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For those seeking coverage that refuses to settle (into fine lines, creases, and pores, that is), the best tinted moisturizers for mature skin are an answered prayer in cream or liquid form. “Tinted moisturizers are often a better choice for mature skin because they provide light, breathable coverage that doesn’t settle into fine lines or emphasize texture,” says pro makeup artist Lauren D’Amelio Ventre. She adds that—unlike many traditional foundations—a tinted moisturizer inherently offers a more natural finish.
Vogue’s Favorite Tinted Moisturizers for Mature Skin
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What’s more, “tinted moisturizers have the added benefit of hydration, which is ideal for skin that may be drier or less elastic with age,” D’Amelio Ventre continues. “It also offers more glow and comfort than a regular moisturizer alone, with just enough tint to even out skin tone.”
Ready to add more glow and comfort to your beauty routine? Ahead, browse tinted moisturizers that provide the ideal balance of skincare and coverage for mature skin. Whether you’re looking for a poreless, glass skin effect or a breezy no-makeup makeup look, there’s a tinted moisturizer in this edit for you.
In This Story:
- Is tinted moisturizer better for older skin?
- What is the disadvantage of tinted moisturizer?
- What s the difference between a tinted moisturizer, BB cream, and CC cream?
- What is a tinted moisturizer?
- What to look for in a tinted moisturizer
- Can a tinted moisturizer stand in for foundation or regular moisturizer?
- Why is a tinted moisturizer good for mature skin?
- How to Apply a Tinted Moisturizer on Mature Skin
- Meet the experts
Best Overall: Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer
- Why we like it: “For clients with mature skin, I always look for products that feel light, but still give the skin a healthy, even finish,” says D’Amelio Ventre. “The Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer does just that. It’s breathable, blends in effortlessly, and doesn’t cling to texture or fine lines.” She adds that the formula lends a “your-skin-but-better” look, with a complementary, second-skin feel. “It’s perfect for anyone who wants a fresh, natural glow,” she says. The product is best suited for covering redness and evening out the complexion. For more coverage, the brand recommends swapping in the weightier What the Foundation.
- Key Ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, vitamin E
- Finish: Natural
- Shades: 16
- SPF: No
- Consistency: Liquid
- Size: 1.69 fl oz
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| Non-comedogenic, hydrating, moisturizing | Coverage may be too light for those looking to veil blemishes or discoloration |
Best Hydrating: Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops
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- Why we like it: Hydrating, pore-minimizing, and firming, Westman Atelier’s weightless complexion drops enhance the skin with a youthful, soft-focus glow. Infused with Tsubaki oil to firm and hydrate, the formulation also has brightening ginseng extract and antioxidant-rich pomegranate oil. The drops even out the skin tone with a light wash of color; for more coverage, use a brush with a small, pointed tip to apply foundation directly to blemishes. (Might we recommend the Vital Skin Foundation Stick?) Be sure to follow the moisturizer with SPF in the daytime.
- Key Ingredients: Tsubaki oil, ginseng extract, pomegranate extract
- Finish: Radiant
- Shades: 20
- SPF: No
- Consistency: The hydrating drops have the feel of a lightweight oil
- Size: 1 oz
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| Firms, hydrates, has a weightless feel | The packaging can make it hard to dispense enough product |
Best for Sheer Coverage: Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
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- Why we like it: A Vogue-editor go-to for lightweight coverage with a second-skin finish, Glossier’s sheer tint is approved by celebrity makeup artist Monika Blunder. “It blends seamlessly, giving a barely-there makeup look,” she previously told Vogue. “It’s great on its own for everyday wear or makes a stunning base for more makeup on top.” Made with glycerin to help moisturize the skin, the formulation also has diamond powder to brighten while blurring the pores. After applying the tint in the daytime, top it off with an SPF of 30 or above to protect the skin from free-radical damage.
- Key Ingredients: Diamond power, glycerin
- Finish: Radiant
- Shades: 12
- SPF: No
- Consistency: Liquid
- Size: 1 oz
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| Blends beautifully, ideal for a no-makeup makeup look | Coverage may be too light for those looking to veil blemishes or discoloration |
Best Gel Cream: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue
- Why we like it: You’d be hard-pressed to find a Vogue beauty editor who doesn’t have a BareMinerals product they swear by. For senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden, this tinted moisturizer was love at first dot. “I dotted Complexion Rescue onto my face and began blending with a brush,” she previously shared in her initial trial of this tinted gel cream. “The results were impressive. I was shocked at how cooling it felt, almost like a cup of water. It essentially dissolved into my skin, imparting an even, hydrating glow perfect for daily wear.” Myken Garcia, the brand’s senior manager of artistry, education, and events, explains some of the ingredients behind the drink-of-water-style zing of refreshment. “With olive-derived squalane, hyaluronic acid, and mineral SPF, Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer glides onto skin easily, giving a burst of hydration with a naturally luminous, youthful-looking radiance,” he says.
- Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide 6.2%, hyaluronic acid, squalane
- Finish: Buildable, sheer-to-light coverage with a radiant finish
- Shades: 19
- SPF: Mineral SPF 30
- Consistency: Creamy gel
- Size: 1.8 oz
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| Sinks into the skin, boosts glow | The coverage is too sheer for some |
Best for a Natural Look: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint
- Why we like it: “This is a gorgeous water-based product with more coverage than you would expect, so it’s great for mature skin if you want a natural look,” Patinkin says. “A little goes a long way, and the shade range is great.” With 30 hues to choose from, the lightweight tint is a known multitasker among Vogue’s beauty editors. Fashion editor Mai Morsch was so impressed with its three-in-one capabilities as a serum, an SPF, and a foundation that she started using it as a one-stop skin-care regimen.
- Key Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide 12%, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, shea butter, allantoin, aloe
- Finish: Natural and dewy
- Shades: 30
- SPF: Mineral SPF 40
- Consistency: Lightweight serum
- Size: 1 oz
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| Larger shade range, nourishes the skin with antioxidants | Some users report that the bottle can leak—especially during travel |
Best for Dry Skin: U Beauty The Super Tinted Hydrator
- Why we like it: “This is one of few products that I would say is actually a tinted moisturizer, with the moisturizer being the primary focus and the tint being secondary,” Patinkin says. Despite the formula’s emphasis on hydration—powered by the brand’s Siren Capsule technology, which hydrates the skin for 48 hours with a slow release of hyaluronic acid—it’s not for the gleam averse. “The glow is intense with this because, while water is the main ingredient, it also contains oil,” Patinkin adds. But if it’s glow you’re after, you’ll find all that radiance—plus a sheet tint that adapts to your natural skin tone as it dries.
- Key Ingredients: Oat extract, peptides, shea butter, argan oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, mineral pigments
- Finish: Sheer and dewy
- Shades: 10
- SPF: No
- Consistency: Cream
- Size: 1 oz
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| Ultra hydrating | The finish can be too radiant for some |
Best Dewy Finish: Saie Slip Tint Tinted Moisturizer
- Why we like it: If you never say no to a dash of glimmer, Saie’s sheer, dewy formulation is just what you need. “There’s a lot of glow in this product, so you have to like that high-shine look,” Patinkin says. For singer Gracie Abrams, the more glow, the better: “I am grateful I was on [TikTok] the day that I found this because it has changed my life,” she raved in her Beauty Secrets video. Brightening, hydrating, and protective for the skin, the formulation is powered by hyaluronic acid, licorice-root extract, and pansy flower.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide 12%, licorice fruit extract, hyaluronic acid, grape seed oil, glycerin, jojoba esters, aloe leaf, coconut fruit extract, pansy flower
- Finish: Sheer and radiant
- Shades: 14
- SPF: Mineral SPF 30
- Consistency: Lightweight cream
- Size: 1.35 oz
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| Brightening, hydrating, protective | The pump is prone to breakage |
Best for Antioxidants: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Skin Tint
- Why we like it: “This protects the skin barrier with a blend of vitamins including vitamins D and E,” says Greenberg. “It’s a perfect color-true skin tint that lasts for 12 hours with no creasing—and it’s water-resistant.” The antioxidant-packed tint is also integral to what Eva Longoria calls her “hottest mom” makeup look. Before dashing out for school pickup, the actor walked Vogue through her makeup routine in a Beauty Secrets video. “I’m really into tinted foundations right now that are not so heavy,” she said, adding that Bobbi Brown’s formulation allows her skin to “breathe” and for her natural glow to show.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin D, cactus flower, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, shea butter
- Finish: Sheer, natural coverage
- Shades: 18
- SPF: Broad-spectrum SPF 15
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Size: 1.69 oz
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| Long-wearing, supports the skin barrier | Some users report an off-putting scent |
Best Tinted Serum: Trinny London BFF De-Stress
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- Why we like it: Made with the patented NP-TriOX Technology, which contains the cortisol-neutralizing neurophroline, “This one feels like skincare and makeup in one, which makes it perfect for mature skin,” says pro makeup artist Lauren Shea. She notes that the formula is packed with antioxidants and adaptogens to soothe and protect stressed skin. “The finish is really natural and glowy, and it smooths things out without looking or feeling like you re wearing much makeup,” Shea says, adding that this lends itself to a beautifully lowkey look. “I’d recommend it for anyone who wants to feel a little more polished without going full glam.”
- Key Ingredients: NP-TriOX Technology, neurophroline, hyaluronic acid
- Finish: Radiant
- Shades: 12
- SPF: 30
- Consistency: Liquid
- Size: 1.01 fl oz
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| Soothes stressed skin | The pump doesn’t always distribute a consistent amount of product |
Best for Combination Skin: Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator
- Why we like it: Clinique’s Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Moisturizer landed on Vogue’s list of the best lightweight moisturizers thanks to several claims to fame—including delivering hydration for a whopping 100 hours. In its tinted iteration, the formula offers the same dryness-quenching benefits with activated aloe water and hyaluronic acid, plus added sun protection with an infusion of SPF 25. The Sheertint Hydrator, best suited for dry and combination skin, will keep the skin moisturized for 12 hours, according to the brand. But if you want to double down, it smooths on seamlessly atop the matching moisturizer.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, activated aloe water, cucumber fruit extract, barley extract, caffeine
- Finish: Natural
- Shades: 7
- SPF: SPF 25
- Consistency: Lightweight cream
- Size: 1.4 oz
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| Delivers long-lasting hydration | Limited shade range |
Best for a No-Makeup Makeup Look: Lancôme Skin Feels Good Hydrating Tint
- Why we like it: “This product is great if you love a no-makeup makeup look,” says Greenberg. “With an oil-free and buildable formula, this skin tint adds a sheer plumpness and glow to the skin with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.” Celebrity makeup artist Amrita Mehta is also a fan. The beauty pro previously told Vogue: “Don’t be fooled by its thicker texture. Its satin finish provides light-to-medium coverage and dries down beautifully.”
- Key Ingredients: Moringa seed, rosa gallica flower extract, hyaluronic acid
- Finish: Sheer to buildable, radiant coverage
- Shades: 11
- SPF: SPF 23
- Consistency: Lightweight liquid
- Size: 1.08 oz
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| Dries down quickly, satiny finish | The scent is too perfume-y for some |
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Typology Tinted Serum
- Why we like it: “This is a light-coverage, nonclogging serum that is safe for acne-prone skin,” says Greenberg. “It brightens the skin too!” The formulation has the ingredients to back up its skin-improving claims: Vitamin C brightens the complexion and reduces the look of excess pigmentation, while squalane nourishes the skin barrier and contributes to a smoother look and feel. Patinkin adds: “This is a very sheer product, so you get a very natural dewy look, but if you have freckles or sun damage [you want to hide], it’s not going to provide much coverage.”
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, aloe vera, squalane
- Finish: Light and natural
- Shades: 6
- SPF: No
- Consistency: Lightweight liquid
- Size: 1 oz
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| Brightening, safe for sensitive skin | Can be tough to shade match, the dispenser can be tricky to use |
Best Blurring Effect: Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer
- Why we like it: “Rare Beauty’s Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer is great for all skin types, including mature skin, due to ingredients like vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin,” notes Cynthia Di Meo, the brand’s global makeup stylist. Plus, the flexible formula offers light-to-medium buildable coverage with a radiant finish that gives skin a healthy glow. It softens the appearance of fine lines and large pores, making your skin look like the best version of itself. Pro tip: “I love the look and finish of this product but don’t find that it has a lot of slip in the application, so I prefer to use a sponge to blend it rather than a brush,” Patinkin says.
- Key Ingredients: Lotus, gardenia, white water lily, vitamin E
- Finish: Radiant
- Shades: 24
- SPF: Broad-spectrum SPF 20
- Consistency: Liquid
- Size: 1.0 oz
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| Softens the appearance of fine lines, refines pores | Can cling to dry spots on very dry skin |
Everything You Need to Know
Is tinted moisturizer better for older skin?
“Tinted moisturizer is often a better option for mature skin because it provides a more natural, lightweight finish that doesn’t settle into fine lines,” says pro makeup artist Brielle Pollara. “Unlike traditional foundation, which can sometimes feel heavy or dry, tinted moisturizers tend to hydrate while offering just enough coverage to even out the complexion.” She adds that tinted moisturizers offer a great balance between skincare and makeup, giving the skin a healthy, fresh appearance without masking its natural texture.
What is the disadvantage of tinted moisturizer?
According to D’Amelio Ventre, “The biggest disadvantage of a tinted moisturizer is that it typically offers less coverage than a foundation, so it might not be the best choice for those looking to conceal pronounced discoloration or blemishes.” She adds that some formulas may not last as long throughout the day—especially on oilier skin types—unless they’re set with powder or paired with a primer.
What s the difference between a tinted moisturizer, BB cream, and CC cream?
We get it—it can be hard to differentiate between the many types of complexion products. So we tapped Shea for a quick breakdown; see below for her cheatsheet.
- “Tinted Moisturizer is typically a sheer wash of color with a focus on hydration.”
- “BB Cream adds a little more coverage, and usually has extra skin-care perks like SPF or antioxidants.”
- “CC Cream is for color correction like balancing redness or dullness. It offers a bit more coverage than BB cream.”
What is a tinted moisturizer?
“A tinted moisturizer is a hybrid skin-care product that combines the hydration of a moisturizer with light-to-medium coverage and often includes additional skin benefits like SPF,” says Dr. Liu. “I like to think of it similar to foundation but with more skin benefits plus more natural coverage.”
When it comes to using one in a makeup regime, Greenberg says: “Tinted moisturizers are a lightweight alternative to foundation. They help to moisturize the skin while simultaneously evening out your skin tone. If you want to wear no makeup throughout the day but still have glowy skin, tinted moisturizer is definitely for you!” She adds: “Tinted moisturizer is great for hot, humid days when you don’t want to wear thick, heavy makeup.”
What to look for in a tinted moisturizer
“When choosing a tinted moisturizer, consider your skin type and how your makeup wears on your skin throughout the day,” Greenberg says. “For combination, acne-prone, and/or oily skin, there are many oil-free formulas to use. If you have dry skin, it’s recommended to choose a hydrating formula with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and plant-based oils. You can also look for tinted moisturizers with specific benefits. For example, many on the market today are antiaging and anti-inflammatory.
When it comes to ingredients, Dr. Liu also recommends looking for hyaluronic acid for hydration, as well as antioxidants—such as vitamin C—for brightening and niacinamide for reducing inflammation. The texture should be chosen according to skin type, she advises, recommending a lighter lotion with a matte finish for oily skin and creamier textures for dry skin.
There’s also sun protection to consider. “Choose a moisturizer with at least SPF 30 to ensure adequate protection against UV rays, crucial for preventing premature aging and maintaining skin health,” she says.
Can a tinted moisturizer stand in for foundation or regular moisturizer?
“A tinted moisturizer can replace foundation and regular moisturizer for those seeking a lighter, more natural look or for daily wear,” says Dr. Liu. “It simplifies the beauty routine by moisturizing, providing sun protection, and evening out skin tone in one step. However, for drier skin types or those needing more intensive coverage or treatment, layering or additional products might still be necessary.”
When it comes to coverage, “Tinted moisturizer tends to have a thinner consistency than other types of foundation, but the technology is changing so rapidly now that you can get lots of coverage with less density,” says Patinkin. “Whether it’s enough depends on how you feel about discoloration, freckles, and other imperfections. I have never felt that tinted moisturizer should be a substitute for regular moisturizer, particularly if it is oil-based. I know it feels like oil is very hydrating, but it actually cannot penetrate the skin, so the benefit comes from it holding in moisture that’s already there rather than being a direct source of it.”
Why is a tinted moisturizer good for mature skin?
“As a makeup artist specializing in clients aged 50 and above, I always recommend a tinted moisturizer with high SPF,” says Azra Red, a New York-based artist who works with Isabella Rosellini. “It provides hydration, a hint of color, and vital sun protection, making it an ideal choice for enhancing and nurturing mature skin.”
Since mature skin tends to be softer and thinner, Red says that using a lightweight tint will enhance the skin’s natural beauty without masking it. “Unlike foundation, which can settle into fine lines and feel heavy, a tint offers a weightless, natural finish,” she says.
How to Apply a Tinted Moisturizer on Mature Skin
“The best way to apply tinted moisturizer is with clean hands, followed by a Beautyblender for the finishing touch,” Red advises. “Your hands warm up the product, helping it absorb quickly, while the Beautyblender ensures a seamless, polished finish. This method is not only easier but also much faster than using brushes.”
Meet the Experts
- Monika Blunder is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty.
- Cynthia Di Meo is the global makeup stylist for Rare Beauty.
- Myken Garcia is the senior manager of artistry, education, and events at BareMinerals
- Jamie Greenberg is a celebrity makeup artist and the founder of Jamie Makeup. Her clients include Rashida Jones and Chelsea Handler.
- Jenny Liu, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor in the Twin Cities.
- Laura Mercier is a world-renowned makeup artist and the founder of the global beauty brand Laura Mercier.
- Amrita Mehta is a celebrity makeup artist based in New York City. Her clients have included Aoki Lee Simmons and Sophia Culpo.
- Jenny Patinkin is a makeup artist, beauty entrepreneur, and best-selling author.
- Azra Red is a New York-based celebrity makeup artist represented by Exclusive Artists.