In case you’re in search of a reason to forgo foundation, excellent news: The best tinted moisturizers for mature skin make a compelling case for doing so. More lightweight than their traditional counterparts and, because the name implies, full of moisturizing ingredients, tinted moisturizers bridge the gap between skincare and makeup, offering a glad medium for everybody — but especially ideal if you happen to’re working with signs of aging, like effective lines and dark spots.

Tinted moisturizers can even streamline your routine, serving as your moisturizer, base makeup, and in some cases, SPF protection in a single step. And, because they’ve a more weightless feel than foundations for mature skin, they might be more comfortable if you happen to’re in the course of a heatwave or coping with high humidity and don’t even wish to think about applying primer. (We see you, summer.) Whether you’re in search of sheer coverage to go full weekend warrior or want some complexion-enhancing perks on the beach, these options can deliver. Here’s what you must know.

1. Best Overall: Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35 Sunscreen$36
2. Best for Dry Skin: Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Dewy Foundation Drops$68
3. Best for Dullness: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Light Revealer Natural Skin Illuminator$53
4. Best Luxury: Sisley-Paris Phyto-Hydra Teint Tinted Moisturizer$137
5. Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Perfector$21

While the proper tinted moisturizer on your skin will rely on your baseline skin type and individual concerns, some qualities matter greater than others while you’re in your 40s and above. “I generally select tinted sunscreens with easy-to-blend textures and buildable coverage for mature skin,” says makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. This manner, there may be ample coverage to hide, say, dark spots, however the blendable textures keep the makeup from settling into effective lines and wrinkles.

CC cream stands for color-correcting cream, implying that it neutralizes discoloration like redness and hyperpigmentation, whereas a tinted moisturizer doesn’t necessarily color-correct.Moderately, it uses a built-in tint (a.k.a. pigments) to hide skin concerns like blemishes, dark spots, and undereye circles. By the way in which, a CC cream will also be just that — a cream — whereas tinted moisturizers are inclined to have a lighter texture.

Apply your tinted moisturizer after using concealer — because the initial blurring effect may warrant less coverage out of your tinted moisturizer, and due to this fact a more light-handed application. (This might help prevent creasing and settling into lines and wrinkles.)

For essentially the most natural finish, “whether I apply tinted moisturizer with my fingers, a brush, or sponge, I wish to finish by warming my palms together, then pressing them onto the face a few times,” says Gerstein. “This helps meld the product into the skin in order that it becomes one with it and appears like real skin.”