What do you like about Tinted Moisturizers? What don’t you like?
Tell us what you love and hate about...
Tinted Moisturizers
I don’t find I wear them often, mostly because it is a product I’d wear if I was going to be outdoors but still wanted some coverage but I’ll opt for more traditional liquid foundation if I want a base product. The ranges have been improving, which is nice to see as tinted moisturizers sometimes lose nuance in undertone along with depth (sheerer products may be able to get away with shorter ranges in depth, though).
— Christine
Rave: I love tinted moisturizers. My current favorite is ColourPop Pretty Fresh hyaluronic tinted moisturizer. It has a pretty wide shade range that seems pretty forgiving. I was using one that was too dark for a while, didn’t seem to make a huge difference. It looks a lot like skin, and this one doesn’t have sunscreen in it.
Rant: I have tried the Lancôme one in your picture. I loved how it felt, but the shade range is very limited and nothing matches me. Undertones still matter in tinted moisturizer!
`Undertones still matter in tinted moisturizer!` – Couldn’t agree more!
I just hate how tinted moisturizers can be hit or miss… like one having 4-5 shades and one matches me ideally, when some tinted moisturizers and foundations with 10+ shades have nothing for me. And I’m an easy complexion, I just can’t imagine how hard it can be for very light or dark complexions.
While yes I do use a BB cream on the regular, I have no use for tinted moisturizers. They don’t have the skin care benefits that a BB or CC cream has, and usually not the SPF level either.
I don’t buy tinted moisturizers. I have found that mixing my foundation in with my favorite daytime moisturizer gives them same effect (hydration, sheerer coverage, etc) without having to own a separate product and the shade matches already. I don’t need a bunch of coverage as I mainly deal with redness in my cheeks and for the most part like everything else, thus don’t like full full coverage on my own skin. I can see why those who prefer full coverage would find tinted moisturizers kind of useless though.
I really wish I could wear tinted moisturizers, but they just don’t have enough coverage for me.
It’s not like there’s something I don’t like about tinted moisturizers, I just don’t find a spot for them in my collection.
I like a buildable medium to full coverage foundation. If I want/need lower coverage (even for outdoors), I just apply less product in a light layer and blend it really well. I know some tinted moisturizers come with skincare benefits or SPF, but I personally like to keep those product separately and apply them before make-up.
I use to like tinted moisturizers when I was younger… well… I only liked only one, the Benefit Big Easy. It has SPF, good coverage and staying power, didn’t need to be set with powder, looked great and had a decent color match. Before finding that one I disliked that most tinted moisturizers don’t last on my skin, they either got `absorbed` or moved on and from my face during the day.
While some people say that it’s easier to find a match with a tinted moisturizers, I always had issues with finding good matches. Most lighter shades are either pink or neutral, and when a brand finally has something yellow, it’s either too orange or an unflattering almost sick looking yellow.
My big problem with any face base is the inclusion of chem sunscreens. So usually, I use the Paula resist blah blah and cocktail it with some Jouer, KGD, Ordinary, etc. I use the Ulta store brand mineral matte tinted face lotion for outside. Often that’s not for full day, and it removes easily for other bases. The Ulta is tres budget conscious and has mineral spf 30, if anyone is looking for such a product. So many sunscreens are a bear to get off. If it’s just the dogs, on a day off (I still don’t have them, though the behaviorists are working from home) just the Ulta. Stay in. Stay safe. And no non-mandatory trips.
I did sample the pictured Lancôme tinted moisturizer & found the best color for me was 02C Natural Blond. It stayed on all day without fading & matched well to my skin tones. Would I buy it? Maybe, if I wanted something different than what I generally use — powder or liquid foundations.
LIKE: If you find the right formula and often times don’t need serious coverage, sun protection, or moisture, then I love how tinted moisturizers can take care of 3 steps in one. Most times, I just want something quick and one-and-done for a trip to the store and TM’s accomplish this. For errands, I’d really rather not wash my face, and apply layers of different products on my skin, and then waiting for each layer to dry before applying the next product. TM’s save me three steps on spf, moisture, and coverage and if my skin needs extra moisture or sun protection or coverage, I can easily mix in other things. OR I can “pinpoint conceal” and show off the rest of my skin per Lisa Eldridge. For someone who can’t wear most foundations let alone finding one that is flexible enough to be mixed in with other things, a TM that can be flexibly mixed with other products is a godsend.
DISLIKE: there is usually not a big range in color or undertone or formulas. Not all brands make TM’s. Also, they can be quite expensive for what they are.
I don’t wear tinted moisturisers at all for a couple of reasons: Firstly, very few, if any, have a pink undertone – ususally they are yellow. Secondly, I need a medium strength foundation to even out my skin tones. Another factor is that they don’t have SPF – in Australia in summer, you need Factor 50.
Korean BB creams have a pinker base, or or neutral. Missha M Perfect Cover in #13 is very pink. I am about a NC15 and #13 is too light for me, but might work for you. It has SPF in it.
I’ve never tried them before because I needed a full coverage base. But now that I am experiencing more lines I think I will be trying some to see what I can figure out, wish me luck!
I like Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer and use it occasionally in summer w the help of concealer.
Haven’t tried any other brand.
I have many gripes about tinted moisturizers 😬
Their often limited shade ranges usually defeat the purpose of a product that’s supposed to be quick and easy to use…I have been mixing foundations for years regardless, but still lol.
Most light-coverage products tend to be on the dewier side (and matte options tend to be opaque), which is unfortunate for someone who prefers a natural finish but is oily or, as in my case, sweaty!
They usually have sunscreen in them. In my opinion, SPF makes products less versatile—often not appropriate for people with sensitive and/or deep skin. Plus, the sun protection they provide is bound to be negligible anyway.
All that said, I do prefer less coverage nowadays, if I wear a base at all, so I’ve taken to combining ColourPop’s Pretty Fresh tinted moisturizer with NYX’s Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil (which is actually not described as a moisturizer and has a relatively matte finish). While I do have to mix to get the right shade and finish, it ends up being more comfortable than most foundations, so I guess it’s worth it!
Likes: I don’t need much coverage to even out my skin/reduce redness and I like “undectible” products so tinted moisturizers tend to be perfect for me.
Dislikes: Deceptive SPF claims. The SPF in cosmetic base products is NOT enough to protect you AT ALL regardless of the number thrown out. In order for SPF in a cosmetic base product to be sufficient to protect your skin from the sun you have to apply it in an amount that is absolutely ridiculous and unreasonable and not how brands even recommend their product be used. It is a useless gimmick in a cosmetic base product and I can tell even just from comments here that not enough people know/understand this.
How my face looks oily/greasy after 1 hour of wear. Plus they hardly have anything in my tone, most are so yellow undertone geared. The one shade that did match – NARS – made me a greasy/oily mess even with super light application.
I find I don’t really reach for a tinted moisturizer as I can mix some foundation into my regular moisturizer and basically have the same thing. The bonus is that I know the color will work, which is otherwise tricky because I’m pretty fair and matching any kind of skin product like that can be challenging. I’ve tried some close ones in the past and they usually end up giving my complexion a weird cast. It’s possible that I’m the only one who notices but again it’s my opinion on how I look that matters.
Help me- for whatever reason, anything labeled “tinted moisturizer” or “bb cream” doesn’t give me even coverage. I have pretty big pores but the same doesn’t happen for full coverage foundation. Tinted moisturizer just breaks up too easily. With primer, without… maybe it’s just me? (Thank you for any replies.)
You will have to look specifically for a formula that says it offers full coverage! In general, tinted moisturizer is only designed to be just that – tinted, so sheerer coverage.