The 13 Best Tinted Moisturizers of 2025, Tested and MUA-Approved

Shades: 20 | Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Natural/radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

We love pretty much everything about this pick, which is why we’re crowning it the best tinted moisturizer overall. It features buildable coverage that can be layered to blur discoloration; it’s creamy, easy to blend, and gives the skin a beautiful radiance. One layer creates a semi-opaque veil of coverage on the skin, while a second layer adds enough coverage to camouflage breakouts. The finish is glowy without being greasy, though people with very oily skin still might find it too luminous for them. 

Like a tall glass of water for our skin—thanks to the hyaluronic acid and maracuja oil—we found this product to hydrate and plump the skin. It didn’t cling to dryness or uneven skin texture and remained smooth-looking and crease-resistant all day. If you’re looking for a tinted moisturizer that you can wear on minimal makeup days and for more glam makeup looks, this one’s for you.

Stephanie, tester with combination skin: “The product looks smooth without even a hint of streakiness (this is something I feel often happens with tinted moisturizers). My skin has a luminous glow and looks moisturized.” 

Shades: 18 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Despite the category name, many tinted moisturizers aren’t actually that moisturizing. But this one claims to boost moisture levels by up to 52%, and we saw the evidence of that—it left our testers’ skin feeling hydrated all day long. In addition to its impressive moisturizing effect, we loved how natural and glowy it looked on the skin—it didn’t look heavy, patchy, or emphasize dryness. It’s a great go-to when you want to even your complexion and quench dryness in one fast step.

While we love the formula and thought the dewy finish looked gorgeous on the skin, it could be a bit much for those with oil-prone skin types. One tester also found it was inclined to pill a bit when she applied it directly over her skincare. We recommend letting your skincare products sink in for a few minutes before using this product.  

Sunita, tester with combination skin: “The consistency is lightweight, and the formula instantly melts into the skin. The product looked very radiant and did not cling to any dry areas.”

Shades: 24 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Radiant/natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Many tinted moisturizers come in limited shade ranges, but this one from Rare Beauty offers a wide spectrum of shades, from super fair to very deep. And because the coverage is workable, meaning you can sheer it out or build it up, the colors are relatively flexible across different complexions. In addition to the impressive shade range, it’s easy to apply, looks skin-like, and wears beautifully throughout the day. It features a medium, liquid-y consistency that feels weightless and is a breeze to blend. Because the formula is somewhat runny, we noticed that it settled subtly into a few fine lines but is easy to tap out with just our fingertips. The finish is natural with a hint of radiance suitable for various skin types—not too much for oily skin, but just enough to give dry skin a glow. 

We also like that it comes in a compact squeeze bottle, and the formula contains SPF 20 (but remember the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a minimum of SPF 30).

Michelle, tester with dry skin: “The product provided light to medium coverage but was very buildable. I was able to add more without it looking or feeling too heavy. Imperfections were less visible and I achieved an overall more even complexion.”

Shades: 24 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

It is possible to get a high-quality tinted moisturizer on a budget, case in point: this pick from ColourPop. Available in 24 shades, there’s an option to suit most skin tones. We love that it has a natural finish and is hydrating but not greasy, so it works for all skin types. It applies evenly with a brush, a damp sponge, or your fingertips and dries down to a truly skin-like finish. It also has impressive lasting power; we found it wore well all day without creasing, settling into lines, or getting too shiny. 

While we wish the coverage were a bit more buildable, we love that it’s weightless on the skin and gives the complexion an overall blurred effect. It’s an excellent budget-friendly pick as well as a great choice if you’re looking for a tinted moisturizer with a natural finish.

Shades: 10 | Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

While we always recommend applying a separate face sunscreen under makeup, adding a tinted moisturizer with added SPF protection on top is never a bad idea. This ultra-hydrating formula melts into the skin, leaving a natural-looking veil of color behind. Our tester, who recently started using retinol, adored the generous amount of coverage and the hydration boost it provided her skin. Besides its fool-proof application—whether with fingers or a brush—the real standout is the powerhouse ingredient duo. Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide help smooth and hydrate skin while minimizing the appearance of pores. Our only complaint is that it has a strong fragrance, but if you’re looking for a product with SPF and you’re not sensitive to scent, we think you’ll love this pick.

Leann, tester with dry, combination skin: “It was very easy to apply both with my fingers and with a makeup brush (the latter worked better for those times when I wanted more coverage). The coverage was smooth and even and felt very lightweight on my skin.”

Shades: 25 | Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Natural/matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

If you have oily skin, perhaps you’ve found tinted moisturizers too dewy or even greasy in the past. However, this matte-tinted moisturizer from Fenty Beauty is lightweight and doesn’t contribute to excess oil throughout the day, making it the best tinted moisturizer for oily skin among all the ones we tested. It has light-to-medium buildable coverage, which gives you some customizability in terms of how much blurring coverage you want on any given day. It’s blendable, looks smooth and natural on the skin, and wears beautifully with minimal fading or creasing throughout the day. 

While it’s certainly not drying, those with dry skin might not find it hydrating enough (aka, you might want to use a facial moisturizer before application). But if you’re looking for semi-matte, buildable coverage, impressive lasting power, and an inclusive shade range, this one hits all those points.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: “It did a nice job of evening my skin tone while still letting some natural imperfections peek through. I think the wear of this tinted moisturizer is better than most I’ve tried because it’s not as emollient or glowy, so it doesn’t break down as quickly on the skin.” 

Shades: 18 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No 

Many tinted moisturizers formulated for dry skin end up being greasy, but this one allows dry skin to achieve a natural, not too dewy finish. It’s available in 18 shades, ranging from very fair to very deep, and offers sheer coverage that lets your natural skin shine through. We also appreciate that the formula contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to nourish parched skin. It lasted nicely throughout the day, maintaining its natural finish and looking fresh for several hours. 

One tester had a seamless application experience with this one, while another tester noticed a bit of patchiness or pilling. Sometimes pilling happens when you layer skincare and makeup products with different bases (water vs. oil), so because this formula is water-based, we recommend applying water-based skincare products. 

Ally Hirschlag, associate editorial director with sensitive, combination skin: “I honestly wasn’t sure what sort of coverage I’d get with a tinted moisturizer, since I’d never used one before, but I was pleasantly surprised by how even this product left my skin. I only had to do some minimal spot cover-up with my concealer. I’d often get compliments on my skin while using it, which hasn’t happened since I was, oh, 10 years younger?” 

Shades: 17 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

People with sensitive skin know that finding a complexion product that covers existing irritation without leading to more irritation or sensitivity can be tricky. This Tower 28 tinted sunscreen is great because it’s fragrance-free (synthetic fragrance can be a source of irritation for some), has a seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association (meaning it’s suitable for people with eczema), and contains mineral SPF 30.

It offers light coverage that can be built up to blur discoloration, and we love that the lightweight, liquid consistency is easy to blend. It sets to a natural finish on the skin, providing an even wash of coverage and a healthy dose of sun protection. It’s great for no-makeup makeup days and more done-up looks, though we wish there were some more cool-toned shades in the lineup to cater to more people with pink undertones in their skin.

Shades: 16 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Our skin loses elasticity as we age, leading to less firmness and radiance. So, finding a tinted moisturizer that will boost hydration, conceal discoloration, and give your complexion a glow is key. This skin serum skin tint is the best tinted moisturizer for mature skin because it has light coverage that blurs redness and sunspots while still letting a bit of your natural skin peek through. Its lightweight, lotion-like consistency also provides a glowy finish. We love that it’s formulated with collagen peptides and ceramides to plump and protect the skin barrier, and we found that it really did leave our skin feeling moisturized all day long. 

If you have oily skin or you’re looking for super buildable coverage, there are other options for you. But if you have dry or mature skin and want a hydrating tinted moisturizer that offers a bit of coverage, we think you’ll love this one. 

Mia, tester with combination skin: “The product definitely helped even out my skin tone overall, giving me a smooth finish and even dulled some of my redness.”

Shades: 15 | Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Although it’s marketed as a skin tint, this formula from Milk Makeup can be built up to offer medium coverage that blurs imperfections while maintaining a skin-like appearance. One layer creates a sheer veil of coverage, while a second layer offers more coverage that nicely camouflages redness and discoloration. The creamy, lightweight formula contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and squalane to moisturize the skin, and our tester confirmed that it keeps her skin feeling hydrated throughout the day. She also noted that it layered nicely with other makeup products, giving her complexion a radiant glow that lasted all day long.

This pick is great for those looking for a buildable formula with a glowy finish, although it may be too glowy for individuals with oily skin. If you have dry or balanced skin, we highly recommend this gem for everyday makeup looks.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: “I’ve been reaching for this product on days when my skin is feeling dry or looking dull; it offers medium coverage that evens discoloration and gives my complexion a gorgeous glow.”

Shades: 16 | Coverage: Buildable/full | Finish: Dewy | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

If you’re seeking the benefits of skincare with the coverage of foundation, this is the tinted moisturizer for you. It contains SPF 20, sodium hyaluronate, and vitamin E to hydrate and nourish the skin, and boasts impressive buildable coverage. One layer did a fantastic job of evening our complexions and creating a radiant glow, while a second layer provided full coverage that resembled a true foundation. Because it’s so buildable, it’s a versatile product to keep in your makeup bag for a quick day-to-night adjustment. 

The texture is slightly thicker than most tinted moisturizers we tested, though we only noticed this when really layering it up. But even when we applied two generous coats, we still found it comfortable and were impressed by how well it wore throughout the day. 

Jenna, tester with acne-prone skin: “The coverage of this tinted moisturizer was honestly amazing. It was buildable, but I really didn’t feel like I needed more than one layer (I like it natural-looking!). It was a little bit thicker than other tinted moisturizers I have used, but I actually enjoyed it because it helped cover up some dark spots and acne scars.”

Shades: 20 | Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Tinted moisturizers are often formulated with a lot of emollient ingredients (moisturizing butters, oils, etc.), so they tend not to last as long on the skin as traditional foundations. If you’re looking for a hydrating base product that won’t make you sacrifice longevity, try this one. It contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to hydrate and smooth the skin, but it’s not greasy or oily, so it holds up well throughout the day. It might not be moisturizing enough for people with dry skin, but it’s a great option for humid summer days or oily skin types. 

The serum-like texture melts into the skin to create an even veil of coverage and offers a fresh, natural-looking finish. The buildable coverage will blur breakouts and discoloration, though it still lets your natural skin shine through. Once it was set, it lasted well without fading, creasing, or emphasizing fine lines or texture.

Laura, tester with combination skin: “The consistency was a lightweight liquid and did not settle into pores or lines. It instead improved the look of pores, dullness, and discoloration! The dewy look it gave to my skin lasted all day (up to 12 hours).”