The 9 Very Best Tinted Moisturizers

Ingredients: Macadamia and kukui-seed oils, tamarind-seed extracts, SPF 30 | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 20 shades

The first time I tried Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer, I was working at Nordstrom as a web-order fulfiller and spending most of my shift lurking around the cosmetics floor. One of the Laura Mercier reps turned me on to the product after I commented on her flawless, glowy skin. She pumped a few squirts into a sample tube for me to take home, and the rest is history. In the time since, it has been my go-to for special occasions and days when I want a more-even overall look. The “walnut” shade is a near-perfect match for my skin, the finish is natural and not overly dewy, and it never causes irritation.

The creamy, lightweight formula is also beloved by makeup artists. Rio wrote about it back in 2019, and three of the experts we spoke to raved about it. “Laura Mercier is usually what most people think of when it comes to tinted moisturizer,” the late makeup artist AJ Crimson once told me. “It’s a classic and I almost feel like LM invented the tinted moisturizer.” Makeup artist Lindsay Kastuk has been using it personally her whole life and likes that it’s a fairly substantial formula for a tinted moisturizer but “blends into your skin a little better” than a full-on foundation. And makeup artist Jamie Greenberg notes that just a dime-size amount “gives the perfect amount of daytime coverage” by taking the edge off any dark marks, redness, and under-eye bags and making her skin look like it has nothing on it at all. It’s also “the only makeup I’ve ever felt comfortable putting over eczema flare-ups,” she says, adding that it doesn’t stick or cling to any dry patches, likely thanks to the macadamia and kukui seed oils — which allegedly have skin-replenishing and hydrating properties — that it contains. The latest version is formulated with SPF 30.

Experts we’ve spoken to say that Laura Mercier works with all skin types and tones. It comes in 20 different shades, as well as an oil-free version, which I’m a fan of. “Oil-free is great for people that have oily skin,” says Greenberg. “Usually you can find a tinted moisturizer that’s perfect for your skin type: If you’re looking for a more blurred, matte skin look — oil-free is the way to go. But if you prefer a more ‘dewy’ look (great for people with drier skin), Laura Mercier’s original formula is perfect.” Just note that the oil-free formula has a slightly lower SPF of 20.

Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalane, SPF 40 | Finish: Radiant | Shade range: 30 shades

Three of the experts we spoke with name-dropped Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint. Just like the name suggests, it’s a tinted moisturizer with a lot of skin-care benefits. “It’s a combination of skin care, SPF, and coverage that makes Ilia a triple threat and first of a kind for its formula,” says makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran. It’s infused with plant-based squalane, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and mineral SPF 40 — the highest sun protection on this list. The point of tinted moisturizer is that it’s lightweight, but Jaikaran says this one “feels super thin and light —essentially a veil of coverage.” Makeup artist Rose Siard loves the way it blurs imperfections: “It’s less pigmented and melts into the skin seamlessly,” she says. It comes in 30 different shades, which celebrity makeup artist Jonet Williamson says “are flexible and take a minute to adjust after applying.” She recommends going one shade lighter than you normally would.

Ingredients: Vitamin C, French Polynesian kopara, SPF 30 | Finish: Radiant | Shade range: 16 shades

NARS’s Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is another classic, but it’s now available in more shades to support more skin tones and skin types. Makeup artist Mollie Gloss has been using Pure Radiant for over a decade now, “and it’s still my go-to for myself and what I recommend the most to people,” she says. She likes that it has a medium coverage that can build to full if you layer it on but that the finish is still “really smoothing, really hydrating, and just looks gorgeous and easy on the skin.” The oil-free formula contains vitamin C to help with brightness and even out the skin tone, so it’s going to “get rid of any redness and discoloration while still feeling light on the skin,” says makeup artist Emma Elizabeth, adding that its natural satin finish makes it especially suited “for people that are oily or sweaty or tend to look shiny around three o’clock.”

Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, SPF 30 | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 20 shades

Elizabeth first discovered this BareMinerals tinted moisturizer while working at Sephora and likes it because it is super-easy to blend: “It looks best when you use your fingers — no brush or sponge needed.” She says it gives the skin a dewy, glowy appearance without looking wet. Williamson loves the “whipped-cream texture,” which goes on “like butter and melts into the skin, giving light-to-medium coverage.” She says it works great on all skin types, but those with dry skin might see an extra boost from the hyaluronic acid in the formula. And while it’s oil-free, it will still leave you with a healthy-looking glow — though Williamson recommends that people with oily skin set their T-zone with translucent powder just to avoid any extra dewiness.

Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, niacinamide, vitamin E, tiger grass, safflower oil, avocado oil | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 20 shades

Packed with hydrating skin-care ingredients, Summer Fridays’ skin tint is perfect for those whose skin is prone to irritation. “My best friend uses it and loves it. She has rosacea, and her skin is extremely sensitive,” says Kastuk. “Rosacea can flare up really quickly and be very painful, so that says a lot.” Plus the lightweight, sheer formula won’t sit on the skin and exacerbate any issues, adds Gloss: “It feels like a tinted skin-care product in its truest sense. It’s really nourishing, but it doesn’t feel oily.”

Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe water | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 7 shades

This Clinique tinted moisturizer with SPF is Greenberg’s pick for mature skin. She likes it because it’s not drying and has a semi-matte finish. It’s made with hyaluronic acid and activated aloe water, which the brand claims will keep the skin hydrated for up to 12 hours. “It stays in place once applied and doesn’t get caught up in fine lines, which would cause a creasing look or emphasize wrinkles,” says Greenberg. “It still looks breathable, dewy, and youthful.”

Ingredients: Baobab-seed extract, hibiscus extract, pumpkin-seed extract | Finish: Natural | Shade range: 6 shades

Ami Colē’s skin tint comes in six flexible shades that work with a variety of skin tones. “This formula is so creamy yet lightweight,” says Jaikaran. “The effect is ‘my skin but better,’ in terms of coverage. It’s light but you can get a different finish based on the tools you use.” It’s packed with ingredients like pumpkin seed extract, hibiscus flower extract, and baobab seed extract, which is why Jaikaran says it’s a great option for people with normal to dry skin. It’s something you can wear all day. She says the formula doesn’t oxidize and sits well on the skin.