Back in my beauty counter days, probably my most frequently requested product recommendation for customers with mature skin was for tinted moisturiser. Most people, upon experiencing the changes that come with skin ageing—loose skin, fine lines and hyperpigmentation—sought something lighter than foundation, and wanted a product with skincare benefits, but didn't want to compromise when it came to coverage.
If you're on the hunt for a base product for mature skin and that sounds something like the checklist you have in mind, then forget foundation, because a tinted moisturiser is the answer. "For me the most important thing is that tinted moisturisers adds radiance," explains celebrity makeup artist Neil Young. "As we mature, the skin lacks natural radiance and it tends to be dryer, so anything you can do to add that back into the complexion is always beneficial. The wonderful thing about tinted moisturisers is they’re more of a stained-glass effect so you can see the skin through the product, and what that will do is allow you to go a little bit deeper in tone than you would a foundation and it will still look completely natural."
They're essentially skincare-makeup hybrids, with the skin tone–evening, concealing properties of a foundation, minus the heavy texture and propensity for creasing, caking, and settling into fine lines and pores. Instead, the best tinted moisturisers will essentially act like skincare products, infusing skin with hydrating ingredients in order for skin to feel comfortable, and look healthy and radiant. "This is exactly why I'm such a fan of tinted moisturisers—they effectively pack in a load of skincare ingredients almost like a serum," says Young.
What's more, tinted moisturisers are so easy to apply—you don't even need a makeup brush because your fingertips will suffice. They're perfect for everyday wear, can be layered up if you do want or need a bit more coverage, and many of them also do double duty as sunscreen (although we would recommend applying a separate SPF for added protection).
With this in mind, we've selected the best tinted moisturisers for mature skin—healthy, hydrated skin awaits.
See the Best Tinted Moisturisers for Mature Skin:
1. CHANEL Vitalumière Acqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Makeup
2. Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm
3. Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
4. Ultra Violette Daydream Screen Tinted Veil
5. Nudestix Nudescreen Daily Mineral Veil
6. Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint
7. BareMinerals Complexion Rescue
8. Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer
9. Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturiser
10. MAC Strobe Dewy Skin Tinted Moisturiser
11. Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser
12. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Skin Perfector
13. No7 City Light Tinted Moisturiser
14. Yves Saint Laurent Nu Bare Look Skin Tint
15. Lumene Invisible Illumination Instant Glow Fresh Skin Tint
1. CHANEL Vitalumière Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Makeup
"This is a very fine product, so if you have a relatively good, clear complexion and you don't necessarily need any coverage to perfect anything it will give you a really beautiful healthy radiant glow which I love," says Young.
2. Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm
With a totally weightless, whipped texture, this newly launched tinted moisturiser from Dr. Jart+ is fast winning over makeup artists and beauty editors alike. The silky, smooth formula blends like a dream, immediately blurring over imperfections without emphasising fine lines.
3. Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
If you prefer a thinner, liquid formula to a thick cream, Glossier's hydrating skin tint is a winner. The thin, breathable formula is super sheer but still works hard to moisturise skin. Just a few drops will help to even out your skin tone—without caking, clogging pores or hiding freckles.
4. Ultra Violette Daydream Screen Tinted Veil
SPF 50 really is the gold standard when it comes to sun protection—and we all know that wearing daily SPF is the best way to prevent signs of ageing from prematurely occurring... Far more than just a sunscreen, this tinted moisturiser is incredibly softening and nourishing and delivers surprisingly good coverage.
5. Nudestix Nudescreen Daily Mineral Veil
Lightweight, oil-free and rich in calming ingredients like green algae and purple tea, this tinted moisturiser is perfect for mature skin that also shows signs of oiliness or sensitivity.
6. Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint
This tinted moisturiser is a great option if you're totally new to wearing makeup and don't want a product that you can feel or obviously see on your skin. The sheer-to-light coverage gives skin a really natural-looking finish, helping to conceal redness by enhancing (rather than masking) your natural complexion.
7. BareMinerals Complexion Rescue
BareMinerals' makeup products are all about achieving fresh, natural-looking skin using clean, naturally-derived ingredients. Providing 24 hours of hydration, this tinted moisturiser is ideal for mature skin that's experiencing dryness—it's proven to boost skin’s hydration by 215% in just one week of use.
8. Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer
Chantecaille's tinted moisturiser takes a three-in-one approach, combining moisturising ingredients with SPF protection and skin-smoothing coverage. Key ingredients include thyme and butterfly bush extract, which have anti-pollution benefits.
9. Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturiser
This tinted moisturiser offers surprisingly strong coverage considering how light it feels upon application. If you want a product that blurs and conceals as well as your regular foundation (but doesn't feel heavy or look cakey), look no further.
10. MAC Strobe Dewy Skin Tinted Moisturiser
When it comes to base products, MAC has an extensive collection of foundations, skin tints, and tinted moisturisers, but this is our top pick for mature skin. The bright, dewy finish helps to counteract any dryness and dullness.
11. Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser
No list of tinted moisturisers would be complete without the addition of Nars' Radiant Tinted Moisturiser, which is an MUA kit staple. "If I want to give my client unrivalled glow, this is the product I usually go for," says Young. Perfect for achieving a truly skin-like finish while still working hard to conceal and cover.
12. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Skin Perfector
This cult tinted moisturiser is beloved for a reason—it's absolutely brimming with hydrating ingredients like kukui seed and macadamia oils to really infuse mature skin with hydration. Not only that, but it also contains vitamins E and C to protect and brighten skin, and it has a beautifully dewy finish that leaves skin looking so healthy.
13. No7 City Light Tinted Moisturiser
No7 has long been a go-to brand for those looking for products to tackle the emerging signs of mature skin, like fine lines. The brand is famous for its powerful serums, but its makeup offerings are not to be overlooked. Formulated with skin-protecting antioxidants like vitamins C and E, and ginseng root extract, this is every bit as much a skincare product as it is makeup. The lightweight formula melts into skin for a really natural-looking finish.
14. Yves Saint Laurent Nu Bare Look Skin Tint
"This formula is really gorgeous," says Young. "It's exceptionally lightweight thanks to the super-fine pigments which tint skin with a thin veil of colour for an effortless natural makeup look. It works really well when applied with the fingers, and you can gradually build up the coverage depending on the finish you're after."
15. Lumene Invisible Illumination Instant Glow Fresh Skin Tint
A pot of goodness if ever we saw one. We'd recommend this moisture-packed skincare-makeup hybrid if you do really struggle with dry areas of skin. With a fresh, gel-like consistency that melts and blends like butter, the tinted cream deeply moisturises skin for up to 24 hours thanks to a power-combo of Pure Arctic Spring Water and Nordic Algae.
Shop Other Key Products
For a really natural-looking finish, apply your tinted moisturiser with a Beautyblender. Bouncing it onto skin will help to achieve a really seamless effect.
If you want to build up more coverage, a flat buffing brush like this one is an easy way to do so.
Want your tinted moisturiser to stick around all day? Prepping skin with this primer will help to do so.
This loose powder will help to prevent oil from disturbing your makeup, but because it's water based, it won't make skin look cakey in the process.
Dry skin types especially will benefit from setting their makeup with this setting spray—it's packed with hydrating ingredients and formulated for all day hold.
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