The 9 Best Drugstore Tinted Moisturizers That Rival High-End Options

Best Overall

Revlon Illuminance Serum Tint

$19

$10 at Amazon

$19

$14 at Ulta $12 at Target

Coverage: Light-medium | Shade Range: 14 | Finish: Dewy | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Our tester was very pleasantly surprised by this budget-friendly, multi-tasking formula, describing it as the ideal, dewy tinted moisturizer for “no makeup makeup“ days. With a lightweight, easily-blendable consistency similar to lotion, the product boasts a subtly dewy, ultra-hydrating texture; our tester only needed a dime-sized amount to achieve her desired coverage. 

Due to her oily skin, our tester frequently struggles to find makeup that lasts all day, especially when seeking out base products that will let her freckles shine through. This one stayed put and wore comfortably for hours despite its ample hydration and dewy finish—our tester incorporated some strategically-placed powder and mattifying primer into her application technique for added insurance—without transferring and minimal fading. 

Dominique Hobdy, senior editor with oily skin: “After several hours of wear, my skin felt really comfortable and quite ‘out of sight out of mind,’ which for me is a major win because with oily skin, sometimes [complexion products] can be overwhelmingly noticeable.”

Best Overall, Runner-Up

ColourPop Hyaluronic Acid Tinted Moisturizer

$22 at Amazon $15 at Ulta $15 at Target

Coverage: Sheer | Shade Range: 19 | Finish: Natural | Size: 1.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick checked all of our boxes—and then some. It has an extensive shade range, feels weightless on the skin, delivers natural-looking coverage, and holds up all day long. Our tester loved that it can be worn solo for a more pared-back look, but it also layers nicely with concealer and other makeup for a more full-on effect. Plus, it blends nicely no matter how (brush, fingers, sponge) you apply it. The only drawback? Unlike other products we tested, there’s no SPF built in, but given that you should be applying a separate sunscreen anyway, that wasn’t a dealbreaker for us.

Best for Dry Skin

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint

$13 at Amazon $14 at CVS View on Neutrogena.com

Coverage: Light | Shade Range: 10 | Finish: Natural | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This mega-hydrating pick (thanks, hyaluronic acid) is the perfect choice for those with super dry skin. It delivered an impressive level of moisture while excelling at evening skin tone and neutralizing redness. The coverage and hydration lasted a full day, too, and Kelly, our tester, raved about the smooth texture. It did feel like it sat on top of the skin more than melting in, and she did have a bit of a hard time finding her perfect shade match, but those were minor drawbacks.

Kelly, tester with sensitive skin: “I had considered trying an additional moisturizer underneath, but didn’t need one at all. My skin felt well hydrated the whole day, with no greasiness or oiliness.”

Best Shade Range

L'Oréal Paris True Match Tinted Serum

$21

$16 at Amazon $21 at Ulta $22 at Walgreens

Coverage: Light | Shade Range: 14 | Finish: Radiant | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Not only does this come in over a dozen shades, but it delivers very natural-looking color. It layered well with other makeup we used during testing, and the coverage was versatile and buildable with impressive staying power. It gives the complexion an even-looking color while maintaining a skin-like appearance.

The finish is on the glowier side, perhaps veering a bit too shiny for some, in which case we suggest setting it with a translucent powder to help tamp that down. The squirt applicator was also a bit messy, but our tester, Julia, mitigated that by applying it with a foundation brush.

Julia, tester with combination skin: “I found myself using it as a substitute for my foundation on days where I didn’t want to wear a lot of makeup but still wanted to feel presentable. After about two to three layers of product, I reached the coverage I was looking for. If you are looking for just a base color underneath foundation, one to two layers is enough.”

Best Multitasking

L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion

$18

$15 at Amazon $18 at Ulta $15 at Target

Coverage: Sheer | Shade Range: 5 | Finish: Dewy | Size: 1.35 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

All tinted moisturizers are multitaskers by definition. But the lumi glotion takes the cake by offering a gorgeous, iridescent glow. There’s no shortage of ways to use it: Wear it solo for a sun-kissed glow, under foundation for an extra radiance boost, or dabbed onto your cheekbones instead of a highlighter. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t necessarily offer a ton of coverage on its own, and there’s also no SPF in the mix, so you will want to add some stand-alone sun protection.

Shannon Stubbs, associate editor with dry skin: “It’s radiant without being sparkly or shimmery, and it can even be worn without makeup when you just want to add a touch of color to your complexion. I also love that it doesn’t feel sticky, so it’s become my everyday product for no-makeup days when I just want to look a little more refreshed.”

Best BB Cream

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

$11

$8 at Amazon $11 at Ulta $8 at Target

Coverage: Sheer | Shade Range: 5 | Finish: Natural | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Yes, this may technically be called a BB cream (read on for more on the “technical” differences between those and tinted moisturizers), but we still deemed it worthy of a spot on this list. It essentially acts and functions as a tinted moisturizer, moisturizing and delivering coverage simultaneously. It’s oil-free and won’t clog pores, one of our favorite attributes, and the coverage is sheer and dewy. Our tester deemed it especially good at helping conceal and camouflage redness. FYI, she did find that it blended better with other products when she layered a moisturizer underneath. Our biggest con with this pick is that it’s only offered in five shades.

Lauren, tester with combination/dry skin: “The product layered nicely with other products, like bronzer and blush. I found it to be super blendable.”

Best for Deep Skin Tones

Black Radiance Tinted Moisturizer

$9 at Amazon $9 at Blackradiancebeauty.com

Coverage: Light | Shade Range: 8 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.91 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tinted moisturizers, particularly drugstore ones, are notorious for not offering a ton of shade options, particularly for darker skin. (Here’s hoping that changes soon.) Here’s one good exception, which comes in eight shades, the majority of which are geared towards deeper complexions. Our tester, Masego, liked the buildable coverage, and that the product worked well when applied with fingers. It also played nice when layered over other skincare; to that point, she does think it’s best to use a separate facial moisturizer underneath, particularly if you have drier skin. It’s also worth mentioning that it didn’t have the longest staying power.

Masego, tester with dry skin: “The product is buildable. You can go with a very light application if you do not need a lot of coverage, or apply a bit more if you need more.”

Best Full Coverage

Wet n Wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator

$7

$6 at Amazon $7 at Ulta $6 at Target

Coverage: Sheer to medium | Shade Range: 7 | Finish: Semi-matte | Size: 0.91 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tinted moisturizers aren’t typically equipped to fully cover the skin like a full-coverage foundation would, but this one from Wet n’ Wild absolutely can. It essentially covers and holds up like a foundation with the light skin feel of a tinted moisturizer. Our tester, Stormy, was also impressed with the hydration (it contains hyaluronic acid, along with squalane).

She was less impressed with the scent (which we likened to Play-Doh) and the matte finish. If you’re after a matte texture, this is the perfect pick for you, but if you have larger-looking pores, it might accentuate them a bit.

Best Sheer

Pacifica Kind Tint Tinted Serum

$21

$14 at Amazon

$14

$7 at Ulta $14 at Target

Coverage: Sheer | Shade Range: 12 | Finish: Natural | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick goes on very sheer, yet still stays put whether you set it with powder or not (tinted moisturizer magic). The texture is light too, which was a win for our tester, Annie, whose skin veers more toward oily. Just keep in mind that how you apply this product will ultimately affect the resulting look and final coverage level. When Annie applied it with her fingers, it was too sheer—she could barely see it. Using a sponge just moved the product around without building it up; it was a foundation brush that proved to be the winning tool for helping to score even coverage.

Annie, tester with combination, acne-prone skin: “I really like that this product is lightweight but provides buildable coverage that lasts all day without making my face feel cakey.”