“I’ve always enjoyed a hint of tint,” says makeup icon Laura Mercier, who launched one of the best tinted moisturizers for mature skin—now a bonafide cult classic— back in the ’90s. “With mature skin, which may be drying, showing signs of aging, or exhibiting an uneven tone, tinted moisturizer can provide you with a natural yet luminous finish, all-day hydration, and a smooth skin texture,” Mercier says. Not only that: The best tinted moisturizers for mature skin can feasibly stand in for other products, like foundation and even a regular moisturizer, thereby streamlining a makeup and skincare regime while offering time-rewinding benefits for the skin. (Just please, don’t take this as your permission slip to skip the SPF.)
“Tinted moisturizers are a great alternative for mature skin, as heavy coverage foundation can crease and look a bit too cakey if not applied correctly,” says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg, whose clients include Catherine O’Hara and Julie Bowen. “Tinted moisturizers give a more hydrating formula, and are more lightweight which might be better suited for someone with mature skin.”
The only question remaining is: Which tinted moisturizer is right for you? Ahead, browse tinted moisturizers that provide hydration, glow, and just the right amount of coverage for mature skin, hand-picked by the pros. Whether you’re looking for a glass-skin effect for a smooth and easy no-makeup-makeup look, there’s a tinted moisturizer to deliver just the finish you’re after.
Vogue’s Favorite Tinted Moisturizers for Mature Skin
In This Article:
Best Classic: Laura Mercier Natural Skin Perfector
- Why we like it: All hail the standard-bearer. “Laura Mercier is the OG of tinted moisturizer for a reason,” Patinkin says of the Natural Skin Perfector, which has been a Laura Mercier staple since the brand launched in the mid-’90s. According to Patinkin, the product is easy to apply, “has actual hydrating benefits, and wears well over the course of the day.” Mercier stands by her classic formulation, too—if she does say so herself. “My tinted moisturizer is a purposeful blend of skincare and makeup that improves skin over time,” she notes. “Its Hydrating Complex consists of macadamia and kukui seed oils, which help increase the skin’s moisture levels for 24 hours of hydration while reducing the signs of visibly dry skin. The lightweight formula is also infused with tamarind seed extract, which helps skin retain moisture to prevent water evaporation for long-lasting hydration.”
- Finish: Luminous
- Shades: 19
- SPF: Broad-spectrum SPF 30
- Consistency: Lightweight liquid
Best Vogue Editor Secret Weapon: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue
- Why we like it: You’d be hard-pressed to find a Vogue beauty editor who doesn’t have a Bare Minerals product they swear by. For senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden, this tinted moisturizer was love at first dot. “I dotted Complexion Rescue onto my face and began blending with a brush,” she previously shared in her initial trial of this tinted gel cream. “The results were impressive; I was shocked at how cooling it felt—almost like a cup of water, it essentially dissolved into my skin; imparting an even, hydrating glow perfect for daily wear.” Myken Garcia, senior manager of artistry, education, and events at the brand, explains some of the ingredients behind the drink-of-water-style zing of refreshment. “With olive-derived squalane, hyaluronic acid, and mineral SPF, Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer glides onto skin easily, giving a burst of hydration with a naturally luminous, youthful-looking radiance,” he says.
- Finish: Buildable, sheer-to-light coverage with a radiant finish
- Shades: 19
- SPF: Mineral SPF 30
- Consistency: Creamy gel
Best for a Natural Look: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint
- Why we like it: “This is a gorgeous water-based product that has more coverage than you would expect, so it’s great for mature skin if you want a natural look,” says makeup artist Jenny Patinkin. “A little goes a long way—and I think the shade range is great.” With 30 hues to choose from, the lightweight tint is a known multitasker among Vogue’s beauty editors. Fashion editor Mai Morsch was so impressed with its three-in-one capabilities as a serum, an SPF, and a foundation that she started using it as a one-stop skin-care regimen.
- Finish: Natural and dewy
- Shades: 30
- SPF: Mineral SPF 40
- Consistency: Lightweight serum
Best Blurring Effect: Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer
- Why we like it: “Rare Beauty’s Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer is great for all skin types, including mature skin, due to ingredients like vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin,” notes Cynthia Di Meo, the brand’s global makeup stylist. “Plus, the flexible formula offers light-to-medium buildable coverage with a radiant finish that gives skin a healthy glow. It softens the appearance of fine lines and large pores, making your skin look like the best version of itself. Pro tip: “I love the look and finish of this product but don’t find that it has a lot of slip in the application, so I prefer to use a sponge to blend it rather than a brush,” Patinkin says.
- Finish: Radiant
- Shades: 24
- SPF: Broad-spectrum SPF 20
- Consistency: Liquid
Best for Dry Skin: U Beauty The Super Tinted Hydrator
- Why we like it: “This is one of few products that I would say is actually a tinted moisturizer, with the moisturizer being the primary focus and the tint being secondary,” Patinkin says. Despite the formula’s emphasis on hydration—it’s powered by the brand’s SIREN Capsule technology, which hydrates the skin for 48 hours with a slow-release of hyaluronic acid—it’s not for the gleam-adverse.“The glow is intense with this because, while water is the main ingredient, it also contains oil,” Patinkin adds. But if it’s glow you’re after, you’ll find all that radiance—plus a sheet tint that adapts to your natural skin tone as it dries.
- Finish: Sheer and dewy
- Shades: 10
- SPF: No
- Consistency: Cream
Best Dewy Finish: Saie Slip Tint Tinted Moisturizer
- Why we like it: If you never say no to a dash of glimmer, Saie’s sheer, dewy formulation is just the thing you need. “There’s a lot of glow in this product, so you have to like that high-shine look,” Patinkin says. For singer Gracie Abrams, the more glow, the better: “I am grateful I was on [Tiktok] the day that I found this because it has changed my life,” she raved in her Beauty Secrets video. Brightening, hydrating, and protective for the skin, the formulation is powered by hyaluronic acid, licorice root extract, and pansy flower.
- Finish: Sheer and radiant
- Shades: 14
- SPF: Mineral SPF 30
- Consistency: Lightweight cream
Best for Brightening: Honest Beauty CCC Corrective Tinted Moisturizer
- Why we like it: “As a dermatologist, I’m always on the lookout for products that not only enhance appearance but also support skin health, especially as it ages. The Honest Company’s CCC Corrective Tinted Moisturizer is a great option,” says Dr. Jenny Liu, a board-certified dermatologist. “This multi-functional product provides mineral SPF 30 protection, blue light defense, and is infused with Vitamin C to brighten and even skin tone. It’s especially suitable for aging skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and discoloration. The formula is lightweight, non-comedogenic, and available in a range of shades to ensure a natural finish for all skin types. It’s an ideal choice for those looking to combine sun protection with skin-care and makeup benefits in one step.”
- Finish: Radiant
- Shades: 9
- SPF: Mineral SPF 30
- Consistency: Lightweight cream
Best for Antioxidants: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Skin Tint
- Why we like it: “This protects the skin barrier with a blend of vitamins including vitamins D and E,” says Greenberg. “It’s a perfect color-true skin tint that lasts for 12 hours with no creasing—and it’s water-resistant.” The antioxidant-packed tint is also integral to Eva Longoria’s “hottest mom” makeup look. Before dashing out for school pickup, the actress walked Vogue through her makeup routine in a Beauty Secrets video. “I’m really into tinted foundations right now that are not so heavy,” she said, adding that Bobbi Brown’s formulation allows her skin to “breathe” and for her natural glow to show.
- Finish: Sheer, natural coverage
- Shades: 18
- SPF: Broad-spectrum SPF 15
- Consistency: Lightweight
Best for Combination Skin: Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator
- Why we like it: Clinique’s Moisture Surge 100 H Auto-Replenishing Moisturizer landed on Vogue’s list of the best lightweight moisturizers thanks to several claims to fame—including delivering hydration for a whopping 100 hours. In its tinted iteration, the formula offers the same dryness-quenching benefits with activated aloe water and hyaluronic acid, plus added sun protection with an infusion of SPF 25. The Sheertint Hydrator, best suited for dry and combination skin will keep the skin moisturized for 12 hours, according to the brand. But if you want to double down, it smooths on seamlessly atop the matching moisturizer.
- Finish: Natural
- Shades: 7
- SPF: SPF 25
- Consistency: Lightweight cream
Best for a No-Makeup Makeup Look: Lancôme Skin Feels Good Hydrating Tint
- Why we like it: “This product is great if you love a no-makeup makeup look,” says Greenberg. “With an oil-free and buildable formula, this skin tint adds a sheer plumpness and glow to the skin with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.” Celebrity makeup artist Amrita Metha is also a fan. The beauty pro previously told Vogue: “Don’t be fooled by its thicker texture. Its satin finish provides light to medium coverage and dries down beautifully.”
- Finish: Sheer-to-buildable, radiant coverage
- Shades: 11
- SPF: SPF 23
- Consistency: Lightweight liquid
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Typology Tinted Serum
- Why we like it: “This is a light-coverage, non-clogging serum that is safe for acne-prone skin,” says Greenberg. “It brightens the skin, too!” The formulation has the ingredients to back up its skin-improving claims: vitamin C brightens the complexion and reduces the look of excess pigmentation, while squalane nourishes the skin barrier and contributes to a smoother look and feel. Patinkin adds: “This is a very sheer product so you get a very natural dewy look, but if you have freckles or sun damage [you want to hide] it’s not going to provide much coverage.”
- Finish: Light and natural
- Shades: 6
- SPF: No
- Consistency: Lightweight liquid
Best Makeup Primer: Herbivore Star Seed Sheer Glow Mineral Sunscreen
- Why we like it: “I love this one as a makeup primer!” Greenberg says. “This two-in-one mineral sunscreen and brightening moisturizer is the best of both worlds, featuring SPF 30. It also has vitamins C and E, so it’s great for mature skin to help any uneven skin tone from unwanted dark spots.” With a universally flattering peach tint designed to work on all skin tones, the glow-boosting formulation also contains prebiotics to support the skin’s microbiome, making mature skin types softer and more hydrated. And speaking of stars, celebrity fans of the vegan brand include Lola Tung.
- Finish: Sheer, natural
- Shades: 1
- SPF: Mineral SPF 30
- Consistency: Creamy and fast-absorbing liquid
What is a tinted moisturizer?
“A tinted moisturizer is a hybrid skin-care product that combines the hydration of a moisturizer with light to medium coverage and often includes additional skin benefits like SPF,” says Liu. “I like to think of it similar to foundation but with more skin benefits plus more natural coverage.”
When it comes to using one in a makeup regime, Greenberg says: “Tinted moisturizers are a lightweight alternative to foundation. They help to moisturize the skin, while simultaneously evening out your skin tone. If you want to wear no makeup throughout the day but still have glowy skin, tinted moisturizer is definitely for you!” She adds: “Tinted moisturizer is great for hot, humid days when you don’t want to wear thick, heavy makeup.”
What to look for in a tinted moisturizer
“When choosing a tinted moisturizer, consider your skin type and how your makeup wears on your skin throughout the day,” Greenberg says. “For combination, acne-prone, and/or oily skin, there are many oil-free formulas to use. If you have dry skin, it’s recommended to choose a hydrating formula with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and plant-based oils. You can also look for tinted moisturizers with specific benefits. For example, there are many on the market today that are anti-aging and anti-inflammatory.
