13 Best Tinted Moisturizers for Mature Skin 2023, Tested by MUAs

Fine lines and wrinkles may not be on your radar just yet, but adding the best tinted moisturizer for mature skin to your makeup and skin care routine can be a game changer. That’s because the signs of aging—we see you, sun damage and dark spots—can start appearing as early as your mid-20s, depending on how much sun exposure you got while growing up. (Research shows that nearly a quarter of your lifetime sun exposure happens by the time you’re 18.) On top of that, the usual effects of time on the body can contribute to dryness over time, even if you grew up with oily skin or are still dealing with adult acne.

Swapping a foundation for mature skin for a tinted moisturizer can be a smart move. “I find that as we age, the skin doesn’t need more makeup—just strategically applied makeup in high-quality formulations,” says celebrity makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. “Tinted moisturizers are fantastic for dry or mature skin because they look very skinlike while blurring texture. They do not settle into fine lines and wrinkles the way more matte, full-coverage products can tend to.”

Our top picks:

What should you look for in a tinted moisturizer?

When picking out the best tinted moisturizers for mature skin, Jamie Greenberg, celeb MUA and founder of Jamie Makeup, recommends staying away from formulas that are too matte. “Instead look for words like dewy and illuminating,” she says. If your skin is more oily and you like the matte-finish look, make sure your tinted moisturizer still has hydrating properties (ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid here can help) and don’t overdo it with application.

In addition to the finish, which Gerstein prefers to be skinlike and radiant, it's worth keeping an eye out for sun protection in a tinted moisturizer. While you can find many candidates for the best tinted moisturizer with SPF, it helps to stick with one that has a minimum of SPF 30. (SPF 15 is nice, but it's not enough protection to keep your skin covered.)

What’s the difference between a tinted moisturizer and a BB cream?

It's easy to confuse BB and CC creams with tinted moisturizers, but think of the latter as your weightless multitaskers. “BB cream combines coverage with SPF and skin care ingredients, while still being a lightweight alternative to most foundations,” Greenberg explains. “The nice thing about BB Cream is that it serves many purposes in one. I think the biggest issue with makeup for mature skin is when we pile on too much to dry, textured skin. That’s when you get a cakey look [and] product gathering in fine lines.” Both tinted moisturizer and BB creams will combat dry skin, but BBs may offer additional skin care benefits that a tinted moisturizer doesn't. It really comes down to your skin needs at the moment. Either makeup product is a win for mature skin.

How do you apply tinted moisturizer?

The way you apply tinted moisturizer makes a difference too. Gerstein turns to tinted moisturizer for spot coverage—in other words, she preps skin with tinted moisturizer before dabbing concealer for mature skin beneath the eyes, onto dark spots, and around blemishes. “This moisturizing base is key to apply underneath more pigmented products in order to keep them looking even and smooth on mature skin,” Gerstein says.

Much like applying other base products, keep in mind that a little goes a long way. Makeup artist Rebecca Restrepo says to start by moisturizing skin and applying sunscreen: “Then take your skin tint or tinted moisturizer and squeeze a bit onto the back of your nondominant hand,” she advises. “Using your dominant hand, take the skin tint and apply light dots all around your face, concentrating on the center of your face: your nose, inner cheeks, chin and forehead in between your eyebrows.” Both Restrepo and Gerstein suggest using your fingertips to build a natural, no-makeup look.

Ready to glow, glow, and glow? Keep reading for the best tinted moisturizer for mature skin.