What Is Skin Tint and How Do You Use It?

When it comes to makeup, there seems to be a never-ending amount of products to learn how to use. In terms of complexion, there are the usuals: concealer and foundation (do you know the difference?) along with color correctors, BB creams, and more. But, the latest base product to set the makeup world abuzz is a skin tint. If you’re not currently using a skin tint, or don’t know how or when to use a skin tint, you’ve come to the right place. Maybelline is here to break down everything you need to know about the ultra-lightweight, skin-loving formula and how it can fit into your routine.

What Is a Skin Tint?

Simply put, a skin tint is a complexion product that offers some coverage, but a skin tint is not the same as a foundation or BB Cream, as there are some key differences. Technically, a skin tint falls under the umbrella of “foundation,” because it’s meant to be used all over your face, but it offers much lighter coverage. Some might even say that a skin tint is so lightweight that it’s undetectable on the skin.

In the same way that there are toners, oils, serums, moisturizers, rich creams, etc. that vary in weight and texture in skincare, there is a hierarchy in makeup. Skin tints are the thinnest, so they would be the lightest weight in comparison to a full coverage foundation, which would be the thickest.

Skin tints are perfect for someone who is looking for the most minimal coverage and a super natural-looking finish. If you’re a no-makeup makeup lover who prefers getting your glow from skincare rather than makeup, then a skin tint would be for you. Think of a skin tint as your ultimate ready-in-five-minutes makeup. You can smooth it on and be out the door with glowing skin no matter how many times you pressed the snooze button on your alarm. We call that a skin win!

Some formulas even have skin-loving ingredients in them–Maybelline’s Super Stay® Up to 24HR Skin Tint has skin-brightening Vitamin C in it– further proving the point that skin tints are a crossover between skincare and makeup. Other formulas might have SPF or additional benefits as well, allowing it to be your one-stop shop complexion product.

Skin Tint vs. Tinted Moisturizer

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, wait, there’s already a product like a skin tint and it’s called tinted moisturizer. Well, you’re not entirely wrong. So what’s the deal with skin tint vs. tinted moisturizer? Skin tints aren’t that far off from tinted moisturizer, but they’re more so sisters or cousins than twins. A lightweight skin tint will have much more of a liquid consistency than a tinted moisturizer. So, if you think about it in terms of skincare, a skin tint feels similar to a serum, which makes sense why many of them come in dropper bottles like Maybelline’s does. It’s also common for skin tints to be formulated with skin-friendly ingredients, so they fall more in the realm of skincare while a tinted moisturizer is considered more of a makeup product.

Skin Tint vs. Foundation

Now for the skin tint vs. foundation showdown. You can probably already put two and two together that if a skin tint is lighter than a tinted moisturizer, it’s going to be much lighter than a foundation. While both skin tints and foundations offer coverage with the goal of evening out your complexion, a skin tint has a sheerer coverage and gives you a more natural, skin-like finish whereas a foundation will do some heavy-duty covering and can give you a matte or even airbrushed look, depending on the formula that you use. If you’re someone who prefers a full face of makeup, then a skin tint probably won’t offer you the coverage that you’re looking for. However, it’s nice to have a skin tint in your makeup bag for those no-makeup makeup days when you still want to look polished.

When Should You Use Skin Tint?

You can use a skin tint anytime you want. For someone who prefers a lightweight makeup look, they may want to incorporate a skin tint into their everyday routine while someone who likes the look of a full beat may want to use a skin tint when they’re simply lounging around or running errands. If you’re someone who rarely wears makeup at all, a skin tint would be nice for you to use when you do wear makeup, so it doesn’t feel like you’re going from one extreme to the other. A skin tint is also great if you don’t want to be bothered too much by technique or tools– you can easily apply a skin tint with your fingers and call it a day.

How To Use Skin Tint for a
Lightweight Makeup Look

If all you want to do is even out your skin a tiny bit, then using a skin tint is the way to go. Follow the steps below for a super simple no-makeup makeup look with Maybelline’s Super Stay® Up to 24HR Skin Tint.

1. Prep and Prime

Because skin tints are so lightweight and offer such little coverage, your own skin will get to show through much more, so make sure you’re prepping it well with skincare. After cleansing, be sure to apply a hydrating moisturizer and don’t forget your SPF! Before you go in with your skin tint, spritz with a dewy mist like Face Studio® Glass Spray first, which will help boost your natural glow even more.
  • Facestudio® Glass Spray Glass-Skin Makeup Finishing Spray
    Glass Skin Spray
    Buy now

2. Get Even

Shake your Super Stay® Up to 24HR Skin Tint, then dispense a few drops onto your fingers before smoothing it over your face. Using your fingers will give you the most natural look because the formula will melt seamlessly into your skin thanks to the warmth of your hands. For more of a flawless finish, you can use a damp beauty sponge. Should you want to cover any discoloration, you might want to use a concealer, but for this look, it’s really about letting your natural complexion shine with the lightweight coverage of a skin tint. You can also add a few extra drops of your skin tint as needed to achieve more coverage– it layers beautifully!
  • Super Stay® Up to 24HR Skin Tint with Vitamin C
    129
    Buy now

3. Add Some Color

After your skin tint has set on the skin– giving it about 60 seconds to dry should be all it needs– it’s time to play with color! Dab some Cheek Heat® Gel-Cream Blush on your cheeks— because it’s liquid, it plays super well with the fluid skin tint formula. Tap any leftover product onto your nose to create a natural sun-kissed appearance. Here’s how you can find your perfect blush shade.
  • Cheek Heat® Gel-Cream Blush, Face Makeup
    Rose Flush
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4. Keep it Natural

You don’t want to overpower the clean skin aesthetic that you achieved with your skin tint, so keep the rest of your makeup simple. We recommend pairing your skin tint makeup look with a few swipes of Lash Sensational Sky High® Mascara in shade True Brown. You’ll still get plenty of length and volume, but by using brown instead of dark black, it’s a bit subtler and pairs perfectly with the natural skin finish of your skin tint, giving an “maybe it’s her, maybe it’s Maybelline?” moment regarding whether you’re actually wearing makeup or not.
  • Lash Sensational Sky High® Washable Mascara Makeup
    True Brown
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5. Pucker Up

Leave the bold, heavily pigmented lip shades for another time, opting for a high-shine lip gloss like Lifter Gloss® in shade Stone instead. The golden flecks in this hydrating gloss add some dimension for fuller-looking lips that are a match made in heaven with your skin tint-perfected skin. Want a little more drama? Apply a lip liner like Lifter Liner™ which will help to define and enhance the look of your lips.
  • Lifter Gloss® Lip Gloss Makeup With Hyaluronic Acid
    Stone
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  • LIFTER LINER™ Lip Liner Makeup with Hyaluronic Acid
    Big Lift
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WATCH SUPER STAY® SKIN TINT WITH VITAMIN C IN ACTION