I Threw Away My Foundation After Trying This Lightweight Tinted Moisturizer That Doubles as Serum and SPF

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Even before the start of the coronavirus pandemic when I would frequently wear makeup day in and day out at the office, I absolutely hated having to put on foundation. I stuck with it when I needed coverage for scarring or any uneven tones that I would experience, but the uncomfortable sensation of having that cakey, sticky, heavy layer on my face always made me want to take it off the minute I put it on. I've spent most of my time at home in loungewear and no makeup at all over the past two years, and as a result I practically forgot about foundation completely—instead turning to tinted moisturizers when I really needed coverage.

This only further fueled my love for lightweight alternatives to foundation that felt neither heavy, nor stifling. The only holdover I still had for keeping my last bottle of foundation around was the "oh well, just in case" mentality with which I similarly used to treat that one chipped soup bowl I had lying around my kitchen but never actually touched. But at last, I found the impetus to finally toss my old foundation in the trash: Saie's Slip Tint Moisturizer, which has truly replaced my need to ever wear foundation again.

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To buy: $35; saiehello.com.

Having already tested out Saie's Hydrabeam Concealer, I had an inkling that the brand's most famous product would be just as good. Like the Hydrabram concealer, Slip Tint is formulated with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid to moisturize your skin, licorice root extract to calm any redness, and zinc oxide for SPF 35 protection—so it easily doubles as your serum or sunscreen in a pinch. The brand sent me some shades to test out a few months ago, and since then, Slip Tint has become my go-to for any occasion when I want to wear some coverage that also hydrates and protects my skin.

RELATED: What's the Difference Between BB Cream, CC Cream, Tinted Moisturizer, and Foundation?

A little goes a long way for a simple, dewy makeup look; in fact, my friend said I barely looked like I was wearing makeup. "You just look like your skin is really nice right now," she said, complimenting how glowy my face looked with Slip Tint. It's truly my trick to a "no-makeup" complexion, but for times when you need more coverage than usual, the Slip Tint moisturizer is easily buildable—I worked it on the way I used to put on classic foundation with my face brush to achieve a more classic going-out style.

Nina Huang

Frankly, I'm not really a person who'd wear a heavy face of makeup these days, so I was fully in love with the amount of coverage you can see in the right-hand side image (compared to my bare face on the left) that Slip Tint offers. And I'm not alone: Reviewers have called it their "holy grail" and the "best tinted sunscreen" they've found for extremely dry skin that offers the "perfect amount of coverage for daily wear." It gives a "velvety look," according to shoppers, which I couldn't agree with more. Even people with acne-prone and sensitive skin swear by it; one wrote that it "gives such a 'lit from within' glow" for their sensitive and combination skin.

Like my only request for an improvement in Saie's Hydrabeam concealer, I simply wish the brand would launch more options than its currently available 14 shades. But if you want something that gives you lightweight yet ample coverage this summer without wanting to immediately wash a sticky layer of foundation off your face, then Saie's Slip Tint will likely become your go-to—it certainly is mine. Shop it now for $35, and check it out below in a few select shades.

Saie Slip Tint Moisturizer in One

Saie Slip Tint Moisturizer in Three and Half

Saie Slip Tint Moisturizer in Five and Half

Saie Slip Tint Moisturizer in Ten