On a daily basis, more and more of us are leaning towards a paired-down, natural look over layering up the best foundation for a flawless finish. Enter the best tinted moisturisers to add a little bit of sparkle to your complexion.
Wondering what the difference between a foundation and a tinted moisturiser is? We've spoken to Bobbi Brown's Editorial Pro Artist, Amalie Russell, to find out everything you need to know. Just keep on scrolling...
What's the difference between a tinted moisturiser and a foundation?
"The difference between tinted moisturisers and foundations boils down to skin care benefits, density and coverage," explains Russell. "Tinted moisturisers are almost transparent and feel like second skin due to their hybrid skincare formulas that have SPF to protect. Foundations on the other hand come in various levels of coverage and different textures such as creams, sticks, powders or liquids that can accommodate all skin types."
You won't get a whole lot of coverage with a tinted moisturiser. Instead, think of it as your skin, but just that little bit better than usual.
Are tinted moisturisers suitable for all skin types?
"Tinted moisturisers are best suited for normal to dry, dehydrated or more sensitive skin types," says Russell. "They are also great for anyone looking for that 'barely there' look."
Junior Shopping Editor Valeza Bakolli testing the best tinted moisturisers
How do you apply a tinted moisturiser?
Russell recommends applying the product with your fingers for the most natural look. However, if you want a more 'airbrushed' finish, use a foundation blending brush instead.
Intrigued? Read on for the formulas that pass the Marie Claire UK test in the best tinted moisturiser department. If you want to know how we test the products that make it into our articles, check out our in-depth guide.
For more inspiration, don't forget to check out our guides to the best foundation for oily skin, the best foundation for dry skin, the best foundation for acne-prone skin and even the best drugstore foundation.
Best tinted moisturisers 2025: tried & tested by editors
1. Lumene CC Color Correcting Cream
“This tinted moisturiser pretty much covers all bases - from UVA and UVB protection to great coverage and colour correction. It feels incredibly lightweight on the skin, has a great shade range and is packed with skin-loving ingredients. As a tinted moisturiser, I simply can’t fault it.” - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
2. Clinique Superdefense City Block SPF 50
“My love for this tinted moisturiser is no secret - in fact, I recently wrote it a love letter. I’ve used this as my main moisturiser for years as it ticks multiple boxes for me. It has a super high SPF of 50 (which is important year-round, but especially as we move into spring/summer) and also protects against environmental factors.
But for me, the most impressive thing about this moisturiser is its consistency. It has a lightweight, oil-free formula but doesn’t leave a dull, matte finish on my skin. The slight, hydrating tint blurs my skin’s texture and redness without feeling at all heavy. My only gripe is that it comes in just one shade, which works for my light-medium skin but might leave a noticeable sheen on deeper skin tones.” - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
3. Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint
“This unique tinted moisturiser went viral when it launched earlier this year, and still flies in and out of stock incredibly fast—I have to say though, the hype is real. The texture is a gel-cream hybrid which I love as someone with oily skin as it’s hydrating without being overly rich. In terms of skin tints, it has really decent buildable coverage too and dials down redness and breakouts without looking cakey. It feels like you’re wearing nothing on your skin as it’s so lightweight yet the result is a fresh and dewy complexion that lasts for hours.” — Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor and Marie Claire Contributor
4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Unifiant Moisturiser
"For acne and blemish-prone skin, there's a tinted version of the famous Effaclar Duo+. It has all of the original's skincare benefits – salicylic acid to break down blockages, niacinamide to calm blemishes – plus a slight tint to help reduce the visibility of breakouts. I find it to be brilliant for excessively oily skin." - Grace Lindsay, Beauty Contributor
5. Cetaphil PRO Tinted Moisturising Day Cream SPF30
"My skin is quite sensitive, and I suffer from flare-ups every now and then which leave my skin red and sore. More often than not, I'm not after heavy coverage with my make-up but rather a skin-blurring and redness-neutralising effect. Enter: this tinted moisturiser. It targets redness, immediately evening my skin tone in the short term, and the ingredients actually work to soothe redness over time. Oh, and it has SPF30, too. I'm obsessed." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
6. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser Hydrating Gel Cream
"I've used the Bare Minerals tinted moisturiser since I was about 17 years old - it's super light and easy to apply while still offering a pretty decent amount of coverage. I also love that it doesn't dry out my skin or leave you shiny after a few hours like other competitors. If you're in the market for tinted moisturiser that offers good coverage, a natural finish market, and a light sun kissed glow, then this one gets my top vote." - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor
7. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Skin Tint
“Best suited to dry or dehydrated types, this luxurious-feeling tinted moisturiser from Bobbi Brown is jam-packed with moisturising ingredients that will leave your skin hydrated all day. Alongside a blend of nourishing vitamins, there’s hyaluronic acid and shea butter which gives it that decadent texture. In terms of coverage, it is quite lightweight, but as there’s so much going on to plump and brighten the skin already I think that those that love a natural make-up look will find this plenty. A great option for everyday wear.” — Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor and Marie Claire Contributor
8. Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil
"Spoiler alert - this isn't technically a tinted moisturiser, rather a tinted SPF, so it won't be for you if you're after medium to heavy coverage. That said, I've used it for the past year or so as a tinted moisturiser alternative and really love how easily the product blends, plus how hydrating it is for my skin. It always leaves my skin looking glowy and fresh." - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor
9. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser
"Good coverage, long lasting and not too expensive, this really is the one for everyday wear. I love to team it with a little bit of cream blush for the ultimate healthy look. It's available in 12 shades too, so you're sure to find a great match." - Grace Lindsay, Beauty Contributor
10. Sculpted by Aimee HydraTint Moisturising Tinted Serum
"I discovered this tinted moisturiser after commenting on how amazing a friend's skin looked. She looked so healthy - glowy, well rested, and full of life - and put it all down to this Sculpted by Aimee product. It's soon become a firm favourite of mine - again, super easy to apply, light weight but offering good coverage, and moisturising, too. I like the little nozzle, too, as it's great for making sure you don't squeeze more product than you need out of the bottle at one time." - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor
11. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Skin Perfector
"It doesn't get much better than a Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, which you'd expect considering she invented the stuff. With an SPF of 30 and coming in 20 shades to suit a broad range of skin tones, this formula is one of my favourites." - Grace Lindsay, Beauty Contributor
12. Dr. Hauschka Tinted Day Cream
"Oh my goodness, do I LOVE this cream. If you want to look hydrated, plump and really, really healthy then this is the tinted moisturiser for you. Annoyingly it doesn't have any sun protection, but you'll forgive it when you see how gloriously well you look. It comes out quite thick (making it really hydrating), but if you warm it in your hands first it makes it easier to work it into your skin." - Grace Lindsay, Beauty Contributor
13. Clarins Skin Illusion Tinted Moisturiser SPF25
“I think that lots of people will love this new tinted moisturiser from Clarins, but the skincare-first formulation means that it’s particularly well-suited to those with more mature skin who want something to smooth, plump and illuminate. It’s incredibly lightweight, meaning the 10 shades will stretch well on skin tones, and while this is definitely just a tint and not a foundation alternative it does look really dewy on skin and evens tone. Even better, it blurs fine lines and pores for a really soft and diffused effect on the skin.” — Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor and Marie Claire Contributor
