Tinted moisturizers have to be the best skincare and makeup hybrid product the beauty industry has to offer. However, not all tinted moisturizers work for your skin, and picking out the perfect moisturizer can be quite confusing. To help you out, we put together the following guide:
What to Look For in a Tinted Moisturizer
SPF
Short for “Sun Protection Factor”, SPF determines how long a product can protect you from the harmful UV rays of the sun. SPF values for a product directly correlate to the time it can stay effective. Generally, an SPF value of 15 or higher is recommended by dermatologists as it allows you to stay in the sun the whole day without worrying about sunburn or other negative effects from sunlight.
Long-lasting
Tinted moisturizers are a quick alternative to most makeup foundations and should be as long-lasting as well. Generally, your tinted moisturizer should at least last you 14 hours before showing creases on the skin. Moreover, your tinted moisturizer should be sweat-proof so it doesn’t get smudged and destroyed by a couple of sweat droplets.
Ingredients
Tinted moisturizers are available in a plethora of ingredient combinations that satisfy different skin types. For people with sensitive skin, you should avoid tinted moisturizers with alcohol, paraben, or fragrances and rather opt for a water-based product that won’t irritate your skin. For acne-infected and oily skin, you should opt for a tinted moisturizer that has no traces of oil and is non-comedogenic, which doesn’t produce blackheads or fill up your pores. Similarly, for people troubled with dry skin, you can pick out a tinted moisturizer with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, and avocado.
Coverage
Tinted moisturizers are known for providing less coverage than normal makeup and lacking the ability to completely cover prominent imperfections on your face. While most tinted moisturizers provide sheer coverage for your skin, you can always pick out a moisturizer that offers medium coverage. Medium coverage allows you to cover up prominent imperfections and blemishes, evening out your skin tone and making it look flawless.
BB Creams and Tinted Moisturizers
Blemish balms are quite similar to tinted moisturizers, however, their purpose is still quite different. They are an all-in-one beauty product that acts as a primer, moisturizer, and even as coverage for your skin. A tinted moisturizer on the other hand is keener on keeping your skin hydrated and less eager to provide much coverage. It has less pigment as compared to BB creams and looks less like an actual foundation. However, other than the difference in coverage and hydration, both the products feature similar properties.
Tinted Moisturizers vs Foundation
The outcome of the battle between tinted moisturizers and foundation depends on the sort of makeup look you’re aiming for. For a laid-back, dewy, and natural look, a tinted moisturizer may be your best bet as it contains less pigment. However, if you’re willing to cover up large imperfections and hyperpigmentations, a foundation may be necessary. Moreover, tinted moisturizers are quick and easy to apply, with just a couple of sprays or a pea-sized amount on your face, you can achieve the look you’re going for.
Tinted Moisturizers Coverage Types
While purchasing tinted moisturizers, you’d often be met with words like coverage and sheer which would scare you off. To understand simply, coverage is the intensity of pigment inside your tinted moisturizer. Sheer coverage is the lowest coverage type, offering a natural look and decreasing the contrast between your imperfections and skin tone. On the other hand, medium coverage helps in removing most blemishes and imperfections, making your skin look flawless and even. Lastly, a full coverage tinted moisturizer claims to completely hide all imperfections and cover your skin. While using full and medium coverage, you can apply different layers and even use a simple moisturizer to sheer it out a bit.
Applying a Tinted Moisturizer
To apply a tinted moisturizer, you should start off by taking a pea-sized amount and rubbing it over your face with your fingertips. There is no need to use any sponges or brushes to apply the product as fingertips work best to efficiently spread the tinted moisturizer all over your skin. Once finished, you would be left with a dewy and fresh look which can further be upgraded to a matte finish if you use a ‘sheer’ powder and lightly rub it over your face.
