"If there’s one thing that’s not debatable in the beauty world right now, it’s that hydrated, dewy skin is in. Gone are the days of full-coverage, matte foundation getting caked on our faces under triangles of concealer under our eyes (and to that I say, good riddance). The replacement? Skin tints that even out the skin but leave you looking healthy, natural, and alive.
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If there’s one beauty product I’d deem myself an expert on, it’s a good skin tint. I have perhaps the driest skin known to man, and my face hasn’t produced a drop of oil since 2008. This means that no matter how badly I want them to, products with a lot of coverage just do not look good on me. Anything with a lot of coverage tends to emphasize my dryness, so I’ve turned to the world of skin tints as my base makeup of choice. And let me tell you, they’ve come a long way.
As everyone and their mother has hopped ship from the full-coverage days of yore and dove into the beauty that is a skin tint, just about every beauty brand you can name has released one—which means that it isn’t easy to decide which one is for you. Enter: my ultimate skin tint test of 2023.
I decided to try, wear, and analyze seven of the most popular skin tints to break down what makes each one unique and what each is best for. The verdict is in: You’re about to find your new favorite complexion product.
Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
If you’re on the beauty side of TikTok in any capacity, you’ve likely seen this skin tint pop up in your algorithm. This product is beloved by beauty lovers everywhere for its sheer coverage, dewy finish, and the hydrated-looking skin it leaves behind. I have yet to try an Hourglass product that I’m not in love with—especially in the complexion department—so I was extremely excited to try this.
To my utter surprise, on first impression, this product didn’t wow me. I felt like it sat on top of my skin more than other products did, and while my skin definitely looked hydrated, it felt like the product had a tendency to move around on me. The second time I tried it, however, I used less skincare prior to applying it, and it worked far better. Since so many skin tints are so skincare-based, they can definitely act a little funny if you have too much skincare layered underneath, and I feel that this is one of them. This also definitely applies best with the fingertips, rather than a brush or sponge.
I’ve definitely come around to loving this product. It makes my skin looks super beautiful in an almost undetectable way, and lasts all day on me. I’ll use this to the last drop, but given having one of the highest price tags of this lot, don’t know if it’s an automatic repurchase for me. It’s hard to justify a $49 skin tint if it doesn’t completely blow you away, and while this one was very good, it isn’t something that I feel I can’t live without.
Saie Slip Tint
Saie’s Slip Tint is a tinted moisturizer with 100% zinc SPF 35, and is meant to leave you with hydrated, dewy coverage in addition to protection from the sun. It has light coverage and a radiant finish.
For full disclosure, this is a product that I’ve had in my stash for years. A tinted moisturizer containing zinc sunscreen is pretty rare, and so this is a product I reach for in the summer months for additional sun protection. Zinc has a reputation for leaving a dreaded white cast on the skin, but this product nixes that problem, as the tint cancels out any washing out that might occur from the sunscreen alone.
Of every skin tint I’ve ever used, this one leaves a finish that is almost inexplicably beautiful. I apply it with my fingers, and it melts into the skin to leave a hydrated-looking finish, but it almost simultaneously blurs the skin to leave a filter-like effect. Hydrating products can make pores and texture more evident, but this one doesn’t have that problem whatsoever. I apply SPF every morning, but I absolutely love using this product before a beach or pool day to double up on sun protection and even out my skin tone a bit. It’s great all year round, but is a can’t-live-without summer product for me. Whether you wear this on no-makeup days or use it as your base for the office or a night out, it will leave your skin looking like you just left a facial and chugged a gallon of water.
Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint
Fenty Beauty Tint Stick Foundation
Typology Tinted Face Serum
Yves Saint Laurent Hydrating Skin Tint
Chanel Water-Fresh Tint
Maybelline Super Stay Skin Tint
