Tinted moisturisers were big in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Everyone loved how fuss-free and multi-functional they were – you could replace your regular moisturiser, sunscreen and foundation with just one product – as well as its natural-looking coverage.
Then BB creams came along. Providing a higher coverage and promising extra skin benefits, women flocked to the new wunderkind. Who cared if it added an extra step to your regime? Soon the K-beauty wave swept the world, bringing with it the 10-step skincare regime and a myriad of other new products from cushion compacts to water lip tints.
As women’s routines got longer and longer, and makeup became more professional and polished, multi-functional beauty products unfortunately become lost in the mix.
But beauty trends, as with all things, come in waves. And in recent years, the natural, no-makeup makeup look came back as women started embracing their natural skin. I mean, didn’t we all love it when Meghan Markle kept her makeup so light that we could see her freckles clearly on her wedding day?
And slowly, all the reasons why we loved tinted moisturisers started flooding back. Their subtle finish that makes your skin look like you, but just better. The natural dewy glow they leave behind. And of course, how easy and fast they are to use.
What’s more, the new generation of tinted moisturisers are even more effective than their predecessors, often coming in a larger variety of shades, lighter textures and with more skincare benefits that will leave your complexion looking and feeling good.
Their improved formulas also mean little to no blending is needed, so it’ll get you out the door and off to work in a flash.
If you haven’t yet, then it’s definitely time to jump on the tinted moisturiser bandwagon. Check out the ones that we are loving now here. Trust us, they’re going to be your new beauty bestie.
Ilia’s Serum Skin Tint has a clean ingredient list and delivers ultra-lightweight coverage in a formula spiked with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and squalane—so your skin looks better even after you rinse it off.
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Fans of La Mer face cream will love this lightweight tint that works for all skin types—from oily to dry. Though there are only seven shades, the sheer finish is adaptable to many (but not all) skin tones.
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This tinted moisturiser is so much more than just that: it’s a full-coverage foundation, high-performance mineral sunscreen, and colour corrector all in one. This is our go-to skin product during the summer months when SPF protection is vital.
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This skin tint is more like a hydrating serum than a moisturiser, and we’re obsessed. The ultra-lightweight gel bursts with spheres of pigment to leave skin plump, dewy, and with just the right amount of coverage.
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A truly one-of-a-kind product, this tinted face oil intensely hydrates and leaves skin looking plump, dewy, and fresh while covering imperfections just like a traditional foundation. It’s best for combination or dry skin.
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Imagine if the most luxurious night cream you’d ever tried was tinted, loaded with tons of intense moisturisers, but somehow light enough to wear all day long. That’s what’s contained in this pretty pink lacquered pot. Opaque enough to camouflage dark marks but sheer enough to look like you’re nothing at all—in a good way.
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Fenty Beauty’s new-to-store, Eaze Drop is the holy grail you’ll want in your beauty stash especially if you’re looking for a tinted moisturiser that offers light-to-medium coverage and gives the illusion of a flawless yet natural, soft blur finish to the complexion.
Packed with the brand’s proprietary Quickblur Complex and sodium hyaluronate, you’ll be assured that Eaze Drop not only will your skin feel nourished and hydrated but will simultaneously diffuse the look of pores and wrinkles. Besides the fact that Eaze Drop boasts a seamlessly lightweight and non-comedogenic formula, the product is also available in 25 shades that are suitable for everyone with light to deep skin tones – and everything in between.
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If you want an illuminating glow, then this is for you. Formulated with a Healthy Glow Booster mineral pigment and light-reflecting powders, your complexion will appear smooth and will look radiant for up to 12 hours. Its ultra-fine, silky texture provides a satin finish, while the skin-loving formula – which includes the antioxidant Kalanchoe extract, a hyaluronic acid derivative, and SPF 25/PA++ – hydrates and protects the skin.
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If you’re looking for something that can prime, perfect, protect and hydrate the skin in one go, Smashbox’s Halo Healthy Glow All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer may be your calling. Said to last for up to 24 hours, it comes in six shades from fair to medium; acts as a great canvas for any dewy look; and is highly moisturising due to its medley of skin-loving ingredients like rose extract, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, goji berries, gold, and peptides.
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Unlike most tinted moisturisers that come bottled up, Stila’s latest alternative comes in a sleek compact. Working into skin much like a typical balm would, the sensitive skin-friendly balm is fortified with a combination of parabens-, sulphates- and phthalates-free ingredients like natural castor seed and safflower seed oils that lock in moisture; vitamins C and E to boost skin protection; and rice brand, rosemary leaf, camellia leaf and grape seed which boosts hydration while evening out skin tone. In addition to this, this travel-sized tinted moisturiser will also come in handy in providing you with buildable sheer-to-medium coverage.
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Non-comedogenic and paraben-free, this lightweight tinted moisturiser comes in two shades of Light and Natural and will provide seamless coverage to your complexion. On top of this, it doubles up as sunscreen ensuring that you’ll receive protection against sun damage and prevents pore congestion that can lead to breakouts and milia seed formation.
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This fan favourite was recently formulated to provide even more colour options (there are 20 now), a higher SPF protection level and a more hydrating formula. It has a lightweight texture that glides effortlessly over skin to give your complexion a fresh glow, and is infused with a cocktail of oils to protect against free radical damage, soften fine lines and provide up to 24-hours of hydration.
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If you’re someone who finds creams too heavy, then you’re going to love this. This weightless water-based gel moisturiser leaves a refreshing finish and gives light to medium coverage. Water-resistant and hydrating, it balances the complexion so you don’t have to worry about patchiness or your makeup fading throughout the day. It also has lavender and green tea extracts to sooth and protect sensitive complexions.
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Perfect for women who want a light, natural finish but slightly more coverage, this has a buildable formula that helps to even out skin tone and texture, as well as hide flaws. It’s infused with seawater to revitalise the complexion, Kopara extract to hydrate, as well as vitamin C to brighten skin.
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This article was first published in Female. Additional reporting: Harper’s Bazaar Singapore.