The 7 best tinted moisturizers for sheer, natural coverage

Key takeaways

• A tinted moisturizer gives sheer coverage and hydration in one step. Some include sunscreen and some don’t, so check the label.

• Our top pick is bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer: broad-spectrum mineral SPF 30, hyaluronic acid and squalane, in 20 shades for $39.50.

• For sensitive skin, Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted SPF 30 is fragrance-free and carries the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

• For a skincare-first tint, The SUPER Tinted Hydrator from U Beauty pairs sheer color with five types of hyaluronic acid and peptides, worn over your sunscreen.

• Most people don’t apply enough tinted product to get the SPF on the label, so Cleveland Clinic suggests wearing a separate sunscreen underneath.

Tinted moisturizer, skin tint or foundation?

A tinted moisturizer is a moisturizer with a little pigment. It evens out the look of skin without the fuller coverage of foundation, and many now blur the line with skin tints and tinted sunscreens. The main thing to check is whether yours has SPF, because that changes how you use it.

If it does, there’s a catch. Cleveland Clinic says the SPF in makeup “probably isn’t enough,” because most people apply far less than the amount used in testing, so “at best you’re probably getting about half the protection you think.” Its advice is to wear a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 under your makeup.

Tint does add something, though. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains that tinted sunscreens contain iron oxide, which “research shows helps to protect people’s skin from visible light,” and recommends a broad-spectrum tinted sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher for people who want that protection. In a 2014 randomized trial of 68 people with melasma who were all using 4% hydroquinone, those given an iron oxide sunscreen saw greater improvement after eight weeks than those given a UV-only sunscreen.

We compared each product on its published ingredient list, not on hands-on testing. We looked at whether it has SPF and what kind, its skincare ingredients, the shade range, whether fragrance is listed, and the price.

1. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer: best overall

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid and Mineral SPF 30 is a hydrating tinted moisturizer with broad-spectrum mineral SPF 30 from titanium dioxide, plus hyaluronic acid, squalane and trehalose. bareMinerals reports that it boosted skin hydration by 215% in one week in a clinical study of 36 people.

Key features:

• Mineral SPF 30. It’s broad spectrum, with titanium dioxide as the active ingredient.

• Hydrating base. Hyaluronic acid and squalane are in the formula.

• 20 shades. It’s one of the wider ranges here.

Tradeoff: bareMinerals says it’s formulated without synthetic fragrance, which isn’t the same as fragrance-free, though no fragrance is listed.

Best for: dry and combination skin that wants one step with mineral SPF.

Price: $39.50 for 1.18 oz.

2. Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted SPF 30: best for sensitive skin

Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted SPF 30 is a tinted mineral sunscreen with 12.6% zinc oxide, aloe and prickly pear. Tower 28 labels it fragrance-free, essential oil-free and non-comedogenic, and says it’s the first complexion makeup product to earn the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

Key features:

• Broad-spectrum mineral SPF 30. Zinc oxide is the only active ingredient.

• Made for sensitive skin. Tower 28 says it’s clinically tested for irritation.

• Buildable coverage. Tower 28 describes light to medium coverage with a natural finish.

Tradeoff: it’s a sunscreen first, with fewer hydrating extras than the moisturizer-style picks here.

Best for: sensitive or eczema-prone skin that wants tint and sun protection together.

Price: $32 for 1 oz.

3. U Beauty The SUPER Tinted Hydrator: best skincare-first tint

The SUPER Tinted Hydrator is U Beauty’s tinted moisturizer, and U Beauty calls it “enhanced skincare, not makeup.” It pairs sheer color with a multimolecular complex of 5 types of hyaluronic acid, peptides, squalane and argan, avocado and grapeseed oils, all powered by proprietary SIREN Capsule Technology™. U Beauty describes the finish as sheer coverage with a dewy airbrush finish.

Key features:

• Skincare under the tint. The formula combines the benefits of a hydrating moisturizer and a sheer tint in one step.

• 11 shades. U Beauty says each shade flexibly fits a spectrum of 2 to 3 skin tones.

• Published study figures. In a 30-volunteer consumer perception study after 30 days of once-daily use, 93% agreed their skin looked visibly evened and smoothed.

Tradeoff: it doesn’t contain SPF, so wear it over your sunscreen during the day. It also contains a fragrance ingredient, methyldihydrojasmonate.

Best for: people who want a sheer, dewy tint that doubles as a moisturizer, layered over sunscreen.

Price: $108 for 30 ml.

4. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Dewy SPF 30: best dewy finish

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Dewy SPF 30 combines hybrid sun filters (octisalate, octocrylene, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) with hyaluronic acid and prebiotics. Laura Mercier describes sheer to light coverage with a dewy finish and reports that 97% of 30 panelists agreed their skin looked dewy for 24 hours in a consumer study.

Key features:

• SPF 30. It uses a mix of mineral and chemical filters.

• Fragrance-free. Laura Mercier labels it fragrance-free.

• 20 shades. The range runs from very fair to rich deep.

Tradeoff: at $50 it has the highest price tag of the SPF picks here.

Best for: dry or dull-looking skin that wants a dewy finish with sun protection.

Price: $50 for 45 ml.

5. MERIT The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45: highest SPF

MERIT The Uniform is a tinted mineral sunscreen with about 15% zinc oxide and broad-spectrum SPF 45, the highest SPF on this list. MERIT describes sheer coverage with a natural, soft-focus finish and says it’s non-comedogenic, oil-free and made without silicones.

Key features:

• Broad-spectrum SPF 45. It carries the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation.

• 20 shades. The same formula runs across every shade.

• Oil-free. It suits combination and oily skin.

Tradeoff: it’s sunscreen-first, with few hydrating ingredients, so dry skin may want a moisturizer underneath.

Best for: people who want the most sun protection from their tint.

Price: $38.

6. Saie Slip Tint Tinted Moisturizer: best clean-label pick

Saie Slip Tint is a tinted moisturizer with SPF 35 from 15% non-nano zinc oxide, plus hyaluronic acid, argan oil and licorice root extract. Saie says it’s free of natural and synthetic fragrance, essential oils and silicones, and describes sheer shades for a no-makeup look.

Key features:

• Mineral SPF 35. Zinc oxide is the only active ingredient.

• Fragrance-free. Saie says it’s made without natural or synthetic fragrance.

• 14 shades. Saie suggests one to two pumps blended with your fingertips.

Tradeoff: coverage is very sheer, so it won’t do much for visible redness or dark spots.

Best for: people who want a sheer mineral tint with a short, silicone-free formula.

Price: $38 for 40 ml.

7. Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint: best budget pick

Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint is a very sheer, ultra-thin tint with glycerin and diamond powder. Glossier calls it “an undetectable wash of color” that won’t hide your freckles, and says it’s formulated without fragrance and non-comedogenic.

Key features:

• Among the sheerest tints here. It evens the look of skin while letting it show through.

• 12 shades. Glossier describes them as super sheer.

• Formulated without fragrance. Glossier says so on the product page.

Tradeoff: it has no SPF, and its base is silicone-heavy and also contains alcohol, which may not suit very dry skin.

Best for: people who want the lightest possible tint over their own sunscreen.

Price: $30 for 1 fl oz.

How to wear a tinted moisturizer

• Apply it last in your skincare. Put it on after serums and moisturizer. Our guide to skincare routine order shows where each step goes.

• Wear sunscreen underneath. Even if your tint has SPF, Cleveland Clinic suggests a separate sunscreen of at least SPF 30, because most people don’t apply enough tinted product to get the full rating.

• Pick a tinted sunscreen if you’re prone to dark spots. The AAD recommends a broad-spectrum tinted sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, since its iron oxide helps protect against visible light.

• Build coverage in thin layers. Fingertips give the sheerest finish, and a damp sponge or brush adds a little more.

• Match the tint to your skin type. Oily skin tends to do better with an oil-free formula, and our list of moisturizers for oily skin covers what to layer underneath.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation?

Yes, if you want sheer coverage. A tinted moisturizer evens the look of skin but won’t cover as much as foundation, so it suits people who want a lighter, more natural look.

Is the SPF in a tinted moisturizer enough?

Usually not on its own. Cleveland Clinic says that because most people apply too little, at best they’re probably getting about half the protection on the label, so it recommends wearing a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 underneath.

What is the best tinted moisturizer with SPF?

Our top pick is bareMinerals Complexion Rescue, with broad-spectrum mineral SPF 30. Tower 28 SunnyDays is our pick for sensitive skin, and MERIT The Uniform has the highest SPF on this list, at SPF 45.

Is tinted moisturizer good for mature skin?

It can be. A hydrating, dewy formula tends to sit more comfortably on dry skin than a matte foundation. Laura Mercier and The SUPER Tinted Hydrator both describe dewy finishes.

What’s the difference between a skin tint and a tinted moisturizer?

The terms overlap. Skin tints are often thinner and sheerer, like Glossier’s, while tinted moisturizers usually have more hydrating ingredients. Check the label for SPF either way.