When the heat waves hit, I have no patience for the feeling of foundation on my face. Instead, it’s all about lightweight skin tints for me—tinted moisturizers, skin tints, and tinted SPFs that offer a natural-looking finish with a weightless feel (say it with me: tint supremacy!). So, why am I ditching my favorite foundations until the fall? Well, imagine sporting full coverage foundation while riding the subway in 90-degree weather—gripping onto the nearest metal pole for dear life, packed in the rattling train like sardines in a can, amongst dozens of other sweaty and damp commuters bemoaning the hazy reality that the car they chose doesn’t have AC. Much like my clothing, I want to wear as little layers as possible, while still having enough coverage to avert outright nudity (or in this case, an entirely bare face).
Pro makeup artist Monika Blunder describes the best skin tints as “a lightweight, sheer coverage product designed to even out skin tone and provide a natural, skin-like finish.” Their thin, easily-blended texture makes them the perfect option for hot weather—with tints, you get just the right amount of coverage while keeping your skin feeling fresh and light all day.
No matter what type of formula you go for, from gel-like moisturizers to watery serums, all provide a your-skin-but-better base and nearly undetectable finish. From there, you can get painterly with targeted concealer coverage, sun-kissed bronzers, and more. Plus, plenty of complexion tints are formulated as skincare-makeup hybrids with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, and more. Some even do double duty by adding SPF for added sun protection (Blunder prefers not to rely on makeup products for her SPF—and we co-sign that opinion).