Fashion & Beauty

Tinted Moisturisers: Every Singaporean Skin’s Best Friend

Tinted moisturisers are certainly the new black, with drugstore brands all dashing to put out a rendition of their own. Even luxury brands like NARS and Laura Mercier are jumping on the bandwagon – so what makes tinted moisturisers so popular? Other than their soothing and hydrating properties, they also provide minimal nude coverage that gives you that no-makeup makeup look. However, when it comes to makeup and skincare products, it can be daunting to pick out the right tinted moisturiser for you. So read on to find the best tinted moisturiser in Singapore!

What is a tinted moisturiser?

(Credit: Karolina Grabowska)

Tinted moisturisers are as their name suggests, moisturising lotions that have a bit of tint in them. It’s meant to function like a traditional moisturiser, providing your skin with ample hydration to prevent flakiness or breakouts. At the same time, it’s meant to give you some tinted coverage like a foundation would, except with a more lightweight consistency and formula. Oftentimes, tinted moisturisers come with some SPF to boost your skin’s UV protection as well.

With the ongoing trend surrounding clean and natural beauty, tinted moisturisers are a great 3-in-1 alternative to traditional foundations. However, it’s still advisable to pair these products with a proper moisturiser and sunscreen; to make sure your skin is kept in tip-top condition throughout the day! At the end of the day, tinted moisturisers can make your life easier, but they can’t outdo the originals.

What’s the difference between tinted moisturisers, BB creams, and CC creams?

You might be wondering: aren’t tinted moisturisers like BB creams and CC creams? Moisturising creams provide your skin with some foundation-esque coverage. How can you differentiate between them and choose the best one for your needs? Think about how lightweight you want the product to feel on your skin or the coverage you’d like to achieve. Furthermore, you should consider their compatibility with your skin type. Here’s a quick breakdown of whether tinted moisturisers or BB and CC creams are more suitable for dry, oily, or sensitive skin types:

Type of product Formula Coverage Suitable for
Tinted moisturiser
  • Most hydrating and nourishing
  • Low to medium coverage
  • Some are buildable
  • Dry skin
  • Oily skin
  • Sensitive skin
BB cream
  • Creamy and thick consistency
  • Medium to high coverage
  • Dry skin
  • Sensitive skin
CC cream
  • Has anti-ageing properties
  • High coverage
  • Oily skin
  • Sensitive skin

Best tinted moisturiser in Singapore for dry skin (2023)

1. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30

(Credit: Strawberrynet SG Official Store)

We’re starting off strong with the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30 (available on Strawberrynet SG Official Store): it has a buildable formula that gives your skin a natural, dewy finish. If you’re looking for a lightweight foundation that provides ample coverage and hydration, this NARS tinted moisturiser can bring you the best of both worlds! In fact, another reason it’s a great tinted moisturiser for people with dry skin is that it uses Vitamin C and Kopara. While Vitamin C nourishes and retains moisture in the skin, the natural sugar (Kopara) helps hydrate skin cells and perpetuate cell renewal – great for keeping your skin even and smooth!

Additionally, the Vitamin C reduces hyperpigmentation and dark spots, working through the day to even out your skin tone. It also really helps that this NARS tinted moisturiser comes equipped with SPF 30/PA+++, meaning it adds an excellent layer of UVA/UVB protection when worn. This is the best tinted moisturiser to get in Singapore, especially while living in the country’s eternal summer!

2. Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35

(Credit: Lefleurofficial)

The Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35 (available on Lefleurofficial) is a cult favourite among proponents of clean beauty, which is known for safe, non-toxic ingredients. In fact, these ingredients elevate it to one of best tinted moisturiser to use for people with dry skin in Singapore. While the jojoba esters and hyaluronic acid hydrate the skin, the pansy flower extract has antioxidants that strengthen it. This Saie tinted moisturiser also contains liquorice root, which helps brighten your skin and refine its texture. In fact, this tinted moisturiser will not be creasing on your skin, but will give it a smooth and filter-like texture!

The Saie Slip Tint is also designed to make finding a shade match for tinted moisturisers hassle-free! Each Saie Slip Tint adapts to a range of skin tones. This means you can be a little off with your shade choice, but it’ll still blend right into your natural skin tone! Now, you never have to worry about looking ashy or yellow-faced again. 

3. Happy Skin Second Skin Tinted Moisturiser

(Credit: BEAUBIT Official Store)

The next tinted moisturiser will definitely leave your skin moisturised and happy. Enter the Happy Skin Second Skin Tinted Moisturiser (available on BEAUBIT Official Store): a product that boasts a lightweight formula that’s both silky and moisturising. In fact, it relies on ingredients like kahai oil, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to lock in the moisture in your skin. While it’s meant to keep your skin plump and hydrated, it isn’t sticky to the touch or has an oily sheen to it. It also provides sheer to medium coverage, which is great for blurring out blemishes and pores! Finally, this tinted moisturiser comes with SPF 20, which means it can reinforce protection against UV rays. Of course, that’s not enough, so it’d still be good to pair the moisturiser with actual sunscreen!

This Happy Skin product is also a best tinted moisturiser for people with dry skin in Singapore because of its shade range. Unlike most drugstore tinted moisturisers that have one or two shades, this has a total of five: Nude Beige, Cream Beige, Light Beige, Soft Beige, and Golden Beige. They’re most suitable for light to medium skin tones. Finally, the cherry on top has got to be the packaging! This tinted moisturiser comes in little beige-coloured ovals that look like eggs. Not only is the Happy Skin tinted moisturiser aesthetic looking, but it’s also extremely compact. You can easily carry this around for minor touch-ups throughout your day!

Best tinted moisturiser in Singapore for oily skin (2023)

4. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Oil Free Natural Skin Perfector

(Credit: Strawberrynet SG Official Store)

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder (available on Sasa Official Store), which is a holy grail that many people, including celebrities, swear by. But when it comes to achieving a flawless base to layer on, the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Oil Free Natural Skin Protector (available on Strawberrynet SG Official Store) is what you should be looking out for – especially for people with oily skin. On top of its moisturising capabilities, this Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser is infused with oil-absorbing powders that give your skin a matte finish. If shiny, greasy-looking skin is something you struggle with everyday, try this best tinted moisturiser in Singapore for a change!

5. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

(Credit: Strawberrynet SG Official Store)

The bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream (available on Strawberrynet SG Official Store) can easily provide up to 24 hours’ worth of hydration for your skin, just with one use. That’s not all – it’s been clinically proven to boost your skin’s hydration by 215% in just a week! How’s that for skin flooding? With its oil-free formula, it’s one of the best tinted moisturiser choices for people who have oily skin in Singapore. It’s free of paraben, talc, PEG, and SLS, which can be harmful to your skin and respiratory system. This bareMinerals tinted moisturiser is also vegan and cruelty-free, making it a safer option for persons with sensitive skin as well! If you’re looking for a buildable skin tint that’s hydrating without making your skin look greasy, this tinted moisturiser is recommended for you!

6. Revision Skincare Intellishade Matte Anti-Aging Tinted Moisturiser

(Credit: Strawberrynet SG Official Store)

This next product might be on the pricier end, but its premium quality is going to make it worthwhile! Coming in a sleek, black tube, the Revision Skincare Intellishade Matte Anti-Aging Tinted Moisturiser (available on Strawberrynet SG Official Store) is a product that’s great for maintaining and enhancing your skin’s moisture barrier. Furthermore, it’s designed to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your face. Coupled with the peptides, antioxidants, botanical extracts, and minerals that it’s infused with, it’s formulated to make your face look radiant and youthful! As with most tinted moisturisers, you can also trust that this Revision Skincare tinted moisturiser has a whopping SPF 45, which will go a long way in protecting your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. 

While this Revision Skincare product might seem like it’s practically more skincare than foundation, it can effectively conceal blemishes and correct red areas on your face. The sheer mineral tint also helps to brighten your complexion, awakening the entire face. Finally, while the formula is thick, it doesn’t feel as heavy and tiring on your skin as regular makeup. With this Revision Skincare product, you get sunscreen, moisturiser, and matte foundation – all wrapped into one! In fact, it’s even better for people with oily skin, because you’ll also end up with a smooth, matte finish. No more worrying about having a greasy shine on your face.

Best tinted moisturiser in Singapore for sensitive skin (2023)

7. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (+) Unifiant Tinted Anti-Acne Moisturiser

(Credit: B.Link)

La Roche-Posay is one of the most popular skincare brands to date, with its formula being compatible enough with all skin types, including sensitive ones and conditions like eczema. In fact, the La Roche-Posay Effaclar line is backed by dermatologists and hundreds of rave reviews! Among the products is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (+) Unifiant Tinted Anti-Acne Moisturiser (available on B.Link), which shares almost the same formula as the Effaclar Duo moisturiser, but contains mineral pigments that form a tinted layer on your skin. This works to blur out imperfections on your skin, as well as smoothen out the texture. 

While typically recommended for oily skin, this line’s also a great staple for people prone to acne breakouts. If you have skin that’s easily irritated, this gentle formula is great for soothing and reducing redness on the skin. This is one of the best tinted moisturisers choices for people with sensitive skin in Singapore! The next time you don’t feel like putting on a full face of makeup, use this 2-in-1 moisturiser and you’re set for the day.

8. Dr. Hauschka Tinted Day Cream

(Credit: Dr. Hauschka Official Store)

The Dr. Hauschka Tinted Day Cream (available on Dr. Hauschka Official Store) is one of the best choices for hydrating tinted moisturisers, especially for people who have sensitive skin. Using all-natural ingredients like avocado, almond oils, and rose wax, Dr. Hauschka created an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial base for the tinted moisturiser. Now, people with easily irritated skin can also go about their day with a smooth complexion that boosts their confidence. Just the medium coverage that this product brings is enough to help awaken your face! It actively targets any sun damage when worn, repairing your skin and restoring a healthy glow to it. With the sunny weather we experience daily, this is one of the best tinted moisturiser choices in Singapore!

9. BANILA CO Covericious Skin Fit Tinted Moisturizer

(Credit: The Beauty Curated Co.)

Nowadays, you’ve probably seen the ingredient “cica” pop up here and there on packaging. From moisturisers, and sleeping masks, to the popular colour-correcting Dr.Jart+ Cicapair Re-Cover Spf 30/Pa++ (available on Watsons Singapore Official Store), cica has become the new buzzword in the world of skincare. In particular, the component is often used to treat inflammatory skin conditions and raised scars. It’s also no wonder why the BANILA CO Covericious Skin Fit Tinted Moisturizer (available on The Beauty Curated Co.) has incorporated cica extract into its formula. On top of being gentle enough for use on sensitive skin, the BANILA CO tinted moisturiser also uses Hyaluron Ampoule which hydrates and improves skin appearance. Overall, this is one of the best tinted moisturiser options in Singapore for those who want to try skin tints, but are afraid of ingredients that might trigger the skin.

How should you use a tinted moisturiser?

(Credit: Arina Krasnikova)

As mentioned before, tinted moisturisers are great skincare-based creams that can help cover blemishes and discolouration on your skin. However, they can’t truly replace your traditional moisturisers and sunscreens, which pack way more hydration and UVA/UVB protection – and you need every bit of those benefits. Thus, you must pair tinted moisturisers with them, to ensure that your skin is well protected throughout the day.

Achieve that natural, glowy base with the best tinted moisturisers in Singapore (2023)

While some tinted moisturisers have minimal tints that make skin look more radiant, others are buildable and can blur out dark spots. As one of the best foundation alternatives in Singapore, tinted moisturisers are also often infused with skincare benefits. Just remember to complete your skincare routine with some of the best aloe vera gels and the best sunscreens in Singapore. And if you prefer something fancier, these best French pharmacy skincare products in Singapore are worth a peek! You’ll also get to enjoy fantastic promotions during our 12.12 Birthday Sale this year, so remember to cart out then!

Foo Pei Shi

Happy writer by day, revenge procrastinator by night.

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