There will always be a place for a good foundation in our makeup bags, but as the skinimalism beauty movement takes over, many of us are looking to sheerer formulas.
Particularly with the Australian weather, having a skin tint or tinted moisturiser on hand that feels like nothing and gives off that ‘your skin but better’ effect is a great alternative to a heavier full-coverage formula.
So as we begin to feel the heat of spring and summer, why not swap out your regular coverage for something a little more lightweight?
With so many options on the market, you can bet that the best also boast a plethora of skin-loving benefits to work harder than your average face tint—all in beach bag-friendly packaging.
Ahead, we round up the best crop of skin tints and tinted moisturisers to shop in Australia.
Marie Claire’s Edit Of Skin Tints & Tinted Moisturisers
The Uniform
$61 at Merit
Best for: Editor-approved
Nobody does skinimalism quite like Merit. Technically a mineral SPF (with a rating of 45), The Uniform packs a seriously good punch when it comes to coverage. It’s easily blended and buildable depending on how much coverage you’re after.
Review: “Although it’s a liquid formula, the natural powders in Merit’s formula have a blurring effect, like a two-in-one skin tint and powder super duo. The soft finish and blendability makes it surprisingly great for touch ups throughout the day.” — Maddison Hockey, Digital Editor
Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint
$54 at Sephora
Best for: Dewy finish
When Beauty Queen Rihanna wanted to create a buildable, easy-to-apply, flexible formula that instantly evened out the complexion while being sweat and transfer-proof, she set to work and blessed the world with this magnificent do-it-all skin tint. And with a whopping 25 shades available, everyone’s bound to find their perfect match.
Chanel Les Beiges Eau De Teint
$117 at Myer
Best for: Serum tint
Utilising the power of microfluidic technologies to embed pigment in serum, this light-weight formula is hydrating and water-based. Designed to melt into the skin it offers a smooth finish that will wear all day.
Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow
$65 at Charlotte Tilbury
Best for: Glow
Suitable for all skin types, the versatile formula adapts to your natural skin tone and—in true Tilbury form—adds a sun-kissed glow thanks to the addition of bronzing tan pigments. A go-to for nights out or when the need for a glow boost arises.
Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Skin Tint
$78 at The Iconic
Best for: Wearing under makeup
You may be familiar with the cult Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, which is a favourite of makeup artists to the stars and across TikTok. It’s a go-to for the likes of reality star and entrepreneur Molly-Mae Hague and supermodel Kate Upton. Well now that classic formula has been moulded into a new skin tint product, promising the plumping and smoothing effects of the face base combined with coverage.
It leaves a natural-looking finish in 18 flexible shades, which is radiant but still lasts for up to 12 hours.
Mik Hydro Grip Gel Tint
$66 at Sephora
Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip primer is a cult favourite among beauty savants and now fans of the formula can rejoice over a tinted rendition made for wearing alone. The gel tint offers a sheer coverage that can be layered over the aforementioned Grip Primer, worn alone or built up to replace your foundation.
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue
$64 at Mecca
Best for: Clean forumla
Combining hydrating skincare benefits with natural-looking coverage and mineral-based broad spectrum SPF 30+, this 3-in-1 tint is great for your skin and the planet . The water-infused, oil-free formula, which is 98% naturally derived, gives you the benefits of makeup, skincare and SPF in one step.
Laura Mercier Skin Tint
$87 at Mecca
Best for: Smoothing and blurring
This skin-enriching formula uses algae extract to hydrate skin and creates a soft-focus effect by smoothing wrinkles and fine lines. It’s perfect for creating sheer-to-medium coverage, or as a primer for mineral make-up.
Ultra Violette Daydream Screen Tinted Veil
$55 at Sephora
Best for: All rounder
With high broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, Daydream not only protects you from the sun and free radicals while imparting a natural coverage, but the formula also contains Pentivitin to deeply hydrate the skin.