Celebrities might sport full faces of glam for red carpet events, but many prefer more low-key beauty looks for everyday.
Among their subtler makeup must-haves? Tinted moisturizers, which offer light, natural-looking coverage along with a bevy of skincare benefits.
Below, explore (and shop) nine skin tints stars swear by, from Hailey Bieber’s SPF-packed “holy grail” to the product Gracie Abrams said “changed [her] life.”
Looking for a more full-coverage formula? Don’t miss our guide to the best foundations, as seen on the stars.
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Ilia Pros:
- Available in 25 different shades
- Silicone-free
- Protects from UVA, UVC, UVB, blue and infrared light
Cons:
- Finish may appear too shiny for those with oily skin
Plenty of superstars would agree this product – made with soothing and hydrating niacinamide, squalane and hyaluronic acid — is indeed super.
Vanessa Hudgens told Who What Wear she “fell in love” with the SPF 40 tint, while Cindy Crawford raved to the Zoe Report that it “has a little bit of that glow, so I love that for summer.”
Kate Hudson similarly gushed to Glamour about the “super dewy” formula, while Kristin Cavallari told Page Six Style, “This gives the perfect light coverage, and I have peace of mind knowing I’m putting something good on my skin.”
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Saie Pros:
- Covers minor blemishes
- Brightening
Cons:
- May not feel as hydrating for those with dry or extra-dry skin
Another tinted moisturizer stars are slipping into their beauty bags? Saie Slip Tint. The bestselling and award-winning product has a place in Kristen Bell’s cosmetics case, as she told Vogue she uses “two squirts” of the “really, really light” formula in her beauty routine, paired with the cult-favorite IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream ($47).
Gracie Abrams is similarly a fan of Saie, which she told the same outlet was “all over TikTok” when she discovered it.
“This has changed my life,” she raved of the SPF-packed product.
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Laura Mercier Pros:
- Dewy finish
- Has macadamia and kukui seed oils for hydration
Cons:
- Some customers who purchased on Sephora noted pilling
When it comes to beauty brands known for their tinted moisturizers, Laura Mercier is tops. Ashley Graham told Vogue she turns to the product during the summer, while Meghan Markle praised a previous version of the brand’s illuminating tinted moisturizer in an interview with Beauty Banter, per Hello. (Laura Mercier now sells a Tinted Moisturizer Light Revealer, similarly designed for an illuminating finish.)
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Charlotte Tilbury Pros:
- Contains hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture
- Sulfate-free
Charlotte Tilbury can’t stop painting “every red carpet around the world Pillow Talk pink,” as she once told Page Six Style — and it’s not just her signature lip color stars are loving.
The brand’s tinted moisturizer is a hit with Kate Bosworth, who once listed it among her vacation beauty must-haves.
“This is SUCH a great tinted glow element when you want or have a bit of a tan,” she raved on her Instagram Stories in 2017, per E! News. “Super natural & unisex!”
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Amazon Pros:
- More than 16,000 five-star ratings on Amazon
- Contains hyaluronic acid
- Non-greasy
Cons:
- May be too light for deeper skin tones
Thanks to a rave review from Hailey Bieber, this tinted SPF also tops our list of the most celebrity-loved sunscreens. While plenty of stars are obsessed with EltaMD’s clear version, the Rhode founder called this light-coverage iteration her “holy grail” in an interview with Elle.
Kyle Richards is also on board with the summer skincare staple, as she said in a recent Amazon Live that it’s “the absolute best product” and “feels good on your skin.”
Page Six Style’s review: Plenty of our writers and editors swear by EltaMD, including Page Six Style Editor Elana Fishman. “It provides stellar protection, plays well under makeup and doesn’t break me out. That’s pretty much all I could ask for in a sunscreen!” she raves of the SPF-packed formula.
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Glossier Cons:
- Bottle is on the smaller side
Glossier’s beauty bestsellers — now also available at Sephora — include this lightweight skin tint designed for a sheer, dewy finish. Camila Mendes is a fan of the formula, which she told Cosmopolitan she used both on the “Riverdale” set and in her own beauty routine.
“I like how light this Glossier foundation is,” she raved in 2018. “It’s not full coverage, it’s kind of liquidy and watery, but it helps with evenness because my skin still looks like skin, which I like. I also feel like I’m not clogging my pores as much [when I use it].”
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Fenty Beauty/Ulta Pros:
- Offers buildable coverage
- Lightweight feel
- Oil and paraben-free
Cons:
- Since it’s not a hydrating product, those with dry skin might want to prime with moisturizer
- Finish leans matte, so consider adding a face mist if you prefer a dewy look
“Eazing” into wearing makeup but looking for something lighter than foundation? Consider this offering from Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty brand, billed as a buildable tinted moisturizer with a “blurring” effect. The product has become one of the Bad Gal’s bestsellers since its launch in 2021.
Page Six Style’s review: When she put it to the test in 2021, Page Six Style Editor Elana Fishman was impressed that it really did seem to “blur” her under-eye circles and acne scarring and “lasted all day long without fading.” Several years later, she still reaches for the product on a near-daily basis.
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Amazon Pros:
- Designed to give skin an all-over glow
- Ideal for a “no-makeup” makeup look
- Multitasks as both sheer coverage and highlighter
Cons:
- Some reviewers felt it wasn’t a good fit for drier skin types
Billed as both a tinted moisturizer and highlighter, this dewy formula is a go-to — or should we say, glow-to? — for a slew of stars. Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria and Coco Jones have all swiped it on before red carpets, while Martha Stewart’s makeup artist Daisy Foye told People she uses the formula “every day” on the octogenarian icon.
“It’s how she gets that dewy look, like she just got a facial,” she added. “I’m obsessed with it.”
Shoppers are equally obsessed; it’s racked up a 4.6-star rating out of over 35,600 largely glowing Amazon reviews. (Plus, according to the brand, one flies off the shelves every 14 seconds.)
Rare Beauty/Sephora Pros:
- Paraben-free
- Lightweight and long-lasting
Cons:
- Lower SPF than some others on this list
When it comes to celebrity-owned makeup brands, Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty also offers a tinted moisturizer designed for “glowy” light-to-medium coverage.
Gomez called it “one of my favorite products we’ve ever done” in a TikTok this year, noting that the liquid formula can be applied with either hands or a foundation brush.
What is a tinted moisturizer?
If you’re after a look that sits somewhere between full glam and a bare face, tinted moisturizer is a beauty bag must-have. Offering lighter coverage than foundation, these formulas lend a glowy and natural look — and often include skincare ingredients to boost hydration in the process.
How do I choose a tinted moisturizer?
While stars can serve as a source of shopping inspiration, at the end of the day you should select what works best for your individual skincare needs. If you’re not sure where to start, consider the points below:
- Matte versus dewy: If you tend to have drier skin, it might be best to opt for dewy, hydrating formulas over ones that lean more matte — or prime with a moisturizer before applying.
- SPF: Not every tinted moisturizer comes with built-in sun protection. To help shield skin from UVA and UVB rays, look for a formula with broad-spectrum SPF, like the Hailey Bieber-loved EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Sunscreen ($41) spotlighted in this roundup.
- Coverage: While most tinted moisturizers offer sheer-to-light coverage, some — like Fenty Beauty’s Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint ($36) offer light-to-medium coverage. (If it’s full coverage you’re after, check out our guide to the best foundations.)
- Ingredients: Some formulas, like Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint ($46), do double duty as skincare thanks to hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane.
Other factors to keep in mind when picking the perfect product? Consider the finish (dewy versus matte), shade range and whether the formula is cruelty-free or vegan. And while photos in customer reviews can be useful, knowing retailers’ return policies also minimizes the risk of ending up with a product that doesn’t work for you.
