We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping People Tested The 11 Best Tinted Moisturizers of 2024, Tested by Real People Coverage you don't have to sacrifice hydration for — starting at just $15 By Madison Yauger Madison Yauger Madison Yauger is a shopping editor at PEOPLE.com with eight years of digital media and journalism experience. She has a penchant for lifestyle content with a focus on staples like cozy throw blankets, chic dog jackets, Away luggage, and the linen pants celebrities can’t stop wearing. People Editorial Guidelines and Neha Tandon Neha Tandon Neha is an Editor at People where she edits and writes shopping stories that cover everything from Amazon fashion deals to celebrity beauty tricks. She has over ten years of experience working in media, and seven years of experience as an editor. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 5, 2024 05:15AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Add to Cart What to Know Behind the Scenes Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Tamara Staples Whether it's the dead of summer and too hot for classic foundation, or you just want your makeup to have a lighter feel, tinted moisturizer can give you good coverage while keeping your skin fresh and hydrated. (Better yet, some of them even include SPF.) Experts Say "Tinted moisturizers are great for those who want balanced skin coverage and hydration all in one," celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin tells PEOPLE. "These tend to not give you as much coverage as a traditional foundation, but just enough for everyday wear." Over the past two years, we have tested 36 of the most popular drugstore and high-end tinted moisturizers on the market. We compared each product and considered how hydrating they were, what the coverage and pigmentation were like, and how the product felt on the skin. We also assessed the shade range of each product, since it requires a close skin tone match. Of all the tinted moisturizers that PEOPLE tested, these 11 were considered the best of the best. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen at Sephora $30 Jump to Review Best Overall, Runner-Up: Tarte Maracuja Tinted Hydrator at Sephora $18 Jump to Review Best with SPF: PÜR 4-in-1Tinted Moisturizer at Amazon $36 Jump to Review Best Sheer: Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator Tinted Moisturizer at Amazon $44 Jump to Review Best for Mature Skin: beautyblender 12-Hour Always on Radiant Skin Tint at Sephora $15 Jump to Review Best for Deep Skin Tones: Ami Colé Skin-Enhancing Tint at Amazon $32 Jump to Review Best for Dry Skin: Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint at Amazon $50 Jump to Review Best for Redness: SALE Cover FX Radiant Start Tinted Moisturizer at Amazon $40 $26 Jump to Review Best Matte Finish: Fenty Beauty Blurring Skin Tint at Amazon $52 Jump to Review Best Dewy Finish: Mac Cosmetics Strobe Dewy Skin Tint at Ulta $38 Jump to Review Best Overall Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen $30 at Sephora View on Rarebeauty.com $30 at Kohls.com Star Qualities Layers nicely with other makeup Suited for long hours of wear without oxidizing Tester didn’t experience breakouts while using this Red Flags Settled into some fine lines around the eyes after several hours Coverage may fade if you have oily skin A good tinted moisturizer should be lightweight, feel smooth and creamy on the skin, and provide a hint of coverage while letting your natural texture show through. Our favorite from Rare Beauty hit each of these marks and earned a near-perfect score during testing — even on dry, oily, and acne-prone skin. This tinted moisturizer initially has a matte finish and, upon absorption, offered a dewy glow that didn't look greasy, even on oily skin. Its lightweight consistency allowed us to easily layer concealer and liquid blush on top of it, which made it a great base for our everyday makeup. While our tester is acne-prone, they didn’t experience any breakouts while trying out this formula — plus, it was buildable enough to cover our acne scars and dark circles. However, this may not be the best option for those with mature skin, as it did settle into some lines around the eyes. Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 24 | Consistency: Liquid, light | Finish: Dew glow | SPF: 20 | Best For: All skin types PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao Best Overall, Runner-Up Tarte Maracuja Tinted Hydrator PHOTO: Ulta $18 at Sephora $35 at Walmart $34 at Ulta Star Qualities Feels lightweight, even when multiple layers are applied Contains hydrating ingredients, so you may not need a moisturizer underneath Doesn’t look greasy Red Flags Has a tacky texture upon first application Doesn’t contain SPF This tinted moisturizer creates medium to full coverage, covers up redness, and has a luminous finish. We love how it provides moisture with hyaluronic acid and maracuja oil without making the skin look greasy. When applying the moisturizer, the thick texture can feel a bit tacky in some areas, but for the most part, it blends easily. One of our testers blended this with their SPF, which made the texture easier to work with. When wearing many layers of this product, it didn’t cake at all, and it smoothed nicely over pores. Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 20 | Consistency: Creamy, thick | Finish: Radiant, dewy | SPF: N/A | Best For: All skin types PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao Best with SPF PÜR 4-in-1Tinted Moisturizer PHOTO: Amazon $36 at Amazon $36 at Ulta $36 at QVC Star Qualities Didn’t cause breakouts, even on sensitive and acne-prone skin Shea butter formula made it extremely hydrating Skin-loving ingredients provide a natural finish Red Flags May be too dewy for oily skin For those with sensitive skin, PÜR’s 4-in-1 Tinted Moisturizer is fragrance-free and made with mineral SPF rather than chemical, which has a tendency to cause irritation. It has a high-quality, lightweight formula that spreads smoothly across the skin. We loved how natural this product looked and how comfortable it felt after more than eight hours of wear. The addition of SPF eliminates the need for an extra step, especially given how hydrating the formula is. While it’s a bit more expensive, it also contains almost twice the amount of product than some others on our list. We also love that it contains a lot of natural ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, and flower extracts, but people with oily skin might find it feels too heavy. Sizes: 1.7 oz. | Shades: 24 | Consistency: Creamy, light | Finish: Dewy, radiant | SPF: 20 | Best For: Dry or combination skin types PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida The More You Know While both a BB cream and a tinted moisturizer provide sheer coverage and even your skin tone, a tinted moisturizer does not contain additional skincare benefits, like the anti-aging ingredients that are found in a BB cream. A CC cream can be used in place of a BB cream on days that you need more "color correction," as it offers more coverage than a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream. The 10 Best CC Creams of 2024, Tested by Real People Best Sheer Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator Tinted Moisturizer PHOTO: Sephora $44 at Amazon $44 at Target $44 at Nordstrom Star Qualities Contains SPF Lightweight, hydrating formula Natural finish gave us a dewy, luminous glow Red Flags Shade range is very limited If you want just a hint of coverage, this barely-there tinted moisturizer from Clinique is a good choice. Our team thought it would make the ideal product for running errands or heading to the beach. It's super sheer and lightweight, so it gives a bit of coverage while providing the skin with nourishing moisture. Despite the sheer formula, this product did blur some of our dark spots and left a glowy natural finish behind. There isn't a huge range of shades, but on the other hand, this moisturizer does have sun protection in the form of SPF 25, which we love. Sizes: 1.3 oz. | Shades: 7 | Consistency: Liquid | Finish: Natural | SPF: 25 | Best For: All skin types PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples Best for Mature Skin beautyblender 12-Hour Always on Radiant Skin Tint PHOTO: Sephora $15 at Sephora View on Beautyblender.com $29 at Kohls.com Star Qualities Wore well under makeup Didn't require setting powder Improved the look of pores, dullness, and discoloration Red Flags Difficult to get the product out of the dropper applicator Felt more like a foundation than a moisturizer We loved the way this product smoothed our texture and corrected our tone. The formula felt super hydrating on our skin thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which also helped to control excess oil production throughout the day. It didn't look or feel cakey on our skin — in fact, it was easy to layer more makeup on top without any creasing or settling into fine lines — a huge perk for those with mature skin. Despite its thin, liquid formula and hydrating ingredients, the moisturizer has a smooth, powder-like finish that has a blurring effect on the skin and feels more like a foundation than a moisturizer. The product comes in a glass jar with a dropper, so it is sometimes difficult to control the amount of product that comes out. Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 20 | Consistency: Liquid | Finish: Natural | SPF: N/A | Best For: All skin types PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao Experts Say Tinted moisturizers are “also fantastic for more mature skin as the coverage tends to be lighter and, obviously, full of more moisture, therefore they don’t pool into fine lines or wrinkles as prominently as a traditional foundation,” celebrity makeup artist Katie Mellinger tells PEOPLE. The Best Makeup for Older Women of 2024, Tested by Real Women Best for Deep Skin Tones Ami Colé Skin-Enhancing Tint PHOTO: Sephora $32 at Amazon $32 at Sephora View on Amicole.com Star Qualities Has a blurring, airbrushed effect on fine lines and wrinkles Absorbs well, which allows skin to breathe Formula blends and spreads into skin just as easily as moisturizer Red Flags Hard to build coverage It’s no secret that the beauty industry has a long way to go when it comes to inclusivity. This Ami Colé tinted moisturizer was made to cater to a wide range of skin tones, so you have a high chance of finding your shade match if you have deeper skin. During testing, we appreciated the blurring, airbrushed look this gave the skin and that it dried quickly. Once applied, it felt like a second skin. Like any moisturizer, this product is super easy to blend. Though it is mostly sheer, it is still good at blurring pores and lines. We suggest pairing this product with another SPF product for sun protection since this one doesn’t have any. It’s so lightweight that you can easily layer concealer on top of it if you’d like more coverage. Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 6 | Consistency: Cream | Finish: Satin | SPF: No | Best For: All skin types PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao Best for Dry Skin Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint PHOTO: Sephora $50 at Amazon $28 at Sephora $50 $41 at Walmart Star Qualities Absorbs very quickly No product transfer Natural finish is great for daily makeup Red Flags Formula is sheer, so you won't be able to cover dark spots or breakouts The ultra-popular Glossier tinted moisturizer is lightweight and feels like a second skin. It didn't feel like the product was sitting on top of our skin, but instead provided deep levels of hydration with a light layer of coverage. It contains glycerin and castor oil to hydrate the skin, while diamond powder helps to blur and minimize the look of pores. Despite the formula’s thin consistency, it deeply moisturized our skin, even compared to some of the thicker moisturizers on this list. This product won’t cover hyperpigmentation or acne, but we loved that the light feel and natural look on our skin make it easy to layer more product on top. Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 12 | Consistency: Sheer, light | Finish: Dewy | SPF: No | Best For: Combination, dry PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao Best for Redness Cover FX Radiant Start Tinted Moisturizer PHOTO: Cover FX $40 $26 at Amazon View on Coverfx.com Star Qualities Light, buildable coverage Evens skin tone, cancels redness, and diminishes fine lines Hydrating formula leaves skin luminous and plump Red Flags Thick texture makes it easy to use too much A little goes a long way when it comes to this radiant skin perfecter from Cover FX. Its ultra-creamy formula was easy to blend into our skin with just our fingers and it layered well with the rest of our makeup — never pilling up nor becoming cakey throughout the day. Just be sure to use one pump of the product, as it felt a little too heavy on our skin when we used more. The hydrating moisturizer was a great option for dry skin and rosacea, covering our redness with a light wash of color, all without clinging to dry spots or settling into fine lines. This formula is another great option for mature skin because of its plumping properties, which not only help the skin look and feel more hydrated, but diminish the appearance of fine lines, too. Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 8 | Consistency: Cream | Finish: Radiant | SPF: None | Best For: All skin types People / Alyssa Brascia Best Matte Finish Fenty Beauty Blurring Skin Tint PHOTO: Sephora $52 at Amazon $36 at Sephora $36 at Ulta Star Qualities Didn't oxidize, even on oily skin Leaves a non-cakey matte finish Red Flags Became a bit shiny throughout the day Formula clings to dry patches Products with a matte finish get a bad rep for feeling heavy or cakey, but Fenty’s lightweight tinted moisturizer offers buildable coverage without the weight. Its liquid formula blended easily and didn't settle into fine lines or creases. The product never felt tacky, instead absorbing into the skin and drying down quickly. The product is best for oily or combination skin types, but it also contains a small dose of glycerin, so it doesn't overly dry the skin. During testing, we noticed this could cling to dry patches and turn a bit shiny throughout the day, so it may not be best for dry skin types. You also don't get SPF with this one, so you’ll want to make sure to layer some sun protection underneath. Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 25 | Consistency: Liquid | Finish: Matte | SPF: No | Best For: Oily, combination skin PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao Best Dewy Finish Mac Cosmetics Strobe Dewy Skin Tint PHOTO: MAC Cosmetics $38 at Ulta View on Maccosmetics.com $38 at Macy's Star Qualities Hydrating formula offered all-day nourishment Thin, buildable consistency Left a luminous finish on our skin Red Flags May be too intense for people with oily skin We achieved a lit-from-within glow with this radiant tinted moisturizer from Mac Cosmetics. Its formula, packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, shea butter, and squalane offered our skin all-day hydration, even during days spent in the stale office air. We liked that this moisturizer felt almost as thin as a serum, which allowed our skin to breathe without oxidizing the pigment. While it's no full-coverage foundation, this tint did help camouflage any blemishes, dark spots, and redness that we had, and it layered well with our other miscellaneous face makeup products. One of the best parts: this moisturizer even has blue-light protection, which shields your skin from the screens we stare at all day. Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 14 | Consistency: Cream | Finish: Radiant | SPF: None | Best For: All skin types People / Alyssa Brascia Best for Sensitive Skin Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted Sunscreen PHOTO: Sephora $32 at Sephora $30 at Credo Beauty View on Tower28beauty.com Star Qualities Feels like a moisturizer while also providing sun protection Provides medium to full coverage with a natural finish Formula approved by the National Eczema Association Red Flags May feel thick on the skin at first If you have sensitive skin, trying out new face makeup can be daunting — but this smooth formula from Tower 28 is a gentle enough to earn approval from the National Eczema Association and is safe for acne-prone skin. Though it may heavy at first, we loved how lightweight this felt on the skin once it set. While most tinted moisturizers are good for daily use, we would even wear this for a night out because of how nice the coverage looks and feels. A lot of products that have SPF can often leave a white cast on the skin, but we found this actually gave the skin a healthy, bronzed glow — even though it has a higher-than-average SPF of 30. The formula contains aloe vera and prickly pear to soothe the skin while also helping to repair and soften it on a deeper level. Sizes: 1 oz. | Shades: 17 | Consistency: Cream | Finish: Natural | SPF: 30 | Best For: All skin types PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao Add to Cart While you're shopping for a tinted moisturizer, you might want to also add one of these other PEOPLE-Tested products loved by our editors. Our recommended picks go through rigorous testing from both our editors and independent testers. PÜR 4-in-1Tinted Moisturizer $36 at Amazon $36 at Ulta $36 at QVC Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield $69 at Amazon $69 at Nordstrom $69 $37 at Walmart Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation $43 at Sephora View on Dior.com View on Harrods.com Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops $38 at Amazon $38 at Sephora $38 at Ulta What to Know About Tinted Moisturizer Skin Type Your skin type will determine what kind of features you should look for when it comes to buying tinted moisturizers. "Think about the kind of coverage you want first, and then consider the best formulation for your skin type," says Martin. "This is important because it allows you to understand how well it'll wear on the skin during the day and evening." Since there's additional hydration with this kind of makeup, you should consider buying a sheer, oil-free moisturizer if your skin type leans toward oily. With drier skin, you might try a thicker moisturizer for dry skin that acts as a barrier to keep moisture locked in. Combination skin types have a little more flexibility, so a medium-coverage moisturizer in a dewy or matte finish could work equally well. SPF Content Using tinted moisturizer is a great way to save time in your morning routine because it allows you to use fewer products — and if SPF is included, that's another step you can skip. If you can find a tinted moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or more, you'll have that extra layer of insurance to keep your skin looking and feeling its best. The 15 Best Makeup with SPF of 2024, Tested by Real People Shade Range As beauty influencers have pointed out, some makeup brands, like Bobbi Brown with her Jones Road product line, have succeeded in being truly inclusive with shade ranges, while others have not. Tinted moisturizers aren't as pigmented as classic foundations since they work to even out your natural skin tone rather than cover it completely. So, you'll need a closer shade match. If you don't want to have to mix shades together to get a perfect match, look for brands that highlight inclusivity through a wide (read: more than 10 to 15) range of shades. Behind the Scenes We worked our way through 36 of the most popular tinted moisturizers (drugstore and designer) that you can buy. After trying each makeup on our freshly washed faces, we evaluated them for feel, hydration, and coverage while making note of shade range availability. Feel and Absorption: We blended the moisturizer into our skin, considering how each felt (creamy, sheer, hydrating, greasy, etc.). Products that felt lighter on the skin earned a higher score than those that felt heavier or more like a foundation.Hydration: We also looked at the hydration of each moisturizer to determine if it was hydrating enough to act as a standalone or if traditional moisturizer should be used underneath.Coverage: After blending the moisturizers, we judged the appearance of our complexions and whether the makeup made any difference in coverage.Shade Range: We also considered shade ranges, whether there were enough options to be truly inclusive, and how easy it would be to find a skin tone match using the names and images of each tint. We ranked each product and narrowed it down to the top 10 tinted moisturizers that delivered in all the key areas. People / Tamara Staples Why Trust PEOPLE? Madison Yauger is a commerce editor at PEOPLE, covering beauty, home, travel, and other lifestyle topics. For this article, she compared products based on price, feel, function, shade range, depth of tint, moisturizing effects, coverage, pigmentation, and feel. Neha Tandon is a beauty editor and writer with a background that includes skincare and makeup for publications like Harper’s Bazaar, New York Magazine, Forbes, Women’s Health, Glamour, and more. Neha updated this article with fresh insights from our most recent tinted moisturizers product test. Our Expert Panel Daniel Martin is a celebrity makeup artist and Global Director of Artistry & Education at Tatcha. Katie Mellinger is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Sofia Coppola, Emma Watson, and Chloë Sevigny. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase. The 13 Best Face Moisturizers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed