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There’s something to be said for changing up your skin care routine as you get older, but the best tinted moisturizers for mature skin are all-around great at any age. What sets them apart from the pack isn’t vague “anti-aging” claims that overpromise Botox-level results—it’s their effective active ingredients that moisturize and brighten, and their seamless tints that smooth out your complexion (some can even replace your trusty foundation).
“The ideal tinted moisturizer for mature skin combines skin care and makeup,” Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, a cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatologist at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of NY in New York, tells SELF. “It will hydrate without causing irritation while enhancing one’s natural beauty, evening the skin tone, and bringing a glow.” That’s quite the multitasking feat, but we’ve found a few products that check all of those boxes. Here, we spoke with derms to get their top picks and expert shopping advice.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
- Most Longwearing: Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer
- Widest Shade Range: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
- Best for Dry Skin: Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35
- Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 50
- Best Lightweight Formula: Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
- Best for a Dewy Finish: DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
- Best for a Matte Finish: MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30
- Best for Buildable Coverage: Ami Colé Skin-Enhancing Tinted Moisturizer
- Best for Improving Skin Tone and Texture: Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
- Best Sweat-Resistant: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Hydrating Skin Tint SPF 15
- Best for Travel: Attitude Solid Tinted Cream SPF 30 with Zinc Oxide
- Best Makeup-As-Skin Care: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Cream Bronzer
What happens to your skin as you age?
As you get older, your skin naturally loses collagen and produces less oil, Mina Amin, MD, FAAD, a cosmetic and medical dermatologist at California Dermatology Specialists in Los Angeles, California, tells SELF. As a result, your skin can look thinner, drier, duller, and less even. You might notice more fine lines and dark spots too.
Signs of aging can appear as early as your 20s, though it’s most common for them to pop up in your 30s, 40s, and 50s, Dr. Amin says. People with lighter skin tones or with a history of sun-bathing or using tanning beds may notice these changes at a younger age, Rosemarie Ingleton MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Ingleton Dermatology in New York City, tells SELF.
Menopause can affect your skin’s appearance too, Dr. Murphy-Rose says. The decrease in estrogen that comes with menopause reduces your skin’s collagen production and its ability to produce ceramides (lipids that help maintain a healthy skin barrier). When these hormonal changes occur, your skin is more likely to lose elasticity, feel drier, and be more sensitive.
What should you look for in a tinted moisturizer for mature skin?
In general, moisturizers for mature skin should hydrate and strengthen your skin, Dr. Amin says. For the former, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, aloe, and colloidal oatmeal. Peptides, ceramides, and squalane can help tackle the latter, Dr. Murphy-Rose says. Tinted moisturizers that play nicely with aging skin should contain these ingredients too, but they’ll also apply evenly and smoothly, without settling into fine lines (which, according to Dr. Murphy-Rose, can make them look more prominent). If your skin has become more sensitive over time, she recommends avoiding products with fragrances or dyes, which can cause irritation.
Also, look for products with antioxidants like vitamin C, niacinamide, or vitamin E—they can help prevent damage and hyperpigmentation from free radicals while kickstarting skin barrier repair, Sumayah Jamal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of the Skin of Color Specialty Clinic at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, tells SELF. Bonus points? Pick a tinted moisturizer with SPF to knock out one more step in your morning routine, she says.
Shop the best tinted moisturizers for mature skin
We consulted derms and SELF staffers, combed through previous SELF Healthy Beauty Award winners, and pored over online bestsellers to find the best aging skin-friendly tinted moisturizers. These products won’t just save you time getting ready—they’ll also give your skin a radiant boost.
Best Overall: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
Pros
- SPF 30
- Very hydrating
- 20 available shades
Cons
- Lightweight formula might not provide the level of coverage you want
Dr. Jamal recommends BareMinerals’s top-selling Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer for its broad shade range, SPF content, and host of hydrating ingredients. It contains squalane, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, all of which will nourish your skin without leaving it feeling greasy. The coverage isn’t too heavy, either: It provides a sheer-to-light, buildable finish that’s slightly dewy—perfect for those no-makeup-makeup days.
Plus, since the formula includes mineral sunblock (and no synthetic fragrances), it’s a reliable pick for people with sensitive skin.
Other notable ingredients
Hydrating and smoothing lactic acid
Best Budget: CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Sheer Tint
Pros
- Under $20
- SPF 30
- Blends well
Cons
- Limited shade range (three options available)
This 2020 Healthy Beauty Award–winner impressed our tester with its moisturizing ingredients, smooth texture (they noted it has basically no white cast, despite its mineral formula), and subtle (but long-lasting) coverage. “Feels as if it will last all day,” they wrote. “Loved the sheer tint, as it wasn’t too light or dark and could blend easily under makeup.”
CeraVe’s Hydrating Sunscreen uses ceramides and niacinamide to strengthen and address signs of sun damage. It also contains vitamin E, which has serious smoothing and reparative effects on the skin, in addition to its antioxidant properties.
Other notable ingredients
Hyaluronic acid
Best Longwearing: Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer
Pros
- Very smooth finish
- Effects last all day
- 20 shade options
Cons
- SPF clocks in just under the derm-recommended amount
SELF’s commerce director traded in her $80 foundation for Smashbox’s Halo Healthy Glow All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer over a year ago and hasn’t looked back. “I love that when I’m getting ready in the morning, I can just squeeze a dab on each of my cheeks, forehead, and chin, and blend into my skin with a foundation brush for light, glowy coverage,” she says.
The hyaluronic acid and niacinamide-infused formula is made to last all day, and our commerce director says it doesn’t pill, crease, or settle into fine lines.
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E, watermelon extract (a good source of antioxidants)
Widest Shade Range: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
Pros
- 30 shade options
- SPF 40
- Very lightweight consistency
Cons
- Takes a little while to blend, according to one SELF editor
Niacinamide is the star ingredient in this liquid skin tint, which is why Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology and clinical assistant professor at Cornell University, previously recommended it to SELF. We’ve already mentioned that niacinamide can help with hyperpigmentation, but it may help improve redness, fine lines, and dehydration too.
And then there’s Ilia’s impressive shade range, clocking in at 30 options from extra light to extra deep, with various undertones to choose from—another reason why Dr. Garshick swears by it.
Other notable ingredients
Squalane, hyaluronic acid
Best for Dry Skin: Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35
Pros
- Richly hydrating formula
- 14 shade options
- SPF 35
Cons
- Very light coverage—won’t conceal breakouts
We gave Saie’s Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer a Healthy Beauty Award back in 2021 for its ultra-smoothing, BB cream-style effect on our tester’s skin. “While it didn’t cover up my chin pimple, it did make my whole face look dewy and even goddess-like,” they wrote. “Plus, it has this incredible blur effect that I haven’t been able to achieve prior. Where are my pores? Did they disappear into the Saie universe?”
Given its blend of moisturizing ingredients, the Slip Tint is an especially good pick for people with dry skin. It uses hyaluronic acid and glycerin, plus rich, plant-derived oils like grapeseed and jojoba.
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E, soothing aloe vera
Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 50
Pros
- Made with sensitive skin in mind
- Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation
- SPF 50
Cons
- Limited shade range (four options available)
Multiple dermatologists have previously recommended La Roche Posay’s lightweight tinted sunscreen to SELF. It’s made without common irritants like fragrance and it uses a mineral sunblock to protect your skin from UV rays, which is the better pick for people with sensitive skin. We also like it for folks with oily skin, given its quick-absorbing formula and matte finish—if you find that most face products make your skin feel slick, give this one a try.
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E
Best Lightweight Formula: Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Pros
- Very smooth finish
- 16 shade options
- SPF 30
Cons
- Some Sephora reviewers noticed prominent yellow undertones
Both Dr. Jamal and Dr. Murphy-Rose recommend the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer from Nars. They note its 16 shades, and Dr. Murphy-Rose specifically calls out its impressive consistency—it’s lightweight, easy to blend, and pretty darn seamless in terms of coverage. “The Nars tinted moisturizer brings a noticeable glow to the skin while smoothing its appearance,” she says. “It covers without caking or worsening fine lines.”
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin C, vitamin E
Best for a Dewy Finish: DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
Pros
- Leaves a natural, dewy sheen
- SPF 46
Cons
- Only available in one universal shade
If your skin always looks a little flat, you can combat that dullness with this brightening tinted moisturizer. “The coverage is super sheer, lightweight, and natural,” says SELF’s lifestyle writer. “I always get complimented and asked if I did something different with my skin or if I got a facial.”
Its fresh, glowy finish is due in part to niacinamide, but also hyaluronic acid—the hydrating powerhouse—can help your skin look smoother, dewier, and plumper.
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E
Best for a Matte Finish: MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30
Pros
- Non-cakey formula
- Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation
- SPF 30
Cons
- Not a good option for dry skin
- Only available in one universal shade
Made with vitamin C and soothing green tea extract, this 2022 Healthy Beauty Award–winner can help with dark spots and inflammation. Unlike a lot of tinted moisturizers, it leaves a matte finish behind, which is a major perk if your skin gets oily or sweaty easily (or, as we like to think of it, naturally dewy).
“It keeps my face matte, no matter how much I sweat,” one Amazon reviewer wrote. “It does NOT make me break out, which is also a rare thing. It protects my skin well from the sun and seems to be a great primer as well, helping to hide my pores and fine lines.”
Other notable ingredients
A moisturizing blend of glycerin and skin-softening stearic acid
Best for Buildable Coverage: Ami Colé Skin-Enhancing Tinted Moisturizer
Pros
- Light-to-medium coverage
- Very easy to apply and layer
- Derm-approved deep and rich shade options
Cons
- Doesn’t contain sunscreen
Here’s a top pick from both Dr. Jamal and Dr. Ingleton, who notes that Ami Colé has some especially good shade options for melanin-rich skin. Dr. Jamal also likes it for its antioxidant content: It contains plant extracts that are naturally high in vitamins C and E.
Sephora reviewers were impressed by how well it layered onto their skin: “You can build the coverage exactly as you need,” one wrote. “I went light enough so my freckles were showing but heavy enough to really even out my skin, and with color correcting I totally covered my hyperpigmentation.”
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, vitamin E
Best for Improving Skin Tone and Texture: Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Pros
- Great for skin barrier repair
- SPF 50
Cons
- Only available in one universal shade
- Pricey
Ife Rodney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founding director of Eternal Dermatology Aesthetics in Fulton, Maryland, previously recommended Isdin’s Healthy Beauty Award–winning Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen to SELF, noting its benefits for aging skin. “It has peptides and antioxidants for protection and repairing damage, and its tint gives that dewy, no-makeup appearance,” she said.
Those ingredients are also key if you want smoother, more-even-looking skin: Peptides improve your skin’s elasticity and texture, while antioxidants tackle dark spots.
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, panthenol (a.k.a. vitamin B5, a highly effective moisturizer)
Best Sweat-Resistant: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Hydrating Skin Tint SPF 15
Pros
- Resists sweat and moisture for 12 hours
- 14 shade options
Cons
- SPF clocks in under the derm-recommended amount (SPF 30)
Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Hydrating Skin Tint is another favorite of Dr. Ingleton’s. It has a great shade range, top-notch moisturizing ingredients (including hyaluronic acid and shea butter), and a formula that stays put when things get wet. “It is non-creasing and sweat-resistant, even after a full day out at swim meets or teaching fitness class in 90 degree [weather] with humidity,” one Sephora reviewer wrote.
Just note that it’s only SPF 15, so you’ll definitely need to apply a good sunscreen first.
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E
Best for Travel: Attitude Solid Tinted Cream SPF 30 with Zinc Oxide
Pros
- Rich, thick formula
- SPF 30
Cons
- Only available in one universal shade
- May feel a little heavy for some
A solid sunscreen is easy to apply and won’t leak in your tote—talk about a win-win. The Solid Tinted Cream from derm-approved brand Attitude functions like a Push Pop (just push from the bottom to dispense more product) and contains a bunch of nourishing ingredients. A combination of grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and sunflower seed oil give it a rich, skin-conditioning boost
Other notable ingredients
Seaweed extract, which can help address signs of aging like fine lines, dullness, and inflammation
Best Makeup-As-Skin Care: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Cream Bronzer
Pros
- Functions as a bronzer, foundation, and moisturizer
- Lightweight and buildable, according to Sephora reviewers
Cons
- Limited shade range (four options available)
- Doesn’t contain sunscreen
“This works really well and gives you that ‘I just got back from vacation’ look,” wrote one 2023 Healthy Beauty Award tester, who found that Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer Cream Bronzer is also very easy to blend. True to its name, it contains skin-warming ingredients that’ll give you a sun-kissed glow.
You can feel good about foregoing your moisturizer and foundation when you swap in this tinted cream: In addition to its bronzing effect, it also contains expert-recommended hydrators like glycerin and squalane.
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E
Related:
- The Best Eye Creams for Aging Skin, According to Dermatologists
- 10 Ultra-Hydrating Cleansers Derms Recommend for Mature Skin
- The Best Red Light Therapy Devices for Clearer, Smoother Skin
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