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 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 your 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.
In this article
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer, $41
- Best Buildable Coverage: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, $39
- Best Water-Based: Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint, $70
- Widest Shade Range: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, $48
- Best for Dry Skin: Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35, $36
- Best Lightweight Formula: Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30, $49
- Best for a Dewy Finish: DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46, $29
- Best for Improving Skin Tone and Texture: Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, $78
Shop the best tinted moisturizers for mature skin
These products won’t just save you time getting ready—they’ll also give your skin a radiant boost.
Best Overall: Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer
One SELF tester traded in her $80 foundation for Smashbox’s Halo Healthy Glow All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer over a year ago, and she hasn’t looked back since. “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 tester confirms it doesn’t pill, crease, or settle into fine lines. It’s also oil-free—a plus for combination or oily skin types—and leaves out fragrance and other potential irritants that might bother sensitive skin.
Other notable ingredients: Vitamin E, watermelon extract (a good source of antioxidants)
Best Buildable Coverage: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
Sumayah Jamal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the director of the Skin of Color Specialty Clinic at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, 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’s pretty sheer and buildable, with a finish that’s slightly dewy—perfect for those no-makeup-makeup days.
Plus, because 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 Water-Based: Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint
This skin tint is 75% water, making it super lightweight. “It’s barely noticeable after I rub it in,” says Sarah Felbin, SELF’s senior commerce editor.
Its gel-like formula gives a subtle glow that’ll trick people into thinking you rolled out of bed fresh-faced. “I like the consistency and that it has just enough coverage to even out my skin tone, but not so much that it feels cakey,” she adds. “The result is really beautiful.”
Other notable ingredients: Glycerin
Widest Shade Range: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
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, including various undertones to choose from—another reason why Dr. Garshick swears by it.
Other notable ingredients: Hydrating squalane and hyaluronic acid
Best for Dry Skin: Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35
Saie’s Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer won a SELF Healthy Beauty Award back in 2021 for its ultra-smoothing 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 said. “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’s made with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, plus rich, plant-derived oils like grapeseed and jojoba.
Other notable ingredients: Vitamin E, soothing aloe vera
Best Lightweight Formula: Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
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: Antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E
Best for a Dewy Finish: DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
If your skin looks a little flat, you can combat dullness with this brightening option. “The coverage is super sheer, lightweight, and natural,” says SELF’s lifestyle writer, Jenna Ryu. “I always get complimented and asked if I did something different with my skin or if I got a facial.”
Its fresh, glowy finish comes from niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, both of which can help your skin look smoother, dewier, and plumper.
Other notable ingredients: Vitamin E
Best for Improving Skin Tone and Texture: Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Ife Rodney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founding director of Eternal Dermatology Aesthetics in Fulton, Maryland, previously recommended Isdin’s Healthy Beauty Award–winning Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen to SELF 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: Hydrating glycerin, panthenol (a.k.a. vitamin B5, a highly effective moisturizer)
How we chose the best tinted moisturizers for mature skin
To find tinted moisturizers that play well with mature skin, we asked dermatologists for their holy grail products and their pro tips on which ingredients and formula types to look for. Then, we pulled tried-and-true picks from SELF staffers and past SELF Healthy Beauty Awards. The result? A solid list of lightweight, hydrating moisturizers that offer natural-looking coverage.
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 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.
