Save my face...

May 1, 2015 7:54 AM

Can somebody help me find a tinted moisturizer for my face. I don't want anything super heavy so it should absorb almost immediately. I can purchase in person or via the net. My skin is slightly dry, but no other problems. Hopefully it won't cost more than $50.
posted by Coffee Bean to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (36 answers total)

I'm a fan of Arbonne's tinted moisturizer.
posted by Sassyfras at 7:57 AM on May 1, 2015

I like Laura Mercier.
posted by Yoko Ono's Advice Column at 7:58 AM on May 1, 2015 [7 favorites]

The liquid foundations at MAC have moisturizing properties. I like them.
posted by Melismata at 8:04 AM on May 1, 2015

Yes, Laura Mercier.
posted by littlewater at 8:04 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

I really like Dr. Jart's Premium Beauty Balm -- it's called a BB Crème, but of course that's just a fancy term for tinted moisturizer. It's $39 at Sephora.
posted by holborne at 8:05 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

You might like the Bourjois CC cream
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:08 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer exacerbates my eczema, so if you have sensitive skin -- esp. if you can't tolerate avobenzone on your face -- maybe not. The Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer is also super light, and I haven't had any issue with it on sensitive skin so far.
posted by Andrhia at 8:08 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Love the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. It's not drying, doesn't have glitter/sparkle/shine in it and isn't TOO matte. It just looks like a slightly better version of your own face. You can get trial versions or go into Sephora and have them figure out the right color for you.
posted by barnone at 8:09 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

People are going crazy about Complexion Rescue.
posted by caoimhe at 8:11 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

I suggest going to the drugstore and buying the cheapest stuff on the shelf. Work your way up until you find one that's good enough. $50 sounds astronomical to me unless you have very special needs, which it sounds like you don't have.

Another approach is to take your moisturizer and just stir in some foundation. I like Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion.
posted by tel3path at 8:17 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

Aveeno has a nice tinted moisturizer that you can find at the drugstore, plus it is SPF 15 (or 30?)
posted by DoubleLune at 8:20 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

I'm going to crusade for the cheap end of the spectrum and vouch for Maybelline Dream Fresh BB, which is definitely a tinted moisturizer and not like an Asian BB cream. It absorbs quickly (within 10 to 15 seconds) and does not leave a tacky or greasy finish. I have sensitive skin and don't want matte/heavy coverage, and this one won out over Laura Mercier for me.

It is also the number 1 recommended 'Holy Grail Drugstore BB Cream/Tinted Moisturizer' as compiled by Reddit's massive MakeupAddiction subreddit.
posted by rachaelfaith at 8:21 AM on May 1, 2015 [6 favorites]

Everyone but me seems to like Laura mercier which I find too thin and kind of pointless. For high end I like tarte, and for drugstore I like garner.
posted by rmless at 8:21 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Also, you could add these to your moisturiser of choice
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:23 AM on May 1, 2015

I love the Neutrogena BB cream, for my pale, dry, aging skin. Have heard good things about the Garnier as well.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:27 AM on May 1, 2015

Another vote for Laura Mercier.
posted by goggie at 8:30 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

Another vote for Laura Mercier. I use the oil-free version. People often comment on my glowy skin, and I never got those comments very often before I started wearing it.
posted by mochapickle at 8:35 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

Ditto on Laura Mercier, though I prefer her tinted primers. I am about to buy the Jouer tinted moisturizer as I hear it's really good too (though at $40 for a tiny little tube it may be the least budget friendly).
posted by Hermione Granger at 8:47 AM on May 1, 2015

I'll second Maybelline's BB for drugstore. Garnier's another good option for slightly heavier coverage, but was too yellow for me.

One nice thing about Sephora and the like is that you can walk in and get a few samples before committing to a full bottle of anything, and their lines tend to have a wider range of tones available. Laura Mercier and NARS get high marks for their TMs. (NARS is pretty pricey. Nice color range, though.) I did like Dr. Jart's BB, but that line doesn't have a lot of color options, so YMMV. Right now I'm using Stila's TM, which is fine. Not a miracle worker, but also not something I have to fuss over in the morning. However, I've heard Sephora is moving that line to being online-only, which makes sampling difficult unless you have friendly folks at your nearest Ulta.
posted by rewil at 9:05 AM on May 1, 2015

Count me as another person who finds Laura Mercier's much over-hyped. I've tried it more than once over the years because of how much it gets recommended, only to be reminded that I just don't see what all that hype is about.

I do absolutely love my Tarte SPF30 BB Cream. It provides good light coverage, goes on super easily (no dragging on the skin), makes my pores disappear, and of course the built-in SPF is awesome. I am on the 2nd tube now and this is the only product ever that I've repurchased, I like it that much. It's not cheap but it lasted me almost a year with regular use.
posted by rada at 9:11 AM on May 1, 2015

I have used the Laura Mercier and frankly I prefer the Neutrogena. I get a lot of compliments on my skin. I use this every day. You don't need much, I maybe buy two tubes a year.
posted by Medieval Maven at 9:28 AM on May 1, 2015

I like NARS Tinted Moisturizer.
posted by hotelechozulu at 9:31 AM on May 1, 2015

Complexion rescue feels very light, but offers surprising good coverage for what is basically a tinted moisturiser. If your budget is tight I also like Garnier BB cream, the sunblock in that is very good too so it's a good twofer, though tends to a slight orangey colour so I can't wear it in the middle of winter. I haven't had a chance to Complexion rescue in summer yet. The Laura Mercier one irritated my skin.
posted by wwax at 10:18 AM on May 1, 2015

I use Missha's M Perfect Cover BB cream + BB boomer (a pearlescent primer-esque moisturizing cream) mixed together to form a really lightweight/brightening/moisturizing makeup combination. I've had a few "your skin is flawless" comments from strangers, and let me assure you, it most certainly is flawed.
posted by Gonestarfishing at 10:29 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

I should add that I have dry skin and Laura Mercier always seemed to cling to skin flakes and just seemed too heavy for me.
posted by Gonestarfishing at 10:35 AM on May 1, 2015

You're going to get as many answers as there are people so I would suggest you just go to Sephora and Nordstrom and get a million samples and wear each one for a few days until you find one you like.

That said, I don't like the Laura Mercier. I personally prefer Nars TM and Giorgio Armani's Luminessence CC Cream. The Armani is $52 but it is the one I keep coming back to no matter what else I try.
posted by matildaben at 10:37 AM on May 1, 2015 [3 favorites]

Will also throw in my two cents against Laura Mercier. Waaaaaay overpriced for what it is, for one thing, and it actually made me break out (although obviously you probably won't have the same skin sensitivities I do). But as matildaben suggests, it's best to go to Sephora and get samples or whatever it is you'd like to try.
posted by holborne at 10:46 AM on May 1, 2015

I've fallen in love with Lira BB Cream for when I want a light finish. It's very moisturizing. I've gotten many compliments on how "beautiful and glowing" my 50something skin looks when I wear it. It's expensive as hell, but worth every penny as far as I am concerned.

I also love my Missha Perfect Cover, but that is a heavier finish - less of a moisturizer and more foundation. The Lira is more of a tinted moisturizer. I can wear it exercising, grocery shopping, etc. and not look overdone.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 11:22 AM on May 1, 2015

I have liked Stila, Laura Mercier and Clinique Cityblock. Pricewise I would never buy Laura Mercier since I don't think it's much (if at all) better than Clinique, let alone twice as good.
posted by gatorae at 11:25 AM on May 1, 2015

I really like Clinique Cityblock! It's one of the few tinted moisturizers I've tried that's actually moisturizing, and it's got a nice consistency and absorbs in well.
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:41 AM on May 1, 2015

I too really like Laura Mercier. Truth be told, I've only been using it for a few weeks now, but it hasn't upset my uber-sensitive acne prone skin at all. I like that it's fairly light/thin -- I don't enjoy looking like I have a ton of makeup on. Applying a layer of it underneath my normal powder foundation just sort of makes me look like a slightly better version of myself. The first day I wore it, my husband commented that I looked "REALLY pretty today," so... yeah, instant clincher.
posted by darkchocolatepyramid at 12:34 PM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

Neutrogena BB cream (fair) worked perfectly for me this winter. Let's see how it does in spring and summer. Pale, combination to dry skin. I've also used L'oreal BB primer, which goes on kind of white and purplish, but the tint comes out once you apply it. It blends really well with my complexion. The only drawback is that it doesn't have any sunscreen in it.

I used Tarte BB Primer last winter...very light and fluffy, maybe too insubstantial, but maybe that's exactly what you want. Before that, Make Up 4 Ever BB cream. which was good for summertime, but a bit heavier than the others, more foundation-like. All have been a good match for my skin.

I do recommend the Neutrogena, though. $14 instead of $36, and 30 SPF. Don't diss drugstore makeup out of hand.; it's much, much better than it used to be; maybe even indistinguishable from the brands you get at Sephora. And I say that as someone who, for most of my life, could only ever wear L'oreal Soft Ivory without looking like I'd just gotten a spray tan.
posted by tully_monster at 1:56 PM on May 1, 2015

I use Jouer's Matte Moisture Tint (SPF15, ~$40), and I love the coverage combined with the light feel. It may be less moisturizing than you want - I also use a serum underneath and have combination skin. Covers like a foundation, feels like a BB cream.
posted by katya.lysander at 6:59 PM on May 1, 2015

Have you looked into a tinted SPF face sun cream from your local drugstore? I'm in Australia & buy the cancer council brand so the proceeds go to skin cancer research. Plus it's a really good product, comes in 3 shades, has SPF and best thing it's only $10. Maybe you have something similar where you are. My cousin who put me onto it mixes it with her fancy expensive foundation to get more mileage, she swears by it.
posted by Under the Sea at 8:24 PM on May 1, 2015

I hate Cityblock - the titanium sunblock in it makes your face looks weirdly white and glowy (in a bad way - radioactive-glowy not dewy-glowy). Yes I am wearing the right shade.

I do like Laura Mercier, but I agree that it's not noticeably better than Clinique's BB cream. You do really need to try a few on - in my experience once you move out of drugstore and into makeup counter territory (Clinique, Bobby Brown, Chanel etc) there isn't a huge difference between brands so it's really which shade you prefer and how much moisturising you want from it.
posted by tinkletown at 5:26 AM on May 2, 2015

I really like Rimmel BB cream. For me it was a toss up between Rimmel and Maybelline, but Rimmel won out because it has a lighter tint. I have VERY light, very fair, sensitive, dry skin. I also use a moisturizer before, because I do find Rimmel's BB cream to by drying all by itself. One caveat - you have to let the moisturizer dry completely before you apply the BB cream, or it flakes. As long as I let it dry I've never had that problem, though. It's less than $10 at the drugstore, and it doesn't make my skin break out. One tube seriously lasts me a year.... at that price range it seems like it would be a terrible product, but I love it. Admittedly, I'm not a makeup person ($50 for two ounces of makeup? Really?) but it balances out my skin tone and provides a bit of SPF so I look fresh for work.

Also try Physician's Formula - the prices are reasonable and you can find it at Target or Rite Aid if you're in the U.S., which both have a great return policy on makeup.
posted by onecircleaday at 10:07 PM on May 2, 2015