I have never been one who loves a full coverage foundation. And to be honest, I stay away from any thing resembling a 10-step beauty routine (im more of a 2-3 step kinda girl). For the last 2-3 years, I have solely used a tinted moisturizer on my face (with the rare exception of using a more buildable coverage for a special occasion).

But as with all my skin, hair, and beauty products, I prioritize something with natural ingredients and that works reaally well. I've always been of the mindset that I would really find one product that works amazing rather than have a ton of different products. So today I am sharing the natural tinted moisturizers I have tried, and which one I love the best!

What is a tinted moisturizer?

A tinted moisturizer is a lightweight facial moisturizer that contains a hint of color. This provides light coverage while also hydrating the skin. It’s a great option for those looking for a more natural, no-makeup makeup look, as it evens out the skin tone without feeling heavy or cakey like a traditional foundation. Tinted moisturizers often contain skin-loving ingredients like humectants and emollients to maintain skin moisture, making them ideal for everyday wear, especially for those with dry skin or combination skin (or if you're like me and have sensitive skin!)

For me personally, I want just enough coverage to blur some dark spots from old cystic acne scars. I have done a lot to heal my acne, balance my hormones, and take better care of my skin over the years, so being able to opt for a really lightweight coverage and embrace a natural, healthy glow is one of those special "wins" from embracing holistic health.

In the search for the best tinted moisturizer, I saw a lot of "BB creams" and "CC creams" floating around as options and I wasn't quite sure what the difference was. Now remember, I am no beauty expert or makeup artist but can share what a quick google search told me: while tinted moisturizers, BB creams, and CC creams share some similarities, they’re not exactly the same. Here's some of the key differences:

• BB Cream (short for “beauty balm” or “blemish balm”) offers more coverage than a tinted moisturizer but is still lighter than a foundation. It typically includes additional skin benefits like SPF, antioxidants, or skin-soothing ingredients. BB creams are designed to be an all-in-one product that hydrates, provides light coverage, and addresses skin concerns like redness or blemishes.

• CC Cream (short for “color-correcting cream”) focuses more on neutralizing specific skin concerns such as redness, sallowness, or pigmentation. It usually offers more coverage than a tinted moisturizer and BB cream while still providing skincare benefits, often incorporating ingredients like SPF or anti-aging properties.

In summary, while all three—tinted moisturizers, BB creams, and CC creams—combine makeup and skincare, a tinted moisturizer provides the lightest coverage and emphasizes hydration, while BB creams and CC creams offer more coverage and additional skin benefits like color correction or blemish control.

Importance of Non-toxic Beauty Products

Whenever I mention "chemicals" or "toxic ingredients" on this blog, I always want to offer a nuanced approach. Yes, I think it is important that we are aware of the ingredients that we are putting in and on our bodies, but i do not believe we need to live in fear. When we take care of our bodies well, they actually have their own natural detoxing mechanisms. But the problem comes when our bodies are overhwhelmed by all the ingredients in our food and environment...

This toxin burden "clogs up" our detox pathways, keeping us from being able to detox them effectively. 

One major cuplrit of these potentially harmful ingredients, are skin and beauty products. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and everything that you put on it is absorbed into your blood stream. Some common harmful ingredients to avoid include:

• parabens which are used as preservatives and are linked to hormone disruption and an increased risk of breast cancer

• phthalates, often found in fragrances, which can interfere with the endocrine system and harm reproductive health

• formaldehyde-releasing agents, such as DMDM hydantoin, which are carcinogenic and can cause skin irritation. 

• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are common foaming agents that can irritate the skin and eyes. 

• Artificial fragrances and dyes can also trigger allergic reactions and contain undisclosed chemicals.

 By choosing products with clean, natural ingredients, you can minimize exposure to toxins and protect your overall health. But sometimes that is easier said than done... I remember when I first started being more mindful and aware of the chemicals I was exposing my body too, I has analysis paralysis. It felt like everything surrounding me was "toxic" and it was not a productive headspace to be. 

That is my heart behind sharing some of these brands and products that I love. I have done some of the heavy lifting for you and can (hopefully) minimize some of the overhwelm of navigating brands and products. I'll tell you the good, bad and the ugly about the products I share. 

With that, here are some good tinted moisturizer options to try is you are looking for light coverage and some mineral spf!  

My Makeup + Skincare Criteria

First, I obviously I want to avoid those ingredients I mentioned above. I want products that use active ingredients that help to support your holistic health. I don't want to risk my hormonal health over some uneven skin tone...

Secondly, I like looking my products up on EWG Skin Deep database. This is a search tool that grades common health, beauty, and household products. Each product receives a score 0-10, 0 being no concerning ingredients at all, 10 being... stay away haha. I usually try to keep things 3 and lower or in the "green zone". 

(side note about EWG- while it is not perfect, it's a great resource. I love that instead of just saying a product is "bad", it educates you on the potential risks of a certain product. So if you have a specific concern, you can be more aware of those warnings-- it's all about bio-individuality friends and finding what works best for you and your lifestyle!)

Third- you know I love products that work really well. I always say- I want a few things that are amazingggg instead of a drawer full of things that are just ehh. 

​The Best Natural Tinted Moisturizer

Tower 28- I rarely shop at ulta or sephora or any other "beauty" stores. But on a whim one day I went into Ulta beauty and saw a display of Tower 28 makeup products. It had a "clean beauty brand" stamp from sephora, so I was curious enough to look it up. It was scored a 3 by EWG which I felt was worth a shot. 

And even though I purchased it on kind of a whim, I loved this one. Truly, such a lightweight formula that applies like a skin care product, not makeup. I love that it left a light, dewy finish without feeling like i have oily skin (seriously some of those "dewy looks" straight up look DAMP). Some other things I love:

• huge range of different shades 

• beautiful natural finish that is perfect for "no-makeup" everyday use

• sits well under other face makeup if you want a buildable coverage (occasionally I want a little more coverage and will layer a little powder foundation over the top-- Again, I am not a makeup person whatsoever so don't come at me)

• mineral sunscreen for daily sun protection without any white cast-- if you have ever used zinc oxide before, you know 😅

• You can find the perfect shade with their online quiz, or email a selfie to their team -- so cool!

Side note- I think it is so cool that so many makeup brands and big retail stores are noticing the demand for cleaner products, and moving away from the harsh chemicals 👏

Notable Mentions

Ilia Skin Tint- I know so many people who looove this (it also has soo many amazing reviews on amazon). But Ilia beauty products just do not work with me personally. I must be sensitive to something in their formulation because any of the face products I have tried, they leave red spots all over my face. I do like their msacara option though!

I appreciate the brand’s focus on clean ingredients, and it seems to be a great product. It just aint right for me!

Beauty by Earth tinted facial sunscreen- this is another good one i have tried. The only downside is that is has a pretty limited shade selection-- and honestly, I can only use their medium shade during the summer when I have a little bit more color haha! 

What are some of your fave non-toxic beauty products? I always love a good recommendation!

Kaelyn

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