NYC is in the middle of a heat wave—it’s the type of weather that makes you feel like you’re in immediate need of a shower. On these hellish days, I usually skip foundation and opt for a skin tint instead. Unlike traditional foundations, skin tints—a.k.a. tinted moisturizers—provide a slight amount of coverage for a more natural finish. These products are basically a hybrid face-moisturizer-lightweight-foundation which means they infuse the face with skin-loving ingredients while still blurring the appearance of hyperpigmentation and blemishes. (FYI: This doesn’t mean you can skip your actual moisturizer—you still need to apply that on your face beforehand.) I consider skin tints the makeup equivalent of a nap dress; they feel super comfortable and you can always throw them on whenever you need a quick and casual look. Heavy foundations are like wearing a bra—a wave of relief comes over you when you take them off.
Finding just the right skin tint for your face isn’t easy, especially with all the options out on the market, so I put together a list of my faves to help you out. Below, the best skin tints for those no-makeup makeup days.
Vitamin Enriched Hydrating Skin Tint SPF 15
Hyaluronic acid and shea butter give this skin tint its lightweight consistency, while the combination of provitamin D, cactus flower, and vitamin E help support the skin’s barrier and protect it from environmental aggressors. You can apply a thin layer for a small hint of coverage or you can build it up for those days when you need something a little more extra. Regardless of which option you choose, this tint will stay put without slipping or sliding across your face.
Super Stay 24H Skin Tint + Vitamin C
I applied this skin tint at around 10 a.m. before I went to the US Open, and the coverage lasted through a day (and night) of tennis matches and withstood the sweltering humidity. The tint blends easily into the skin for a soft-focus blur and its super-thin consistency made it look like I skipped foundation altogether.
Skin-Enhancing Tint
This skin tint has a fluid consistency that leaves behind a natural, slightly dewy finish that doesn’t cling to dry patches. It’s also fortified with skin-loving ingredients like baobab seed extract, hibiscus flower extract, and pumpkin seed extract to soothe and hydrate skin.
Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35
Whether you apply it with your fingers or a brush, this hydrating skin tint blends seamlessly into skin. I’m serious—you can’t see it on your skin and it doesn’t settle into fine lines or pores. It also dries down to a natural finish that doesn’t make your face look shiny.
Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
This lightweight skin tint is super sheer but offers buildable coverage that does a great job evening out the complexion and minimizing the appearance of dark spots. It literally melts into your skin and doesn’t feel cakey at all.
Super Serum Skin Tint
TikTok loves this skin tint, and I’m here to let you know that yes, believe the hype—it is that good. The formula enhances your skin’s complexion, and it leaves your skin looking slightly dewy without feeling sticky. Plus it’s infused with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to help improve your texture even after you wash it off.
Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint
This skin tint’s formula is infused with teeny tiny pearlescent pigments that give the complexion a slightly shimmery finish without being too overpowering, and the whipped texture offers medium-to-full coverage that doesn’t weigh you down.
Neo Nude Tinted Moisturizer
This sheer, buildable foundation from Armani mimics a natural, dewy complexion so well it’s easy to forget that you even have anything on your face. It spreads onto skin feeling creamy and moisturizing—you can thank the hyaluronic acid and glycerin in the formula for that—before drying down to radiant finish.