There's a time and a place for a full face of foundation, but its full-coverage heaviness is not ideal for every day, especially when the best of foundations tend to cling to dryness or settle into lines as you wear it. Luckily, skin tints provide a year-round glow with lightweight texture, sheer yet buildable coverage and nourishing ingredients that soothe, hydrate, brighten and protect skin, as several skin tints contain broad-spectrum UV protection, too.
The best skin tints deliver even texture, a healthy radiance and fine-line-blurring coverage without feeling like you're wearing any makeup at all; that's in no small part why they garner about 13.8M average weekly views on TikTok and there's been an explosion of launches—but which ones really work best for mature skin? We consulted pro makeup experts to see which skin tints they recommend for a crease-free, smooth complexion for skin over 40.
Featured Experts
- Kasey Spickard is a celebrity makeup artist in New York
- Amanda Lee Hill is a mature makeup expert
What's the difference between a skin tint and a foundation?
Foundations and skin tints mainly differ in pigment levels, formulas and finish. Foundations "have a high pigment load that help cover imperfections, blemishes and skin unevenness," explains celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard. "Its thicker texture requires more blending, and will often settle into lines, pores and texture," adds mature makeup expert Amanda Lee Hill. On the other end of the spectrum are skin tints, which are essentially a sheer or light coverage foundation primarily concerned with evening tone. According to Hill, a skin tint's goal is to enhance, not cover, skin's natural state. Another big differentiator between the two are skin tints' infusion of skin care ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalane and vitamin C into their formulas.
How can mature skin benefit from a skin tint?
Everyone wants makeup that promises a "your-skin-but-better" finish—skin tints come pretty close. "Many women will completely give up on applying a 'base' product because they are unhappy with the cakey outcome, not realizing this can be avoided if you change the opacity of your product," says Hill. Skin tints, with their sheer opacity and dewy, natural finishes enhance rather than draw attention to aging elements of the skin. Spickard also notes that skin tints' emphasis on boosting glow and hydration is especially beneficial to dryness and dullness of the skin that can accompanies aging.
What ingredients should I look for in a skin tint?
Hydration power players hyaluronic acid and squalane are both on Hill and Spickard's list of must-haves when shopping for a skin tint. Peptides, niacinamide and glycerin are also great for enhancing radiance of mature skin types, notes Hill.
Makeup Artist-Approved Skin Tints for Mature Skin
