Okay, listen up: The truth is, tinted moisturizer isn’t bad for your skin, but using it the wrong way could be. One of the biggest mistakes you can make with tinted moisturizer is to allow it to replace the rest of your skin care routine. Think of tinted moisturizer as providing an extra dose of nourishment—not as something to stand in for your regular moisturizer. We’ve compared BB cream and tinted moisturizer a few times already, which may have you wondering if BB cream and tinted moisturizer are the same. The answer is a resounding no. A BB cream, also known as a beauty balm or a blemish balm, is a liquid makeup product that acts as an all-in-one essential, priming the skin, providing coverage, and offering a wide array of skin care benefits like hydration, sun protection, and shine control. So, what exactly is a tinted moisturiser? Halfway between a full-on foundation and a moisturiser, tinted moisturisers are an ideal option for those who prefer their make-up base to feel light. Many offer light to medium coverage in addition to numerous skincare benefits, but do need some extra help where blemishes, pigmentation or dry patches are concerned. But even then, when paired with a good concealer and an adept application technique, they still have the ability to transform your daily look.

I have a thing for multitasking products. Maybe it’s the freelancer in me. I mean, why do one thing when you can do two to three at the same time? It’s probably why I love tinted moisturisers so much. They help you on your way to even tone but also keep skin moisturised and glowy all day. id": "https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/beauty-tips/beauty-trends/what-is-tinted-moisturizer", id": "https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/makeup/face-makeup/difference-between-tinted-moisturizer-and-tinted-serum", If your skin is sensitive or prone to rosacea, you’ll know that dialing down the appearance of redness can be really difficult - especially if you don’t like the feeling of a heavy, full-coverage base. Enter Avene. Unlike some other products on this list which are really color cosmetics diluted with moisturizer, this is skincare first and foremost. The creamy formula means it feels like you’re applying a moisturizer and leaves the skin feeling immediately soothed and cooled. That's thanks to ingredients like TRP-Regulin, which reduces redness, dextran sulfate, which helps reduce sensitivity, and the brand’s signature thermal spring water to soothe.

Find in store

When you love makeup it can be exciting when product innovations hit the market. But it can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure what those products are best for and how they compare to your tried-and-true must-haves. With the recent addition of tinted serums to the face products category, you may have found yourself asking, what’s the difference between a tinted serum and tinted moisturizer ? Do you need both in your makeup bag? Is tinted serum better than tinted moisturizer, or vice versa? Well, the guessing stops here, because we’re explaining the difference between tinted moisturizer and tinted serum so that you can decide which is best for your daily skin care and makeup routine . If you find that a standard foundation feels too heavy and suffocating on your skin, you'll love this super breathable formula that still gives sufficient coverage without becoming cakey or dry. We also recommend this for those who love that dewy finish, as it glows all day long but won't separate or make you look too shiny. As low-key as beauty formulas come, this make-up bag essential can be swooshed on with either fingers or a brush – whichever you prefer – to take skin from sallow and uneven to dewy and healthy in a few seconds flat. In fact, the best tinted moisturisers rival even our most beloved foundations when it comes to results. id": "https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/makeup/face-makeup/tinted-moisturizers-glowy-skin", The L’Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum contains one percent hyaluronic acid to give skin a hydrated and smooth feel, while luminous pigments over light coverage and a brighter-looking complexion.

Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer and product tester specializing in cosmetics. For this story, she compiled notes from our lab testers, expert insights, and ingredients research to provide the most useful, accurate product recommendations to our readers. A big fan of hybrid formulas that simplify her beauty routine, she has tried several products on this list, including BareMinerals, Laura Mercier, Smashbox, Ilia, and Clinique. She combined her own insights with testing and interviewed the following expert for the story: In the past few years, the contents of our make-up bags has undeniably shifted. Full-coverage foundations and heavy-duty powders were once the standard, but now a host of lighter, dewier formulas that celebrate - not camouflage – our natural skin are reigning supreme. And at the heart of our new make-up routines? A great tinted moisturiser. Tinted moisturizers, on the other hand, can provide some of the same benefits, but their primary role is to hydrate while offering just a touch of coverage. Tinted moisturizers also typically have lighter formulas than BB creams—you can think of a BB cream as falling in-between tinted moisturizer and foundation in terms of coverage. CAN YOU USE TINTED MOISTURIZER INSTEAD OF FOUNDATION? Now, most tinted moisturizers on the market go far beyond providing just coverage and moisturization, with added SPF and active ingredients too. The concept of BB cream has dipped in popularity as a standalone concept too, creating one big category instead. Is tinted moisturizer better than foundation? Over the years, the lines between BB (originally “blemish balm”), CC (originally “color corrector”), and tinted moisturizers have become blurred with many different names providing the same things. But, originally, BB creams were higher in SPF and more concentrated in healing skincare ingredients.”BareMinerals Complexion Rescue was an all-around hit while testing. We loved the lightweight, silky consistency and appreciated that a little goes a long way. It blends effortlessly and is buildable, so you can bump up your all-over coverage or dab on a little extra to conceal blemishes. The slightly radiant, natural finish looks and feels like skin. It doesn't have that tight feeling of full-coverage foundation and leaves you with a soft, supple complexion.

You know that feeling when you’ve been for a run, or are waking up after a particularly heavy night out, and are absolutely gasping for a drink of water? Your skin can experience that same Saharan-type feeling when deprived of moisture. So, if it’s naturally dry, or dehydrated from seasonal changes like sun exposure or whipping winds, you’ll need to replenish that hydration with a moisturizer before moving on to your base. If you skip this step, your thirsty skin will simply attempt to guzzle up your tinted moisturizer, resulting in a patchy finish that won’t last. It has a super lightweight and breathable consistency that blends effortlessly into the skin and builds to your desired level of coverage. The result: A dewy complexion with a healthy, natural-looking glow. We did find, however, that the shade matches skew darker and doesn't match perfectly on those with lighter complexions. If your skin is generally good, or you don’t like much coverage, then a tinted moisturizer is a great option as it’s lightweight,” advises global makeup artist, brand founder, and beauty expert Ruby Hammer MBE. “Some people change to tinted moisturizer in the summer as it’s more breathable, but if you don’t like the feel of foundation then you could happily wear a tinted moisturizer all year round.” Shannon Stubbs is a staff commerce updates writer at Byrdie, where she covers makeup, skincare, and more. She frequently uses tinted moisturizers as part of her makeup routine and has tried multiple on this list, including the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer and the L'Oréal Skin Paradise Water-Infused Tinted Moisturizer.You can melt it into your skin with your fingers for hassle-free application," says celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney. And if you're looking to streamline your getting-ready routine for a flawless finish, she recommends a hydrating formula that replaces your regular moisturizer—extra points if it contains SPF.