Everyone’s Switching To Skin Tints
June 5 | 4 minute read
Words by Christie Sinclair
A complexion product that also does the work of your skincare? It’s no wonder everyone’s switching to skin tints.
Not quite foundation. Not quite skincare. Skin tints sit somewhere in between. Offering a healthy dose of radiance and sheer, natural-looking coverage, they’re your shortcut to an even complexion and effortless glow – even after you wash them off.
Choosing the right tinted moisturiser or skin tint is a lot like finding the right skincare, so choose one suited to your skin type or concern. These are our picks.
Best for Dry Skin
MECCA MAX Off Duty Serum Skin Tint
It feels like a facial serum and works like a facial serum. If it wasn’t for the hint of coverage, we’re convinced this would be a facial serum. While it’s a dream base for all skin types, those with dry skin will appreciate the addition of hydrating ingredients. It cocktails niacinamide to help even skin tone and bolster your barrier with squalane to lock in moisture, with a sheer, dewy pigment that blends so seamlessly people will comment on your skin (not your makeup).
Best for Combination Skin
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Skin Perfecting Tint
A triple threat, this award-winning OG-favourite checks all of the ‘good base’ boxes (makeup, skincare, a touch of SPF) and must be tried at least once in your beauty life. The water-infused and oil-free gel-cream formula goes on with a refreshing, ‘water burst’ sensation that feels so good. The blend of skincare ingredients (including hydrating squalane and balancing electrolytes) provides luminous and natural-looking coverage, while broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen tops up your protection.
This is a secondary sunscreen, designed to complement your primary SPF as top-up protection.
This is a secondary sunscreen, designed to complement your primary SPF as top-up protection.
Best for a Non-Greasy Glow
ILIA Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
One of the next-gen tinted serums we're all crazy about, this vegan-friendly tint has a lightweight texture that feels weightless. The non-comedogenic formula is loaded with active skincare ingredients including niacinamide (which helps to balance excess sebum production and improve the appearance of pores), hyaluronic acid (to keep the complexion feeling hydrated and plumped) and squalane (hi, juicy skin!). The coverage is sheer and the finish is glowy (not a hint of greasiness) – no wonder it’s achieved cult status the world over.
This is a secondary sunscreen, designed to complement your primary SPF as top-up protection.
This is a secondary sunscreen, designed to complement your primary SPF as top-up protection.
Best for Mature Skin
Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops
Skincare that just happens to serve the purpose of your foundation too? It’s just another multitasking beauty bag staple created by no-makeup makeup queen, Gucci Westman. The best skin tints, like this one from Westman Atelier, disappear into your skin, leaving smooth, luminous, barely-there coverage. With tsubaki oil to firm, ginseng extract to brighten, ginger root complex to soothe and pomegranate extract to combat free radicals, the benefits won’t wash off when your makeup does.
Best for Oily Skin
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser
Shiny skin types will love the oil-free formula and the light-diffusing pigments that blur and soften the appearance of skin (what pores?). And for extra credit, skin is also treated with mineral-rich sea water to soften and smooth, vitamin C to help even out the skin’s tone and French Polynesian kopara to visibly refine texture. It’s beautifully buildable, too, and you’ll be left with a dewy complexion that’s dressed in a sheer wash of luminous colour.
Best for Normal Skin
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
The NYC fashion set has attributed their nonchalant glow to this cult-loved skin tint for a decade. One of Glossier’s four original product launches, it epitomises the brand’s skin-before-anything-else philosophy, delivering a healthy wash of near undetectable colour and a hydrated finish while toning down visible redness. The thin, serum-y formula is unmatched in its ability to blur imperfections without covering pores and freckles. Formulated with diamond powder (yes, really!) for luminosity and glycerin for moisture, it plays well with dry to normal skin types. Oily skin can use it too, but you might want to set it with a little translucent powder.
Best for Redness
Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Creme
Whether you're looking for a fail-proof skin perfector, don’t want to go all-out on foundation, or just don’t have the time for a full beat in the morning, Kosas’ bouncy gel-like cream skin tint will quickly become your daily go-to. It’s hard to count how many benefits fit into this one little bottle. There’s zinc oxide to visibly reduce redness, copper peptides to support collagen, plump and firm, and saccharide isomerate and sodium PCA for hydration and skin barrier support. In summary, it’s like a perfect-10 finish that takes all of 60 seconds to apply.
