“Unlike generic tinted moisturisers, which are designed to add hydration with just a touch of pigment, BB creams – or ‘Beauty Balms’ – are designed to merge these skincare effects with makeup pigments and SPF whilst still being relatively lightweight,” muses Rose when I quiz her on the matter.
“CC Creams – or ‘colour correctors’ – merge makeup, skincare and SPF with the specific intention of colour correcting any uneven tones to create a more even canvas. These tend to have slightly more pigment and coverage as they’re used to correct things like redness, pigmentation or acne.” She continues, “DD creams, or ‘Daily Defence’ creams, are the least popular. Daily defence really pertains to a cream like the others, but this time with ingredients designed to offer high SPF protection or protection against environmental aggressors with targeted ingredients like vitamin C.”
Long story short, the market is full of options. Lots of them are great, but some are also quite meh, which is why I’ve narrowed down the very best tinted moisturisers for all skin types, budgets and preferences. I’ve tried to keep this list to tinted moisturisers only, but we have more guides on the best BB creams and CC creams if you like the sound of them too. For now though, if you like the sound of a lightweight tint to keep you feeling fresh and confident this summer, then just keep scrolling – ‘cos a healthy glow is but a click away.
How we tested tinted moisturisers
Throughout the years, the GLAMOUR team has collectively tried hundreds of tinted moisturisers, having tested said formulas on a variety of skin types, skin tones and age groups. When reviewing each formula, we’ve assessed the final look and whether it lasts all day, as well as value for money and how innovative it is compared to other options on the market.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
When you’re putting on a full face of makeup, you probably seldom think about the ingredients you’re putting on (and around) your skin, lips and eyes. You might only reach for the foundation bottle after you’re mid-breakout to read through the ingredients. Spoiler alert: It’s a long list of chemicals that you’ve never heard of. No matter your skin type, there’s evidence that it’s not good to saturate yourself with harsh fragrances, dyes and chemicals every day. Luckily, there’s a growing movement around the idea of “clean beauty” and organic makeup.
The latest eco-conscious trend in beauty benefits both you and the environment — if you choose the right kind. Look for cruelty-free companies (meaning they don’t do animal testing) that use recyclable packaging and ethically sourced ingredients. You should not see ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances and dyes, and silicones on the packaging. Generally, the shorter the ingredient list, the better.
Of course, it can be intimidating to try to find reliable organic products on your own, so we rounded up 10 of our favorite organic cosmetic brands to keep you beautiful—inside and out.
What is “organic makeup?”
According to Sarah Roberts, a licensed makeup artist, beauty and skincare consultant and founder of the online beauty pub: A Beauty Edit, “organic makeup embodies a fusion of aesthetic beauty and nature’s purity: it consists of ingredients organically farmed—without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms—and is designed to prioritize our skin’s health and the environment.”
What are the benefits of organic or clean makeup?
The short answer is: fewer chemicals. “Organic makeup provides a kinder alternative to our skin—reducing the potential for irritation, allergies, and breakouts often caused by the harsh chemicals in conventional cosmetics,” explains Roberts. “When we opt for organic makeup, we endorse sustainable farming practices—a conscientious move aimed at safeguarding our environment,” she adds.
What is the difference between organic makeup and clean makeup?
This is an important distinction. According to Roberts, “organic makeup exclusively contains certified organic components; conversely, clean makeup encompasses items devoid of numerous damaging chemicals and synthetics—even in cases where certification is lacking.”
What’s non-toxic makeup?
Non-toxic makeup—defined by its lack of parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and other disruptive chemicals—serves as the cornerstone of a health-conscious beauty regimen. Non-toxic makeup assures us: the substances we apply to our skin—our body’s largest organ—are safe; as a makeup artist, I champion these products for their instant aesthetic appeal and enduring health advantages they confer upon my clients.
You’ll be shocked to hear that some of your brands contain no-nasties, meaning that they formulate without any known irritants. For example, popular skincare and cosmetics company Tarte is non-toxic, cruelty-free and eco-friendly. The brand doesn’t include any parabens, phthalates, mineral oil or even gluten. Check out the rest of our picks below.
Rose Inc. products are pure and 100 percent plant-derived, so each ingredient is carefully chosen, whether you’re shopping pressed powders, or matte lip glosses. Each product is also made with 25 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. The brand is founded by model-turned-founder Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who has seen and used all types of products during her decade-plus career as a model. The goal for her own brand? Make quality products with quality ingredients that won’t flake or smudge off during the day, and since they’re non-comedogenic, won’t clog your pores. Shop the lip cream weightless matte lipsticks that reviewers call “long lasting” or the cream blush that’s totally refillable, so you can cut down on waste.
While not truly organic, Tarte Cosmetics is a no-nasties brand that harnesses natural ingredients. It’s cruelty-free and gluten-free and made without harmful ingredients such as parabens, mineral oil, triclosan, phthalates or sulfates. They have a huge selection of cosmetics in gorgeous packaging and in tons of shades. And honestly, we do mean tons—they’re one of the most versatile organic makeup companies out there. Start with one of their bestsellers, like Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara, Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation, or Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Glisten.
Westman Atelier is from legendary makeup artist Gucci Westman. It’s rare for a luxury brand to be mostly organic and only made with clean ingredients out of Italy. Organic jojoba oil is one of the main ingredients used in Westman’s infamous makeup sticks to naturally hydrate the skin without chemicals. Pick up a contour stick for the fastest face sculpt in town or the lipstick palette for lipstick lovers who are tired of toting around multiple tubes of their favorite colors.
Ilia products are made of up to 85% organic ingredients and kept in recycled packaging. Try one of their gorgeous tinted lip conditioners like the summer-ready Little Sister or one of their beautifully radiant Multi-Sticks for a healthy flush of color on your cheeks. They also make mascara, setting powders, illuminators, and tinted moisturizer, the latter of which comes in six shades for a range of complexions.
Bite Beauty makes all-natural, organic lip products in Toronto. Their tagline is that their lip products are healthy enough to eat, since they are made out of organic ingredients such as shea butter and natural oils. You can purchase their lipsticks, glosses, scrubs and masks from Sephora, and we really love their Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon
. Bonus: you can visit their Bite Beauty Lip Lab in New York and create your own custom lipstick shade.
Many of Physician’s Formula products are free of fragrance, parabens, and gluten, as well as being hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and safe for those with sensitive skin and eyes. They also do not test on animals. Best of all, their prices are extremely affordable and you can find their products for under $20 at most drugstores. Try their Organic Wear foundation;
it will give you a natural look and the sun protection you need this summer.
Ecco Bella calls themselves “an activist company,” which means that they are against animal testing, support organic farming and ethical ingredient sourcing, and don’t use any ingredients in their products that are harmful for consumers or the environment. Most of their products are vegan and they are all made out of organic ingredients. Since they use a limited roster of ingredients and exclude harmful chemicals like fragrance, parabens, and alcohol, their products are ideal for those with sensitive skin. They offer eye makeup, blush, foundation, and our favorite, Flowercolor Lipstick which comes in 17 pretty colors.
RMS beauty products are truly amazing: luxurious, high-performing and good for you. They’re made with organic ingredients like coconut oil (the base of all of their products), cocoa butter, shea butter, castor oil, and jojoba oil. They do not test on animals and they use recyclable packaging. They offer brushes, powders, bronzers, eye makeup, lip colors, and more. Their Luminizer has a cult following, and it’s no wonder: it’s totally gorgeous and works on every skin tone.
All of Josie Maran’s products are infused with organic, ethically sourced argan oil, which is known for its hydrating and beautifying properties. The argan oil used in their products is sustainably harvested from women’s co-ops in Morocco, which benefits both the environment and the workers. Try the Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundationfor a glowing, natural beauty look and the Argan Infinity Lip And Cheek Creamy Oilfor a dewy flush of color.
Founded by Karen Behnke in 2005, this beauty company is all about the organic ingredients. Behnke was shocked to realize that all of the beauty products our skin was absorbing wasn’t natural. She combined beauty and chemistry to create some interesting skincare and makeup products. The base of each product is made out of a botanical juice, like aloe, shea and grape seed, instead of petroleum, which works just as well. You should try the Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream,
which will protect your skin from the sun and even out your skin tone.
This desert-inspired clean beauty company, founded by Krysia Boinis and Kristine Keheley, features “high-vibe” color. Your skin looks like it’s covered in conventional makeup, but this time the ingredients are natural. They’ve got luxe lip glosses in a variety of vibrant colors and smooth foundations in their arsenal. We recommend checking out their Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation .
4. Try a lash hack or go for under-eye false lashes
Having a low-key lash using mascara is quite difficult, and although they’re imperative to open up your eyes and make your face look more balanced and awake, it takes away from the natural look. However, there are nice mascaras out there that don’t require heavy layering to give you that definition. Alternatively, opt for razor-thin false lashes that sit under your eye – as these go almost undetectable and can look even more natural than mascaras.
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Major tip alert from Hannah: “If you want big, dense lashes but don’t want to sacrifice definition, be sure to keep a spoolie brush with you when applying your mascara. As you layer your mascara, comb your lashes through with the clean spoolie to unclump your lashes and separate them to keep them looking defined.” She then adds: “If there are just one or two lashes clumped together, then use the tip of the spoolie to separate. I also like to use the clean spoolie to pull the lashes in the inner corner of my eye towards my nose for a more fanned effect but with less risk of getting mascara on my nose. The same can be said for fanning out lashes in the outer corner.” Noted.
Mascaras and false lashes to try:
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
KISS Falscara Eyelash Wisp Multi
Brows are the key of face framing, balance and structure. They were once underrated, but brow products are now many women’s desert island beauty product of choice. Opting for a harsh, uber-dark heavy brow defies the ‘rules’ of natural makeup, however you can still gently groom your brows for maximum definition without them looking ‘done-done’.
Opt for a clear gel to slick them upwards and outwards, so they look neat, or simply use a three-edge microfilling pen to fill in any gaps which make them appear fuller yet still natural. If you’ve gone a bit to heavy handed on the brow pen, you don’t have to double down — just go over it with a wet cotton bud to remove excess product.
Fine, I’m done gatekeeping. Underlashing is the ultimate secret to my most natural looking XXL fluttery eyelashes. I like the idea of falsies, but sometimes I think that they can look a little too bold or too loud on me, but once I found this underlashing trick, I haven’t looked back.
Underlash Technology™ is not new but has become very popular the last few years. Lashify, a British underlash brand were actually the inventors of this technology, they also currently hold 316 patents and 46 registered trademarks so I went straight to the experts and asked Jill Medicis, a LashifyPro® Senior Educator on everything you need to know about this epic eyelash technique that might just convert you for ever.
What is underlashing?
As the name suggests, underlashing is less about giving you colossal lash effect, but more about enhancing your eyes naturally. The technique is simple and involves applying a razor-thin false lash (either styled as a strip or cut up as clusters), underneath your natural ones as opposed to the traditional way which would usually go on top. This will in turn give you beautifully subtle and almost undetectable, wispy lashes in a matter of seconds.
Jill Medicis tells me: “Our patented Underlash technology is when the Gossamer® Lash is applied to the underside of the natural lash rather than the top to create a seamless, undetectable finish. By applying to the underside of the lash you no longer have to worry about any additional makeup being applied to cover any strips or bands. This also allows you to achieve the most natural lash look.”
How to do the underlash?
To pull it off seamlessly, you’ll need the right products. Most importantly a gentle underlash glue specifically designed to be eye-friendly. The good news is that underlashing is super easy to do at home for yourself. Lashify have also created an extra strength bonding glue that can allow underlashes to last upwards of seven days.
To apply the Lashify underlashes Jill says: “Lashify Gossamer® Lashes are applied to the underlash by applying our flexible, damage-free bond to the natural lash like you would mascara then applying the Gossamer Lashes by looking down into a mirror. All of our Gossamer Lashes are made of Korean PBT Silk, making them vegan and cruelty-free as well as virtually weightless so this application will cause zero damage to the natural lashes.”
Seems straight forward? Here is an universal step-by-step guide on how to do underlashing from home:
Start with clean, dry lashes.
Apply the underlash glue like you would your mascara on the lashes you are planning to cover with the falsies and let it get a little tacky.
Using a mirror and your trusty applicator tool, position the underlashes (wether a strip or clusters) beneath your natural ones. Begin at the outer corner with the largest ones and work your way inwards.
Gently press the underlashes in place, making sure they’re secure.
Allow the glue to dry completely, which usually takes a few minutes.
Once dry, you can apply mascara to blend your natural and false lashes, creating a seamless finish
Applying directly on my cheekbones and other areas like I would with a highlighter, I blended in the drops until they created a subtle hydrated shine. The product gives an understated gold tint rather than the bronze of their D-Bronzi drops which I think I’d favour. Overall, I could definitely see this being a great glowy primer for those wanting a more shimmery finish and equally a more subtle alternative to highlighter. Though these are definitely multipurpose drops, the key with them really seems to be to create a cocktail situation with your other products, so I’ll be mixing it directly with my moisturiser next in hopes of an effortless natural glow!
Rating: 7/10
Elle, GLAMOURs Beauty Editor
I’m a dry-skinned gal, so anything that can boost glow, I’m on board with. This offers up radiant halo skin without being super glittery which looks a lot more natural. I tried it straight onto bare skin and loved how juicy my complexion looked, but in the future, I’ll be adding a couple of drops into my foundation to give me some extra coverage as well.
I love that while it’s on your skin making it look gorgeous it also gets down to business with some hard-working skincare ingredients. Niacinamide boosts skin hydration and balances excess oil, while diglucosyl gallic acid targets inflammation and hyperpigmentation.
Rating: 8/10
Fiona, GLAMOUR’s Acting Associate Beauty Director
In some ways this product is a hard one to explain. If you’re expecting to get a strobe-like highlight, then the B-Goldi Bright Drops isn’t for you. Instead, it’s more of a complexion enhancer with good-for-skin ingredients such as niacinamide. I mixed the B-Goldi Bright Drops into my normal face serum to make my skin look more luminous and alive on a day when I felt I looked particularly tired.
I also dabbed a little on the tops of my cheekbones. Having used the D-Bronzi Drops before, I was expecting a more noticeable difference to my skin. I liked the fact that the Bright Drops imparted a subtle glisten rather than a wet-look finish and it looked really pretty by day. But for a going out look I think I’d like a little more sheen on my skin
