Picking The Perfect Skin Tint For You

As an avid makeup user and professional trend follower, I’ve learned that everyone follows the same seasonal routines: heavier coverage in the winter, barely any products in the summer. Basically, we all feel glowy enough in the warmer months that our natural skin can show through. Any other month – cake it on.

I’m no different, plus with my ever-changing skin type during the summer, I have no choice but to use less product. I need to keep my face as moisturized as possible or else my makeup just looks cracked. And one too many layers of concealer can make me look gray and ill.

But there’s an answer to these makeup woes. And it’s the one product that dominates the market from May-August every year: the skin tint. Any influencer will tell you the same spiel: “I love it because it’s the perfect ‘no makeup’ makeup look” and they love that it “lets their freckles show through.”

What’s The Hype Around Skin Tints?

The elusive skin tint can take many forms: mix in SPF and you get tinted sunscreen. Some brands may disguise it by dubbing the product “tinted moisturizer.” No matter the ingredients, if it’s light on your skin and slightly tinted, it’s a skin tint.

One of the OG TikTok makeup trends was mixing a primer, highlighter, and skin tint to make the perfect glowy base. Thanks to @officialsavannahrae sharing how celebrities look so good on the red carpet, everyone wanted the filtered glow.

@officialsavannahrae The glow is insane #makeuptips #makeuphacks #charlottetilbury #glowymakeup #naturalmakeup #redcarpet #fyp #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Savannah Rae Collins

For a more full-coverage look, using a tinted primer like Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter can give you equal amounts of glow and coverage. It’s a primer, highlighter and skin tint all in one, and then adding a tint on top gives you an even more angelic base.

For a quick moment two years ago, there were few trusted brands offering a light coverage skin tint. Of course, Glossier became a cult favorite. It was my personal tried-and-true for a few months before other brands developed their own formula.

What Are The Best Skin Tints?

Since then, it seems as though every beauty brand has created their version of the skin tint…and I’ve fallen for it. I’ve found two main issues in skin tints: some are too oily and not as glowy, and pretty much all of them are transferable.

But the makeup market is ever-evolving, and few products are perfect. Using a skin tint means you’re going to deal with transfer, but setting powder is your best friend.

I’ve gathered up celebrity favorite skin tints and tried them all. Here are my favorite celebrity and TikTok-approved skin tints:

Hourglass Veil Skin Tint

Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint

Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass has had some of the most viral makeup products of the year with the Setting Powder and Glossy Phantom Balm. Now, they have one of the best skin tints on the market – glowy, gorgeous, and easy to apply.