A flawless face may have defined how we’ve worn make-up for most of the last decade, but a counter movement built upon embracing one’s imperfections is slowly making its way through cosmetic aisles.Partly due to the challenges (and discomfort) of wearing a full base under a mask, as well as people generally feeling more comfortable going bare-faced while working from (and spending more time at) home, the new foundations – skin tints – are lighter in texture, boast skincare benefits and are more customisable than ever before.
Here are some of our favourite skin tints, which you can tailor to whatever occasion.
Sheer Skin Tint by Summer Fridays
Beloved for bringing a sense of indulgence to daily skincare essentials, Summer Fridays has unveiled its Sheer Skin Tint, a lightweight fluid that delivers a sheer wash of colour. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and squalene, the hydrating formula gives skin an even and healthy look, while blurring the appearance of pores, evening out the skin tone and diminishing any redness, thanks to the presence of anti-oxidising tiger grass. The presence of vitamin E, safflower and avocado oils also means it glides on like a dream. Available in ten shades, the tints can be layered for more coverage and applied over areas where you might need them more.
Complexion Drops by Westman Atelier
Westman Atelier’s Complexion Drops epitomise how high-performing skincare-as-make-up hybrids can be. Developed with the strength of a serum, the feather-light liquid is packed with tsubaki oil to hydrate, firm and retexturise the skin, ginseng extract to brighten and soothe, pomegranate extract to combat free radicals, and a natural tint to boot.
Fusing together the last step of your skincare routine and the first step of your make-up regime, this time-saving formula promises to improve the quality of your skin while enhancing its current state in the meantime. Available in 20 shades across the light, medium, tan and deep categories, these Complexion Drops go on as an oil that transforms into a cushion-like serum for dewy, refreshed skin. Even better, the container is partially made from recycled sugarcane and 100 per cent BPA- and phthalate-free.
Radiate Beauty Balm by Code 8
Code 8’s Radiate Beauty Balm is a luxurious, lightly perfumed formula that comes in a light, spreadable texture that appears to fill in imperfections with its velvet-like finish.
Applying this BB cream, infused with pectin to moisturise and nourish skin, and anti-oxidising argan oil to prevent skin damage, feels like putting on an expensive face cream – one that provides a light to medium coverage and all the benefits of SPF 25. Available in 11 shades that create a smooth, second-skin finish, this delivers natural radiance at its best.
Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation by Kosas
Since it launched last year, Kosas’ Revealer Skin-Improving foundation has continued to be an industry favourite. This dreamy lightweight foundation is about skincare at its core. Armed with a powerhouse blend of ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalene, arnica, caffeine and vitamin B5, the formula cares for skin, is non-acnegenic, hypoallergenic and clinically proven to plump, hydrate, brighten skin.
With in-built SPF 25, this foundation even protects skin while improving its condition with every use. Its blurring, second-skin finish also minimises pores and smoothes out skin texture without creating that dreaded mask-like effect. Above all, the breathable foundation comes in an impressive 36 unique shades, and caters to nuances in light, medium, medium-deep and deep categories rarely seen before. Wear as much or as little as you wish.
Sunny Days SPF 30 tinted sunscreen by Tower 28
Imagine a tinted sunscreen that combines broad spectrum mineral protection with a high-quality tint. Tower 28’s Sunny Days tinted sunscreen does just that with SPF 30, 100 per cent mineral, non-nano zinc oxide that safeguards against UVA/UVB rays, that’s even suitable for sensitive skins.
Offering a buildable coverage that ranges from evening out redness to covering blemishes and discoloration, this utilitarian formula also contains aloe vera for soothing sundrenched skin, anti-inflammatory white sage to help neutralise free radicals from the sun and reparative prickly pear extract to soften skin. These ingredients have all been carefully sourced from Californian deserts, where they thrive. The West Coast love doesn’t stop there – the 14-shade range has been named after cherished sunny day hangouts in Los Angeles. Enjoy with abandon.
What the Foundation by Jones Road
Make-up artist and beauty veteran Bobbi Brown is shaking up the very industry she helped to build with her new label, Jones Road. Designed for every age, skin type and skin tone, Jones Road’s clean, high-performance formulations are developed with ease of use in mind. Case in point: the label’s recently launched What the Foundation overturns convention with its balm-like texture that Brown advocates applying as needed.
Instead of being applied all over the face, this ‘complexion product’, as Brown calls it, is quick and easy to use. Sheer and highly moisturising, this unique, highly blendable formula was created to enhance natural skin and can be built up for areas that need special attention. Infused with jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate to nourish the skin, it can be applied with fingers, a brush or a sponge to blend seamlessly into skin. Available in 12 shades, this category-defying product will have you feeling like you’re wearing nothing at all.
Hermès Plein Air
If it's luxury you're after, there's no beating Hermès Plein Air complexion balm. The luminous, tinted fluid is not only light, it lasts for up to eight hours and is perfumed with a fragrance created by the perfumer Christine Nagel, which boasts notes of arnica, sandalwood and green tea.
The skin-enhancing qualities of the weightless formula are boosted with skincare benefits to ensure that your face is hydrated and protected. Available in 12 shades that each adjusts to cover a range of two or three skin tones, the fluid delivers an even and translucent finish regardless of how much or little is applied.
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