The best tinted moisturizers for mature skin provide weightless coverage, sun protection, and keep skin dewy and fresh. As we get older we lose moisture and firmness, and things like dryness and crow’s feet—which can start appearing as early as your mid-20s—are more noticeable. Swapping regular foundation for a tinted moisturizer can be a smart move. “They’re fantastic for dry or mature skin because they look very skin-like while blurring texture. They don’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles the way more matte, full-coverage products tend to do,” says celebrity makeup artist Suzy Gerstein.
To help you find the very best ones, we spoke to makeup artists, dermatologists, and beauty editors for their recommendations and tips. Below Glamour reviewers with mature skin share their favorite options including ones with SPF, a new launch from Laura Mercier, drugstore finds, and more.
The best tinted moisturizers for mature skin
- Best Overall: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Dewy SPF 30, $43
- Best With SPF: Elta MD UV Daily SPF 40 Tinted Sunscreen Moisturizer, $42
- Best for Over 50: Laura Geller Quench-N-Tint Lightweight Tinted Moisturizer, $24
- Best for Dewy Finish: Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35 Sunscreen, $36
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, $41
- Best for Redness: Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint, $42
- Best for Natural Finish: Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer, $39
- Best Skin Care Hybrid: Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops Dewy Skin Tint, $58
- Best for Blurring: Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, $42
What should you look for in a tinted moisturizer?
Hydration: Mature skin tends to be on the drier side, so when picking out a tinted moisturizer for mature skin, look for words like dewy and illuminating,” says Jamie Greenberg, celeb MUA and founder of Jamie Makeup. She recommends staying away from formulas that are too matte, but if your skin is oily or you like a matte finish, make sure your tinted moisturizer still has hydrating properties (ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides) and don’t overdo it with application. She also recommends vitamin C for brightness and tackling dullness.
SPF: In addition to the finish, which Gerstein prefers to be skin-like and radiant, it’s worth keeping an eye out for sun protection. While you can find many candidates for the best tinted moisturizer with SPF, it helps to stick with one that has a minimum of SPF 30. (SPF 15 is nice, but it’s not enough protection to keep your skin covered.) Dermatologists also recommend sunscreen reapplication every two hours.
What’s the difference between a tinted moisturizer and a BB cream?
It’s easy to confuse BB creams with tinted moisturizers, but think of the latter as your weightless multitaskers. “BB cream combines coverage with SPF and skin care ingredients while still being a lightweight alternative to most foundations,” Greenberg explains. “The nice thing about BB cream is that it serves many purposes in one. I think the biggest issue with makeup for mature skin is when we pile on too much to dry, textured skin. That’s when you get a cakey look [and] product gathering in fine lines.” Both tinted moisturizer and BB creams will combat dry skin, but BBs may offer additional skin care benefits that a tinted moisturizer might not. It really comes down to your skin needs at the moment. Either makeup product is a win for mature skin.
How do you apply tinted moisturizer?
The way you apply tinted moisturizer makes a difference too. Gerstein turns to tinted moisturizer for spot coverage—in other words, she preps skin with tinted moisturizer before dabbing a concealer for mature skin beneath the eyes, onto dark spots, and around blemishes. “Apply this moisturizing base underneath more pigmented products in order to keep them looking even and smooth on mature skin,” Gerstein says.
Much like applying other base products, keep in mind that a little goes a long way. Makeup artist Rebecca Restrepo says to start by moisturizing skin and applying sunscreen: “Then take your skin tint or tinted moisturizer and squeeze a bit onto the back of your nondominant hand,” she says. “Using your dominant hand, take the skin tint and apply light dots all around your face, concentrating on the center of your face: your nose, inner cheeks, chin, and forehead in between your eyebrows.”
Uzo, founder of Uzo Beauty and Nars global artistry director, suggests using your fingertips to build a natural, no-makeup look. “Sponges and brushes are also great options, but nothing compares to the natural, skin-like finish you achieve when you use your fingers,” says Uzo.
