Tinted moisturizers, BB creams, CC creams… Call them what you like, but they're (typically) pretty interchangeable in terms of formula and are a great product alternative if you're A) looking to give your skin a break from heavier foundations at the moment or B) just happen to prefer lighter, skincare-enhanced formulas. Another perk? The drugstore is secretly overflowing with top-rated formulas that perform just as well as (or sometimes better than!) some of the pricey, wider-known formulas.
We're all about getting the most bang for your buck without having to sacrifice the finish, durability, or end result of our makeup application. So we took to beauty retailers like Amazon and Ulta, which feature a wide range of both luxury makeup brands and more affordable drugstore labels. Then, we searched for the top-rated, drugstore-priced tinted moisturizer formulas that had similar (if not nearly identical) ingredient recipes as more expensive names. Spoiler: We found quite a few! Below, we're sharing nine of the best drugstore tinted moisturizers to try if you're looking for an expensive-looking finish sans sticker shock. We also tapped two professional makeup artists for their expert shopping and application tips. Keep scrolling!
The Best Drugstore Tinted Moisturizers, Listed
- If you love Laura Mercier, try: Covergirl Clean Matte BB Cream
- If you love Ilia, try: ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Tinted Moisturizer
- If you love Origins, try: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Tinted Facial Moisturizer
- If you love Lumene, try: L'Oréal Visible Lift Luminous Serum Tint
- If you love Juice Beauty, try: Nyx Professional Makeup Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil
- If you love Saie, try: Wet n Wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator
- If you love Paula's Choice, try: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector Tinted Moisturizer
- If you love Dr. Jart+, try: Maybelline Dream Fresh 8-in-1 Skin Perfector
- If you love Lancôme, try: Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream
If You Love: Laura Mercier Tinted Oil-Free Moisturizer
Average rating: 4/5 stars
Try: Covergirl Clean Matte BB Cream
Average rating: 4.3/5 stars
I'll be the first to admit that Laura Mercier is one of my favorite prestige beauty brands, and it also happens to make the most iconic tinted moisturizers in the industry. That said, its matte, oil-free version comes up short compared to Covergirl's drugstore formula on Ulta's website. It boasts a new clean formula, applies and dries to a flattering matte finish, and is $43 less expensive.
Customer review: "I have super oily skin, and this BB cream helped me. I break out a ton but didn't [when] using this. It was a great shade, and covered all of my pimples and acne scars. It is a great price for such a good product. I just love this product so so much!"
If You Love: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint
Average rating: 3.7/5 stars
Try: ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Tinted Moisturizer
Average rating: 4.2/5 stars
Even though both of these have great ingredients (like ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid), ColourPop's lesser-known-but-still-fabulous alternative is $33 cheaper and has a 4.2-star average rating on Ulta's website compared to Ilia's 3.7.
Customer review: "This product has replaced a full face of foundation. I only use foundation as my concealer now. This is amazing as your moisturizer and provides beautiful coverage if you prefer light to medium coverage. The color choices are incredible, too. I use Medium 11N—a rosy (but not overly pink) undertone on a medium complexion."
If You Love: Origins Ginzing Energy-Boosting Tinted Moisturizer
Average rating: 4.1/5 stars
Try: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Tinted Facial Moisturizer
Average rating: 4.3/5 stars
If you opt for Neutrogena's fan-favorite drugstore tinted moisturizer instead of Origins' iconic zingy formula, you'll still nab an oil-free, hydrating formula, a boost of glow, and lots of antioxidants, but you'll walk away with $32 more dollars in your pocket.
Customer review: "Love this product! It's light, blends well, and gives my skin a summery glow without feeling heavy at all. Always looking for easy ways to incorporate SPF into my routine without using heavy sunscreens, so [I] appreciate the ease of using this as a base layer on a daily basis."
If You Love: Lumene Instant Glowy Beauty Serum
Average rating: 4.2/5 stars
Try: L'Oréal Visible Lift Luminous Serum Tint
Average rating: 4.2/5 stars
Both of these serum-like tinted moisturizers offer glow-inducing ingredients for a lightweight, dewy finish. The former, however, actually wins out with a significantly smaller price tag.
Customer review: "This is a great product that gives lightweight coverage like a tinted moisturizer should. I wear it daily over my retinol cream. It's great for adding a touch of color when a full coverage foundation isn't needed."
If You Love: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream
Average rating: 3.7/5 stars
Try: Nyx Professional Makeup Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil
Average rating: 4.4/5 stars
So there are a few differences between these two tinted moisturizers. Nyx's drugstore formula isn't as clean as Juice Beauty's, and it also lacks SPF and the brand's plant stem cell technology. That said, it's vegan, PETA-certified, noncomedogenic, boosted with aloe and cucumber extracts, less expensive, and absolutely teeming with glowing reviews. Plus, it promises an impressive eight hours of hydration and lightweight coverage.
Customer review: "As a redhead, it's hard to find a product pale enough for me, but NYX always has me covered. I really appreciate how this company actually has products for redheads! This is a medium-coverage foundation, so it's not pasty. I am in my late 30s, so the fact that it doesn't settle into fine lines is really a plus. Wears well over sunscreen—nongreasy. The product was exactly as promised and arrived quickly."
If You Love: Saie Beauty Slip Tint
Average rating: 4/5 stars
Try: Wet n Wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator
Average rating: 4.3/5 stars
This tinted drugstore moisturizer from Wet n Wild is a bit more matte than Saie's dewy formula, but it's still chock-full of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane that help keep skin moisturized throughout the day. It's also incredibly budget-friendly at just $5 and has a slightly higher rating than Saie's.
Customer review: "Run, don't walk. This cream is the perfect consistency and coverage. I am not sure why it isn't breaking the internet. It is that good. Gives your face the perfect amount of moisture while also providing the perfect amount of coverage for those days you aren't looking for a full-on foundation coverage. I can't recommend it enough."
If You Love: Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense Tinted Moisturizer
Average rating: 4.4/5 stars
Try: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector Tinted Moisturizer
Average rating: 4.4/5 stars
The main selling point of both of these tinted moisturizers is their stellar anti-aging properties. Both are highly rated (though Neutrogena's actually has more ratings on Amazon, which bumps up its street cred). However, Neutrogena's drugstore-priced formula is especially cool thanks to the fact that it contains the holy-grail ingredient retinol alongside SPF, vitamins, and other antioxidants. In other words, it's a powerhouse tinted moisturizer if you have fine lines or wrinkles.
Customer review: "I purchased this to wear on 'no makeup' days only to have it replace my regular foundation. This offers pretty good coverage for a tinted product. It blends well and doesn't leave my face feeling greasy. Love it!"
If You Love: Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Tinted Moisturizer
Average rating: 4.4/5 stars
Try: Maybelline Dream Fresh 8-in-1 Skin Perfector
Average rating: 4/5 stars
This multitasking tinted moisturizer–BB cream hybrid from loved drugstore brand Maybelline truly does it all. It blurs imperfections, evens out skin tone, brightens, smooths, hydrates, protects with SPF, and won't clog pores thanks to the oil-free, noncomedogenic formula. Dr. Jart's formula touts many of the same benefits, but it will cost you an extra $36.
Customer review: "I've been using this for years, and while I always try new things, this is the one I go back to; it never fails. I have normal to dry aging skin, and this gives just enough coverage to blurt imperfections. I prefer a natural look, and this gives that, plus SPF30 is a huge bonus. You'd never know it contained sunscreen. Seriously, a near-perfect product."
If You Love: Lancôme's UV Expert Mineral CC Cream
Average rating: 4.3/5 stars
Try: Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector
Average rating: 4.6/5 stars
Edging out Lancôme's comparable formula ratings-wise, Garnier's helps cover up any imperfections you're looking to camouflage; delivers oil-free, long-lasting moisture; and has a helpful dose of skin-protecting SPF.
Customer review: "I am 56 years old and when I wear this I always get compliments on how beautiful my skin is. It even its out and covers so many imperfections. I do not feel greasy like other ones and I can honestly just go out with this on and feel like I am put together. Would recommend!"
FAQ
What should you look for in a tinted moisturizer?
It ultimately depends on your desired level of coverage. Tinted moisturizers tend to be more sheer than foundations or BB creams (we'll compare them directly in just a moment), but some formulas do provide more coverage than others. Typically, oil-free tinted moisturizers tend to offer slightly more coverage, says celebrity makeup artist Beau Nelson, director of Lashify Pro.
Of course, your skin type also plays a role. "If you have oily skin, an oil-free version will be better for you and will last longer," Nelson notes. "For very dry skin, try a balm tinted moisturizer instead of a regular one to make sure skin is hydrated." If you have acne-prone skin, you'll want to find one that's noncomedogenic or, better yet, infused with oil-balancing actives like niacinamide.
How do you apply tinted moisturizer?
All you really need are your own fingertips! "I like to use it almost like regular moisturizer (even though I almost always moisturize before putting on a tinted moisturizer) and apply it in upward, small circular motions to get a very even, worked-into-the-skin tint," Nelson shares.
For touch-ups, makeup artist and Executive Director of Product Development at Polite Society Ana Tamayo says you can bounce a wet Beautyblender or makeup sponge across your skin to ensure an even blend (plus a dewier finish, if that's your jam). Still, she swears by finger application for an "effortless look."
Tinted moisturizer vs. foundation vs. BB cream:
Technically, there are no stringent rules for which product is considered a tinted moisturizer versus a foundation or BB cream. That said, the terms are pretty interchangeable (as we mentioned above). However, if we must categorize them, here's how Nelson and Tamayo define each product:
A tinted moisturizer is basically a sheer foundation, says Nelson. Like the name implies, you'll find moisturizing ingredients in these formulas—think hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and plenty of moisture-locking oils and butters.
"BB Cream is usually aimed at drier skin and has more skincare benefits typically than foundation or tinted moisturizer," says Nelson.
Foundations tend to have more coverage opportunities than tinted moisturizers and BB creams, but they do run the gamut in terms of texture. "[They] can be super sheer to full-coverage; come in liquid, cream, powder, or gel formulas; and don't contain as many skincare actives typically as the above," says Nelson
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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