Hate Foundation? These Are the 23 Best Tinted Moisturisers for a Natural Finish
I have a thing for multitasking products. Maybe it’s the freelancer in me. I mean, why do one thing when you can do two to three at the same time? It’s probably why I love tinted moisturisers so much. They help you on your way to even tone but also keep skin moisturised and glowy all day.
They also lean towards the more natural side of the makeup spectrum, which is what I prefer on a day-to-day basis—like an ever-so-slightly elevated version of myself. There are a lot of tinted SPFs available now, but if you’re specifically looking for a hint of coverage but a lot of hydration, a tinted moisturiser is your best option. BB creams, while very similar, are a little heavier in coverage, more like a foundation with a bit of hydration. And CC creams are even close to foundations on the coverage spectrum and mainly offer colour-correction benefits.
In the summer, when you want to apply fewer products, a really hydrating tinted moisturiser can replace your traditional moisturiser so you’re not layering too many steps. So your routine would look like this: cleanser, serum, SPF and then tinted moisturiser. Because despite having skincare benefits, this still sits firmly in your makeup bag and therefore should always be applied over your SPF.
If you’re on the hunt for the best tinted moisturiser, I’ve tried a lot, and these without doubt at the ones I recommend time after time.
The Best Tinted Moisturisers, Listed:
1. E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, £15
2. Beauty Pie Superluminous Skin Glow Filter, £20
3. Templespa Hydrating Glint Concealer, £20
4. Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint, £42
5. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, £39
6. Rose Inc Tinted Serum, £39
7. Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturiser, £29
8. Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream, £34
9. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Oil Free Natural Skin Perfector, £42
10. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint, £48
11. L'Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum, £15
12. Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator SPF 25, £34
13. L'Oréal Paris Paradise Lumi Glotion, £12
14. Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30/PA+++, £38
15. Beauty Pie Sheer Tinted Oil-Fee SPF20, £13
16. Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 30, £39
17. Typology Paris Tinted Serum, £33
18. Kevyn Aucoin Stripped Nude Skin Tint, £36
19. YSL Beauty NU Bare Look Tint, £29
20. Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, £49
21. Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturiser, £29
22. Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint, £55
23. MAC Cosmetics Strobe Dewy Skin Tint Moisturiser, £32
The 23 Best Tinted Moisturisers:
1. E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
This has gone TikTok-viral for good reason. It gives an amazing glow and comes in eight stretchable shades. You can use it alone, as it gives a soft-focus blurred effect, or you can actually mix with your normal moisturiser to craft your own tint.
2. Beauty Pie Superluminous Skin Glow Filter
Price shown is member price.
When they say Glow Filter, they mean it. This tint, which comes in 8 shades, is perfect for dry to balanced skin types, as it is a really dewy-looking finish. The finish is very sheer, so it's a great option if you want something very lightweight.
3. Templespa Hydrating Eye Concealer
While it's technically a concealer, this multi-tasking, lightweight skincare-makeup hybrid effortlessly spot conceals the areas where you might want extra coverage—think dark circles, shadows and blemishes. It's ultra lightweight and felts into the skin with an undetectable finish, making it great for days when you don't want a full face of makeup on your skin.
4. Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint
This is one of the best skin tints the beauty team have tested, and you'll find makeup experts raving about it too. It melts into the skin with a second-skin finish that provides a healthy glow and dewy finish. You won't regret trying it.
5. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
I went through a phase where I only wore this as my base both day and night, summer or winter. It gives such a softly filtered effect that you really don’t look like you’re wearing any base at all.
6. Rose Inc Tinted Serum
If you want something super lightweight, this tint has more of a serum texture but still gives a good glow and some coverage thanks to the encapsulated micro-pigments. You just need to mix the formula on the back of your hand with a foundation brush before applying.
7. Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturiser
This is a firm favourite amongst my industry peers because it has such a please-all formula. Lightweight, but hydrating and glowy—but not overly dewy. Plus, it’s available in 24 flexible shades.
8. Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream
Kosas' latest drop is fast becoming aBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing team favourite. The gel-cream texture melts into the skin to deliver a hydrating and radiant veil of colour that still lets your complexion shine through—no cakiness here.
9. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Oil Free Natural Skin Perfector
If you have oily skin, tinted moisturisers can be difficult to pick from, as they tend to have a dewy finish that quickly looks shiny on oily skin. This formula is oil-free, so it gives a semi-matte finish but without looking cakey or heavy.
10. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint
So many beauty editors adore this tinted serum, which imparts a glowing radiance and is packed with skin-nourishing ingredients including hydrating hyaluronic acid, brightening niacinamide and plumping squalene.
11. L'Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum
One of the more affordable tinted moisturisers out there, this L'Oréal buy gives high coverage—almost foundation level—but feels like a light moisturiser/serum. Plus, it includes 1% hyaluronic acid to hydrate.
12. Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator SPF 25
With this, you benefit from the care that Clinique put into its skincare but within a tint. It’s humidity- and sweat-resistant as well as oil-free so it can last all day.
13. L'Oréal Paris Paradise Lumi Glotion
This tint is great for balanced skin. It has a lot of pigment for a tint, so if you’re looking for something closer to a light foundation, this is ideal. Plus, it contains aloe vera, ginger and witch hazel for skin-soothing benefits.
14. Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30/PA+++
The best bit about this tint is how well it can be built up. You can opt for a light, sheer layer or do two for a bit more coverage without it looking cakey. It’s available in 15 shades.
15. Beauty Pie Sheer Tinted Oil-Fee SPF20
(Members price £13, non-members £35)
As a member of the Beauty Pie community, I can buy this tint for just £9, and the quality is that of a high-end brand. It has a luminising, glowy finish and includes squalane in the formula for hydration retention.
16. Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Super-dehydrated and dry skin? This is for you. Its name is the perfect description. The glow it gives is intense, like pure sunshine.
17. Typology Paris Tinted Serum
This serum is sans silicones and formulated with 99% naturally derived ingredients. The pigments boost radiance and create a more even skin tone, while the serum includes glow-giving vitamin C, squalane and aloe vera.
18. Kevyn Aucoin Stripped Nude Skin Tint
The word I would use to describe this tint is fresh. The finish, the texture and the skincare elements in the formula all feel very fresh. It gives a healthy look that isn’t greasy and lasts all day.
19. YSL Beauty NU Bare Look Tint
If it's a sheer wash off colour that your require that lends a healthy-looking gleam to the skin, then YSL Beauty's NU Bare Look Tint is one to try next. It's also very hydrating, without being greasy.
20. Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
Over the past few years, Hourglass has fast become a go-to for dewy skin but this tint from their veil range is truly diamond in it's crown. You can wear it in sheer layers come summer but it's an easy product to build with in the cooler months.
21. Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturiser
Cool girl beauty brand Saie's tinted moisturiser is a perfect balance between skincare and natural coverage. Infused with vitamins A and C along with hyaluronic acid finished of with sprinkling of SPF 35 - a summer dream.
22. Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint
Chanel's alternative to thick, full coverage foundations is a weightless serum-like base product which provides a subtle tint of colour and plenty of fresh-faced radiance.
23. MAC Cosmetics Strobe Dewy Skin Tint Moisturiser
Those who lean into a dewy finish and 'no makeup-makeup' looks will love MAC's latest base product. The silky gel texture melts onto skin delivering hydration and light (but buildable) coverage.
This story was previously published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Up Next: The Cult Moisturisers Rosie HW, Victoria Beckham and J.Lo Actually Use
-
I've Studied Daisy Edgar-Jones' Effortless Makeup Routine—12 Products I Know for Sure That She Uses
I did the research.
By Eleanor Vousden
-
I'm a Beauty Editor—These Are the Luxury Products I Really Rate for Autumn
Totally worth the splurge.
By Grace Lindsay
-
6 Small Yet Extremely Glossy Beauty Trends I’m Seeing Nonstop This Autumn
If you want to look polished, right this way...
By Grace Lindsay
-
I've Tried Over 20 Cream Blushers, But Nothing Compares to This One
The final boss of blush.
By Eleanor Vousden
-
This Makeup Product Is Often Overlooked, But It's My Secret to Dewy, Glowy Skin
I won't leave the house without it.
By Grace Lindsay
-
Reviewing Blusher Sticks Is a Personal Hobby of Mine—These 7 Give the Dewiest Finish
Trust me: I've tried them all.
By Grace Lindsay
-
I Swear By Beauty Pie Products—9 That Are Just as Good as These Luxury Formulas
If not better.
By Eleanor Vousden
-
Turns Out I've Been Applying My Eyeshadow All Wrong—a Makeup Artist Told Me How It's Really Done
An easy step-by-step guide.
By Grace Lindsay