There will always be a place for a good foundation in our makeup bags, but as the lo-fi beauty wave takes over, many of us are looking to sheerer formulas.
Particularly with the Australian weather, having a 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 high summer, why not swap out your regular coverage for something a little more lightweight?
Now, we’re all familiar with Laura Mercier’s legendary tinted moisturiser, but since its groundbreaking inception, a heap of must-try formulations have come gunning for its place as the GOAT.
And 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 tinted moisturisers to shop in Australia.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, $70, Charlotte, Tilbury
While not ‘technically’ a tinted moisturiser, hundreds of thousands of fans on the internet will tell you that this is the perfect skin-tint for a glowy, healthy looking complexion.
It’s smoothing, light as air and low coverage while offering major glow. It also includes brightening porcelain flower extract to make the skin appear brighter and more youthful.
Shop here.
Best Under-Makeup Tint: Bobbi Brown’s New Vitamin Enriched Skin Tint
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.
Best Glow: Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy 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.
Shop here.
Love a discount? Find your Charlotte Tilbury Discount Code here.
Best Long-Lasting Tint: Hourglass Illusion® Hyaluronic Skin Tint
An advanced alternative to liquid foundation, this medium-to-full coverage skin tint with a whipped cream texture features Hyaluronan Complex to hydrate the skin while providing ample coverage. Just like the rest of Hourglass’ signature products, this raved-about tint creates a blurred, ambient glow effect in seconds.
Shop here.
Best Dewy Finish Tint: Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint
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.
Shop here.
Best Clean Formula Tint: bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream
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.
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Best SPF Tint: Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil
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.
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Best All Rounder: Beauty Blender Bounce Always On Radiant Skin Tint Foundation
A staple in most make-up artist’s kits this skin tint offers light but buildable coverage and an almost elastic-like wear that won’t settle into fine lines. It’s radiant, long-wearing and nourishing as it is infused with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
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Best Serum Tint: Chanel Water-Fresh Tint With Micro-Droplet Pigments
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.
Shop here.
Best Matte Finish Tint: One/Size Turn Up The Base Beauty Blur Balm
If you’re not quite ready to part with the coverage of a foundation, fret not. This One/Size tint is a versatile formula that feels as feather-light as a tinted moisturiser, while possessing buildable coverage that can go a lot further than your average tint. A great option for those prone to oiliness with its matte finish.
Shop here.
Best OG: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector
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.
Shop here.
Best ‘No Makeup’ Tint: Ella Baché Superfluid Great SPF50+
For lighter than air coverage, look no further than Ella Baché antioxidant-rich fluid formula that leaves the skin evened out with an oh-so-subtle finish and plenty of skin-nourishing ingredients.
Shop here.
