You know those mornings when you wake up and your skin is skinning (thank God)? Basically you can finally see your skin care hard-yards paying off. TBH that doesn’t mean you want to step out the door totally bare-faced, because let’s be honest, we’re still beauty-lovers here. But the thought of covering your glowing natural skin with a heavy, full coverage foundation seems kind of wrong, no?
Well, let us introduce you to the lightweight, skincare-infused world of ‘your skin but better’ coverage, AKA skin tints. These serum-like liquids lean on the side of sheer, lightweight coverage, although you can find the occasional buildable formula that takes you up to medium coverage.
Okay, enough yapping about the game-changing, skin-loving coverage. Let’s see what our fave skin tints have to offer…
2024’s Top 3 Skin Tints
- Bali Body Tinted Super Serum Spf 30+, $31.95, Adore Beauty
- Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint Foundation, $54, Sephora
- Kosas Bb Burst Tinted Gel Cream, $63, MECCA
Bali Body Tinted Super Serum SPF 30+
From $31.95 at Adore Beauty
When we tell you to get in quick with this serum, we mean it. It’s literally sold out multiple times over. And because of the way this skincare-infused serum is formulated, we’re going to say something we never say. Are you ready? You can skip your moisturising step. Yep, it’s huge, especially if you’re rushing out the door. Just pop some of this natural, sheer serum on and enjoy the lightweight, skin-loving coverage.
Key features:
- Created with a 75 per cent skin care formula
- Can be worn alone or under makeup for a glowy base
- Enriched with peptides and amino acids
Available at:
- $25.56 (usually $31.95) from Adore Beauty
- $31.95 from Chemist Warehouse
Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint Foundation
From $54 at Sephora
Do we wish Rihanna would release more music? Yes, absolutely. But TBH, if we’re not getting any of those releases anytime soon then we’ll happily settle for her incredible beauty line. This skin-diffused, blur-effect tint is the epitome of ‘your skin but better’; just saying.
Key features:
- QuickBlur Complex delivers diffused effect
- Transfer-resistant formula
- Can be applied with fingers or brush
Available at:
- $54 from Sephora
- $54 from Fenty Beauty
Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream
From $63 at MECCA
If you’re looking for something totally different, this gel-cream formula promises to hit differently. Still packing a pigmented glow, the formula is powered by ultra-hydrating (triple action to be precise) ingredients. This burst of nourishing ingredients sees your skin looking seriously smooth.
Key features:
- Gel-like formula
- Powered by triple hydration formula
- Skin-barrier supporting
Available at:
- $63 from MECCA
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
From $52 at Glossier
We literally cannot contain our excitement about being able to go into MECCA to finally be able to shop Glossier. And sure we could already hit add to cart on the Glossier site but sometimes we’re looking to shade match IRL. Our first pick? This Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint. Thanks to the ultra-brightening power of diamond powder, you will literally be shining bright like a diamond. Plus, it promises to ensure your pores remain unclogged, big wins all round.
Key features:
- Diamond powder brightens skin
- Enriched with hydrating glycerin
- Non-comedogenic formula
Available at:
- $52 from Glossier
Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm Serum Boosted Skin Tint
From $77 at Anastasia Beverly Hills
She might be known for her brows (and iconic eyeshadow palettes), but Anastasia Beverly Hills can do it all. Case in point: this serum-boosted balm. If unique application methods are your thing, then this stick-like design is bound to excite. With a mix of oil-rich ingredients, this balm promises a silky skin finish. And because of its solid texture, it makes for the perfect leakproof, ‘chuck in your bag’ companion.
Key features:
- Enriched with hydrating coconut and jojoba seed oils
- Silky texture
- Infused with eight skin-loving ingredients
Available at:
- $77 from Anastasia Beverly Hills
- $79 from Sephora
- $76 from Adore Beauty
Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick
From $63 at Charlotte Tilbury
Yep, Charlotte Tilbury have only gone and done it again, creating yet another glossy, glowing base product. Forget needing a ring light; this illuminating, lightweight foundation stick does all the heavy lifting. You know how when you wear some foundations your skin feels a bit ‘blah’ afterwards? Well this is the complete opposite. Because of the infusion of skincare ingredients right into the formula, your skin will actually start to benefit from each and every wear.
Key features:
- Infused with antioxidant-rich vitamin E
- Includes light mapping pearlescent filters
- Skin- smoothing effect
Available at:
- $63 from Charlotte Tilbury
Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Skin Tint
From $37.99 at Adore Beauty
Alright sure, skin tints aren’t exactly the longest-wearing formulas and hey, we’re not mad about that! But for the times that you do want lightweight to equal longwearing, let us introduce you to the Maybelline Superstay Skin Tint. With a unique formula designed to last up to an insane 24 hours, it’s not going anywhere. But just because it delivers on the long-lasting front doesn’t mean it sacrifices any of the skin tint meets serum benefits. The tint comes with a serum-like dropper applicator (so fun) and it even has an infusion of skin-brightening vitamin C for an illuminating win.
Key features:
- Vitamin C brightens skin
- 24 hour long-wearing formula
- Applies with a unique dropper application
Available at:
- $37.99 from Adore Beauty
- $37.99 from Priceline
- $18.99 (usually $37.99) from Chemist Warehouse
Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint
From $70 at MECCA
Summer Fridays have earnt themselves GOAT status amongst celebs, with the likes of Sofia Richie-Grainge even giving them their dues. This buildable, sheer-coverage tint is packed with ultra-hydrating ingredients. The weightless formula works to address uneven skin tone issues (like redness), along with providing a nourishing hit of humectant-backed hydration. Basically, if you’re after a glossy, natural-finish, fragrance-free foundation we’ve found the guy.
Key features:
- Emollient-rich formula
- Antioxidant-rich tiger grass works to reduce the appearance of redness
- Sheer-to-light coverage
Available at:
- $70 from MECCA
- $58.21 from Cult Beauty
Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
From $81 at MECCA
Put away your airbrush machine because this tint provides all the blurring, skin-perfecting you could ever need. This tint literally melts onto your skin (thanks to meadowfoam seed oil), giving you a next-level ‘no makeup, makeup’ look. And as a bonus for the ingredient-conscious, this formula is made from a stunning 94 per cent natural ingredients.
Key features:
- Made from 94 per cent natural ingredients
- Provides all day skin nourishment
- Skin- plumping
Available at:
- $81 from MECCA
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint Spf 40
From $72.85 at Catch
With an eco-conscious ethos (totally vegan FYI) and a love for organic, natural ingredients, Ilia produces some major Ws. This fragrance (and oil)-free pick has even come in as a finalist for the MECCA beauty elections – so you know other beauty lovers rate it. Enriched with texture-refining, active ingredient niacinamide, you just know your skin will be loving it.
Key features:
- Vegan
- Oil-free formula
- Extensive shade range (30 shades)
Available at:
Are skin tints better than foundation?
If you’re after fresh, glowing, sheer coverage then skin tints are the way to go. Providing you with a hit of ‘your skin but better’ coverage, many of the lightweight options are infused with skin-loving ingredients and work to blur your pores. But if you’re after a fuller more ‘covered’ coverage, then opting for a buildable foundation is the right call. But honestly, neither option is ‘better’ than the other, it all comes down to what finish you’re after.
Main Image Credit: @kendallvertes
Want to know exactly what foundation Anna Cathcart wears? We’ve got your answers here…
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