The Cult-Favorite Tinted Moisturizer You Should Try If You’re Over Foundation (But Still Want Coverage)

Tinted moisturizers are somewhat of an underdog in the cosmetic realm. They usually get pushed behind foundations, BB & CC creams, and concealers, but they're really makeup magicians in their own right. Whether you use them to even out skin tone, provide some sun protection, or moisturize and illuminate your skin, the best tinted moisturizers are more than glorified day creams, and there's an option out there that's meant to work for every skin type, tone, and texture.

Read more: The 13 Best CC Creams On The Market, According To Rave Reviewers

I personally have always avoided tinted moisturizers because of my acne-prone skin and just assumed I'd be chained to a life of sweaty foundation every time summer rolled around — and boy, I've never been more happy to be so wrong. Yes, tinted moisturizers often lose brownie points because of their lack of coverage, and while they're not as opaque as your go-to foundation, they're steps above a transparent primer.

But before you start shopping for your next purchase, it's worth knowing what a tinted moisturizer is, since they blur the line between most kinds of face makeup.

Drawing a distinction between a BB cream, CC cream, foundation, and tinted moisturizer can be tough since they all overlap in some ways, but they do have differences. Tinted moisturizers are creams with a slight tint to them that are meant to hydrate the skin. They're great for people who prefer more natural makeup looks, are looking for lighter coverage, or just want something that doesn't require excessive blending every morning.

Tinted moisturizer's cousins — BB creams — are balms that focus on blurring uneven texture, but typically have a little more coverage than the former. This leads into CC creams, which are nearly the same as BB creams, but focus heavily on color correction (which is what the CC stands for). And the most different, but still closely related face makeup, is foundation, which tends to have a wider range of colors and can build up coverage thicker than any of the others.

But even if you're a diehard foundation fan, a tinted moisturizer is worth having in your makeup bag. Below, nine top-rated tinted moisturizers to swap into your routine.

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