Consistency: Liquid | Finish: Satin | SPF: No | Best For: Dry skin
Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Skin Paradise Water-Infused Tinted Moisturizer
Pros
This product is a great option for someone wanting a drugstore buy with worthwhile results.
The product felt lighter than air on our skin.
Its sheer formula gave us a natural look that's great for every day.
It contains aloe vera and witch hazel to reduce inflammation and calm skin.
Cons
The formula is pretty sheer, so you won't get a whole lot of coverage.
Due to its thin consistency, it doesn't hydrate extremely well.
The shade range could be expanded upon.
Another budget-friendly favorite, this L'Oréal tinted moisturizer is lightweight and essentially melts onto the skin. When applied, it didn't feel like the product was sitting on top of our skin, but instead sinking into it. As a water-based formula, this moisturizer also contains aloe vera and witch hazel (both known to reduce inflammation and soothe skin).
Due to the formula's thin consistency, this product didn't seem to fully hydrate our skin, compared to some of the thicker moisturizers that we tried (which might do a better job). We also think this makeup could have a larger shade range with more inclusive skin tones. We loved the coverage, and how the tint seamlessly blended across our skin, while still letting some texture show through. Considering the low price and lightweight feel, we believe this would be an ideal everyday makeup base for summer, traveling, or an easy morning routine.
How it's held up:
During our at-home testing, we discovered that the L’Oréal Skin Paradise works best on drier skin, as the moisturizing aspects of this formula may be a tad too much for those with oily skin. It’s great for quick and easy makeup days when you want your skin to look like your skin, just a little better. However, we do wish that it was made with a higher SPF and had a wider range of shades for different skin tones — all improvements we’d love to see in the future.
Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 12 | Consistency: Sheer, light | Finish: Dewy | SPF: 19 | Best For: Combination, oily, and sensitive skin types
Best for Mature Skin: Caliray Free Dreaming Blurring Lightweight Skin Tint
Pros
Its formula, blended with plant oils and extracts, felt super hydrating throughout the day.
Its thin, easily blendable consistency felt almost nonexistent on our skin and doesn't settle into fine lines.
The semi-matte finish blurred our pores and texture like an IRL filter.
Cons
It doesn't contain SPF sun protection.
For those who have texture concerns, large pores, or fine lines they wish would disappear, this skin tint from Caliray should be on your radar. It's a liquid formula that blends super easily, doesn't settle into lines or creases, and creates an even coverage across your face. It doesn't feel tacky, and during our tests, it absorbed into the skin and dried right away. We couldn't feel any residue left on our faces.
While there's not a large shade range, there are enough colors to give you the option to blend should you want a perfect color match. The product is hydrating (thanks to prickly pear extract and jojoba oil), yet creates a matte finish — ideal for those who want moisture without a sheen. During testing, we noticed this tinted moisturizer hid many of the red spots and dark circles on our skin. This product doesn't contain SPF, so make to layer some sun protection underneath.
Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 10 | Consistency: Liquid | Finish: Natural, blurring | SPF: No | Best For: Dry, balanced, combination skin
Best with SPF: Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Tint SPF 20
Pros
In addition to protecting our skin, this moisturizer felt ultralight throughout the day.
Its lightly pigmented formula evened our skin tones and blurred our blemishes.
Our complexions were left with a light, matte finish, which looked like our skin (just better).
Cons
We didn't have any complaints during our testing.
For smooth coverage and a product that feels like you aren't wearing anything, look no further than Shiseido's refreshing skin tint. We loved how lightweight this sheer liquid formula felt once applied to our skin. We were surprised there was even some blurring of blemishes (like dark circles and texture), which isn't expected from such a thin formula. If you will be out in the sun all day, this product has ActiveForce Technology to protect your skin from heat and humidity, ensuring it won't melt off.
A lot of products that have SPF can often leave a glowy or shiny residue behind. That's not the case with this skin tint, so if you have oily skin, this is an added benefit. (It actually has sort of a matte finish.) That said, the formula has hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, so it certainly won't dry out your skin. As a skin tint, this product was impressive in terms of buildable coverage and the overall feel.
Sizes: 0.95 oz. | Shades: 12 | Consistency: Liquid | Finish: Natural | SPF: 20 | Best For: Light coverage, and sun protection
Best Sheer: Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator Broad Spectrum SPF 25 Tinted Moisturizer
Pros
To our delight, this tinted moisturizer is infused with SPF.
Its lightweight formula felt super hydrating on our skin from the first application.
The moisturizer's natural finish left us with a dewy, luminous glow.
Cons
Yet again, the shade range is very limited and could stand to be expanded upon.
If you just want a hint of coverage, this sheer pick from Clinique is a good choice. Our team thought it would make the ideal product for running errands or heading to the beach (rather than a full coverage sort of day). It's super sheer and lightweight, so it gives just a hint of coverage while providing your skin with some nourishing moisture.
Despite the sheer formula, this product did blur some of our dark spots and left a glowy natural finish behind. There isn't a huge range of shades, but on the other hand, this moisturizer does have sun protection in the form of SPF 25. So, it isn't perfect, but still a good contender, especially for those who want light coverage.
Sizes: 1.3 oz. | Shades: 7 | Consistency: Liquid | Finish: Natural | SPF: 25 | Best For: All skin types
Things to Consider Before Buying Tinted Moisturizer
Skin Type
Your skin type will determine what kind of features you should look for when it comes to buying tinted moisturizers. "Think about the kind of coverage you want first and then consider the best formulation for your skin type," says Martin. "This is important because it allows you to understand how well it'll wear on the skin during the day and evening."
Since there's additional hydration with this kind of makeup, you should consider buying a sheer, oil-free moisturizer if your skin type leans toward oily. With drier skin, you might try a thicker moisturizer for dry skin that acts as a barrier to keep moisture locked in. Combination skin types have a little more flexibility so a medium coverage moisturizer in a dewy or matte finish could work equally well. Those with acne may want a moisturizer for acne-prone skin. Martin recommends our best drugstore pick — L'Oréal Skin Paradise Water-Infused Tinted Moisturizer — because of its affordability and performance at such an attainable price. It's also non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores.
SPF Content
Using tinted moisturizer is a great way to save time in your morning routine because it allows you to use fewer products — and if SPF is included, that's another step you can skip. Protecting your skin from the sun, especially on a sensitive area like the face, is crucial to maintaining good skin health (obvious, but merits a reminder). If you can find a tinted moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or more (30 is better), you'll have that extra layer of insurance to keep your skin looking (and feeling) its best. The Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Tint SPF 20 not only protects your skin from the sun but also has ActiveForce Technology to keep you looking fresh in the humidity.
Related: The 12 Best Makeup with SPF of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Ingredients
Mellinger says there aren't any harmful ingredients in tinted moisturizers, per se, unless you're allergic to an ingredient. "However, a large variety of tinted moisturizers now come with added skincare benefits beyond SPF," she says. For instance, "NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer contains vitamin C, which is known to help collagen production and works as an antioxidant (it also has a wide range of skin tones)." The makeup pro adds, "The list goes on and on, but using a tinted moisturizer is a great way to boost your skincare while wearing makeup."
Shade Range
As beauty influencers have pointed out, some makeup brands, like Bobbi Brown with her Jones Road product line, have succeeded in being truly inclusive with shade ranges, while others…have not. Tinted moisturizers aren't as pigmented as classic foundations since they work to even out your natural skin tone rather than cover it completely. So, you'll need a closer shade match. If you don't want to have to mix shades together to get a perfect match, look for brands that highlight inclusivity through a wide (read: more than 10-15) range of shades.
How We Tested
We worked our way through 17 of the most popular tinted moisturizers (drugstore and designer) that you can buy. After trying each makeup on our freshly washed faces, we evaluated them for feel, hydration, and coverage while making note of shade range availability.
Feel and Absorption: We blended the moisturizer into our skin, considering how each felt (creamy, sheer, hydrating, greasy, etc.). Products that felt lighter on the skin earned a higher score than those that felt heavier or more like a foundation.
Hydration: We also looked at the hydration of each moisturizer to determine if it was hydrating enough to act as a standalone or if traditional moisturizer should be used underneath.
Coverage: After blending the moisturizers on our faces, we judged the appearance of our complexions and whether the makeup made any difference in coverage.
Shade Range: We also considered shade ranges, whether there were enough options to be truly inclusive, and how easy it would be to find a skin tone match using the names and images of each tint.
We ranked each product and narrowed it down to the top 11 tinted moisturizers that delivered in all the key areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are tinted moisturizers?
Tinted moisturizer hydrates your skin and provides just a hint of coverage. It's the ideal replacement for a foundation for those times when you don't need full coverage, like a day at the beach or poolside. Many of the best tinted moisturizers — including several on our list like the Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Tint SPF 20 — also include SPF which doubles as blue light skin protection, as well.
Can you use tinted moisturizer in place of foundation?
Yes, whether you typically use foundation for mature skin or youthful skin, tinted moisturizer is intended to replace foundation for days when you're looking for a more sheer, natural appearance, but still want to even out your skin tone.
Are BB creams and tinted moisturizers the same?
No, while both a BB cream and a tinted moisturizer provide sheer coverage and even out your skin's appearance, a tinted moisturizer does not contain additional skincare benefits, like the anti-aging ingredients that are found in a BB cream. Additionally, a CC cream can be used in place of a BB cream on days that you need more "complexion correction," as it offers more coverage than a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream.
Does tinted moisturizer last all day?
Most tinted moisturizers can provide all-day coverage, depending on climate, activity, and skin type. Just keep in mind that if you're also relying on your tinted moisturizer for sun protection, you should reapply the product every couple of hours.
Do you apply makeup products over or under tinted moisturizer?
If you're choosing a tinted moisturizer, you may be going for a more natural look. You can definitely skip the primer and powder when wearing tinted moisturizer. But if you decide to use primer, put it on before applying tinted moisturizer, and finish with powder afterward. For any areas that need a bit more coverage, apply concealer after tinted moisturizer.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Madison Yauger is a commerce writer at PEOPLE, covering beauty, home, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her background includes news, lifestyle, and commerce journalism for publications like Food & Wine, Real Simple, Health, and Martha Stewart. For this article, she compared products based on factors including price, feel, function, shade range, depth of tint, moisturizing effects, coverage, pigmentation, and feel.
Meet Our Experts
Daniel Martin is a celebrity makeup artist and Global Director of Artistry & Education at Tatcha.
Katie Mellinger is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Sofia Coppola, Emma Watson, and Chloë Sevigny.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
Related: The 13 Best Foundation Brushes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
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