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When the heat waves hit, I have no patience for the feeling of foundation on my face. Instead, it’s all about lightweight skin tints for me—tinted moisturizers, skin tints, and tinted SPFs that offer a natural-looking finish with a weightless feel. (Say it with me: tint supremacy!) So why am I ditching my favorite foundations until the fall? Well, imagine sporting full coverage foundation while riding the subway in 90-degree weather—gripping onto the nearest metal pole for dear life, packed in the rattling train like sardines in a can amongst dozens of other sweaty and damp commuters bemoaning the hazy reality that the car they chose doesn’t have AC. Much like my clothing, I want to wear as little layers as possible while still having enough coverage to avert outright nudity (or in this case, an entirely bare face).
Pro makeup artist Monika Blunder describes the best skin tints as “a lightweight, sheer coverage product designed to even out skin tone and provide a natural, skin-like finish.” Their thin, easily blended texture makes them the perfect option for hot weather. With tints, you get just the right amount of coverage while keeping your skin feeling fresh and light all day.
No matter what type of formula you go for, from gel-like moisturizers to watery serums, all provide a your-skin-but-better base and nearly undetectable finish. From there, you can get painterly with targeted concealer coverage, sun-kissed bronzers, and more. Plus, plenty of complexion tints are formulated as skin-care-makeup hybrids with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, and more. Some even do double duty by adding SPF for added sun protection (Blunder prefers not to rely on makeup products for her SPF—and we cosign that opinion.)
Vogue’s Favorite Skin Tints:
- Best for Everyday: Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer, $44
- Best Water Tint: Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch, $70
- Best Sheer Coverage: Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, $28
- Best for Light Coverage: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, $48
- Best for Dry Skin: Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, $49
- Best for Mature Skin: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Care Complexion Drops, $68
- Best Tinted SPF: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF 45, $38
In This Story:
If you’re ready to lighten up your summer makeup routine (and perhaps even make it much quicker), scroll on to discover tints beloved by this beauty writer—with formulas so good you may just retire your foundation until autumn.
Best for Everyday: Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer
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- Why We Love It: If there’s one complexion product I simply cannot get enough of, it Jones Road’s tinted moisturizer. This is my daily go-to, without fail. Powered by a nourishing blend of sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and vitamin E, this new formula glides on like a refreshing gel moisturizer, leaving behind (as the name would suggest) just enough coverage to even out skin tone. Sporting this beauty pick never fails to collect plenty of “your skin looks great” compliments—and you know what? My skin totally does not look great underneath. Nevertheless, this pick always helps me fake a clear complexion. Dare I say this is the most hydrating tinted moisturizer you’ll ever try? That said, despite its conditioning benefits, it’s lightweight—apt for concealing redness and dark spots with hours of comfortable wear.
- Key Ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, vitamin E
- Shades: 16
- Coverage:
- Finish:
- Size: 50 ml/1.69 fl. oz.
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| 100% noncomedogenic formula fueled by skin-loving ingredients | Not the widest shade range (though the semi-sheer coverage allows for flexibility) |
| Lightweight feel | |
| Cruelty-free and clean formula |
Best Water Tint: Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch
- Why We Love It: This Chanel tint feels like a magic trick—despite the majority water-based formula (60% to be exact), I never fail to be surprised by just how much coverage it provides while still feeling weightless on the skin. The formula blends H2O with tamarind seed and jasmine extracts for a serum-gel that feels refreshing on skin; its complexion-evening properties come via micro-bubble pigments which burst upon application—delivering remarkable medium coverage. “I like to press this formula into the skin with a flat foundation brush and lightly set it with the Poudre Universelle Libre Natural Finish Loose Powder, for a full coverage look that’s not one-dimensional or flat,” Chanel makeup artist Tasha Reiko Brown previously told Vogue.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, tamarind seed oil, jasmine extract
- Shades: 24
- Coverage: Medium
- Finish:
- Size: 0.68 fl. oz.
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Barely-there lightweight feel with medium coverage | On the pricier side |
| Great shade range | |
| Noncomedogenic formula |
Best for Light Coverage: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
- Why We Like It: Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint is one of the market’s most recognizable clean beauty products. What makes the formula so good isn’t just the featured SPF 40, which offers necessary sun protection, but a smart trio of niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and squalane that aids skin tone, texture, and safety. Most notably, the tint feels more like a serum, leaving behind buildable coverage and a dewy finish across 26 shades. It’s a solid all-around pick for an array of concerns, from wrinkles to acne and dry skin.
- Key Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide 12%, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, shea butter, allantoin, aloe
- Shades: 26
- Coverage: Sheer to light
- Finish:
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Lightweight feel | Shea butter is not ideal for acne-prone skin |
| Formulated with clean ingredients and cruelty-free | Sheer-to-light coverage; not ideal for those who want to hide blemishes or dark spots |
| Great inclusive shade range |
Best for Dry Skin: Saie Slip Tint
- Why We Like It: I would be remiss to write about the best tints of all time and leave out Saie’s tinted moisturizer—it’s a favorite of celebrities and everyday beauty lovers alike. “I am grateful I was on [TikTok] the day that I found this because this has, like, changed my life,” says singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams in her Beauty Secrets video. Powered by mineral sunscreen SPF 35 (specifically, 100% mineral zinc oxide), hyaluronic acid, licorice root extract, and pansy flower, the formula helps hydrate, brighten, and protect the skin on each use. There are 14 shades available, each delivering a lightweight, natural glow.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide 12%, licorice fruit extract, hyaluronic acid, grape seed oil, glycerin, jojoba esters, aloe leaf, coconut fruit extract, pansy flower,
- Shades: 14
- Coverage: Light to medium
- Finish: Glowy
- Size: 1.3 fl oz
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Formulated with clean ingredients and SPF 35 for sun protection | Coconut derived ingredients aren’t great for acne-prone skin |
| Hydrating ingredients are suitable for dry skin |
Best Tinted Gel Cream: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer
- Why We Like It: Twenty-four-hour hydration is the ultimate promise of BareMinerals’s tinted moisturizer—and this was my OG tinted moisturizer pick, and namely, one I d turn to when my skin was feeling particularly dry or patchy from a rosacea flair up. The acclaimed oil-free gel cream formula is composed of 98% naturally-derived ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and squalane, alongside broad-spectrum, mineral SPF 30 to impart a dewy glow. With 20 shades to choose from, experiencing this gel-cream’s sheer to light coverage is just a shade-match away.
- Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide 6.2%, hyaluronic acid, squalane
- Shades: 20
- Coverage: Sheer to light
- Finish:
- Size: 1.18 fl. oz.
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Great inclusive shade range | Radiant finish may not be ideal for those with oily skin |
| Oil-free formula | Not completely noncomedogenic |
| Hypoallergenic formula |
Best With SPF: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF 45
- Why We Love It: Merits latest tinted SPF launch has all the qualities of a chemical sunscreen but with the powerful UV-shielding qualities of a mineral one—all while imparting light, buildable coverage. Powered by 100% natural zinc oxide, this leans upon plant-based powers and a natural alternative to silicone, to balance out skin s moisture levels and deliver a soft, velvet finish. Two pumps of product is all you need to conceal breakouts, redness, or dark spots—without budging.
- Key Ingredients: 100% zinc oxide, plant-derived emollient, plant-based mineral SPF booster
- Shades: 15
- Coverage: Sheer to light
- Finish: Natural
- Size: 50 ml
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Plant-based, clean formula | Not suited for acne-prone skin types |
| Moisturizing formula |
Best Sheer Coverage: Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
- Why We Love It: Glossier’s Skin Tint and I go way back—all the way to 2016, when I was a starry-eyed college intern at the then beauty start-up. At the time, the soon-to-go-viral start-up was primarily focused on skin-care products, with just a few color cosmetics options. Their lightweight skin tint was a hit already—and today, this pick stands as a classic choice. The lightweight texture and sheer finish make it perfect for days when your skin is under control or for those simply blessed with spot-free complexions. Blunder loves it too, previously telling Vogue that it “blends seamlessly, giving a barely-there makeup look. It’s great for everyday wear or makes a stunning base for more makeup on top.”
- Key Ingredients: Diamond power, glycerin
- Shades: 12
- Coverage: Sheer
- Finish: Dewy
- Size: 30 ml
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Cruelty-free and vegan formula that’s easily blended | Ingredients like corn aren’t suited for acne-prone skin types |
| Great for a no-makeup makeup look | Sheer coverage won’t do the trick for those looking to conceal blemishes or hyperpigmentation |
Best Pigmented: Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
- Why We Love It: When asking my roommate, a fellow fashion girlie, what her favorite product is for complexion coverage was, she always names this Hourglass Skin Tint—never a gatekeeper, she also always offers to let me borrow it when I’ve run out of my own favorites (thanks, Bella!), and I’ve taken her up on that offer several times over. While this hydrating skin tint leans sheer, Blunder previously told Vogue that it’s more pigmented than others. “This tint is versatile and great for someone who wants something between a foundation and a light tint. It also gives such a beautiful and healthy-looking glow,” she explained.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Shades: 18
- Coverage: Light
- Finish: Dewy
- Size: 1.1 oz.
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Buildable, lightweight coverage | Ingredients like shea aren’t ideal for for acne-prone skin |
| Moisturizing formulation |
Best for Mature Skin: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Care Complexion Drops
- Why We Love It: Formulated by the queen of your-skin-but-better makeup, Gucci Westman, Vital Skin Complexion Drops has become a cult-favorite tinted serum, lauded for its skincare-makeup hybrid traits. While it no doubt provides light-as-air coverage, it’s antioxidant-rich ingredients composition make it a superb choice for mature skin types.“It both improves texture, firmness, and radiance over time and gives the skin the most insane glowing finish instantly with just the perfect hint of tint,” licensed esthetician and founder of Ställe Studios, Elizabeth Grace Hand previously told Vogue.
- Key Ingredients: Tsubaki oil, ginseng extract, pomegranate extract
- Shades: 20
- Coverage: Light
- Finish: Dewy
- Size: 30 ml
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Skin-care-packed ingredients | Those with oily skin types may find the finish a bit too dewy |
| Hydrating and antioxidant-rich formula that plumps mature skin while providing lightweight coverage | Not suited for those sensitive skin types, prone to break outs |
| Great shade range |
Best Medium Coverage: Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen
- Why We Like It: This pick was put on my radar by celebrity makeup artist Allan Avendaño, who praised its “beautiful luminous finish on the skin that evens you out but also never feels heavy.” The light-to-medium coverage builds to veil imperfections while imparting broad-spectrum UVA/UV SPF 30 protection sans white cast. What’s more, it’s infused with prickly pear and aloe vera to soothe and repair skin. Plus, it’s formulated safe for sensitive and reactive skin types. In fact, the brand follows the National Eczema Association’s ingredient guidelines to avoid irritants and allergens.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide 12.6%, prickly pear, aloe vera, centella asiatica extract
- Shades: 14
- Coverage: Light to medium
- Finish: Luminous
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Great inclusive shade range. | Not ideal for oily complexions |
| Eczema safe | Not entirely acne safe—it contains two potential pore-clogging ingredients! |
| Buildable medium coverage easily conceals blemishes |
Everything You Need to Know
What are the different types of complexion tints?
When it comes to tinted moisturizers versus skin tints, the distinction is all about purpose and texture. She points out that skin tints are typically lighter and more fluid in texture, whereas tinted moisturizers are creamier and offer a bit more substance.
Hand offers a clever analogy: She likens skin tints to watercolor and tinted moisturizers to paint. Skin tints are intentionally sheer, letting your texture and pores peek through. At the same time, tinted moisturizers and gel creams offer more coverage and an extra dose of hydration.
“Gel creams and tinted moisturizers work wonders to even out skin tone without feeling heavy or settling into fine lines,” says pro makeup artist Sean Harris, who previously told Vogue that these formulas have become staples for a reason. “When applied correctly, they create a flawless complexion—radiant, glowing perfection.”
What to look for in a tint
Finding the right skin tint is a highly personal process. “I like to test several at once and look for light to medium coverage, consistency, and how it feels on my skin,” Hand previously told Vogue. She recommends choosing a formula that melts into the complexion, offers just enough coverage, and leaves skin looking dewy and radiant. If testing in person isn’t possible, focus on the advertised finish and coverage. Ideally, you want a product that won’t slip, slide, or settle into fine lines or pores.
How to apply tints
Celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty previously told Vogue that there’s no right or wrong way to apply lightweight tints. That said, she prefers using a makeup brush to apply the product, then blending it out with her fingertips for a seamless finish.
As for sponges? Bhatty advises against them, noting that a damp sponge can absorb too much product—especially since skin tints typically have a sheer formula. If you’re looking to cover blemishes, breakouts, or dark spots, she recommends spot-concealing with a separate concealer to achieve the desired coverage.
Meet the experts
- Kirin Bhatty is a celebrity makeup artist who often works with Florence Welch and Tessa Thompson.
- Monika Blunder is a Los Angeles–based celebrity makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty.
- Elizabeth Grace Hand is a licensed esthetician and founder of Ställe Studios in New York City
- Sean Harris is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Lori Harvey, Lala Anthony, and Laura Harrier.
- Amrita Mehta is a New York–based celebrity makeup artist who s worked with Aoki Lee Simmons and Sophia Culpo.
- Tasha Reiko Brown is a Chanel makeup artist and groomer whose clients include Gabrielle Union, Michael B. Jordan, and Alicia Keys.
