The Best Tints, Foundations and Concealers For Summer
BY SOPHIE CHUNG
Serving up life-like second-skin.
10 OCT - 2023
Fresh and real skin effect
The latest complexion trend is all about adorning a barely-there soft focus look that’s life-like. Gone are the days of adorning a matte cake with painted-on slugs and metallic highlighter that can be seen from intergalactic distances. It’s all about glowing around in your natural gorgeous state. Think luminous healthy skin, flushed cheeks, natural brushed brows with a soft pout.
Tints & Foundations
Jane Iredale HydroPure Tinted Serum
The Jane Iredale HydroPure Tinted Serum has a gel-like texture that’s very cool when it hits the skin. As you swirl it around with a brush, the spheres full of pigment burst onto the skin and meld with the aqueous solution that holds them. Infused with hyaluronic acid and squalane, it’s as if a wave of moisture has washed over your skin, leaving a sheer and uber luminous coat of dewiness.
Jane Iredale HydroPure Tinted Serum, $103.
Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
Sheer and dewy, the new Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint is packed with hyaluronic acid, squalane and meadowfoam seed oil, perfect for those with dry skin! It's a little tacky in texture due to its hydrating qualities but it imparts a healthy-looking glow as if you've been doing a spot of pilates.
Jenny’s got the full low-down, comparing this new number with an OG cult favourite - Laura Mercier Natural Skin Perfector. It's well worth the read if you're about to splurge on a sheer tint!
Hourglass Veil Skin Tint, $89.
Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturiser
When I first tried the Rare Beauty tinted moisturiser, I was amazed. It wasn’t at all what I thought it would be and instantly gained a top spot in my collection of face paints. At the most wallet-friendly price, this little squeezy tube does the most. The formula is really flexible and syncs to my skin so it moves with me instead of cracking. Considering it is categorised as a tinted moisturiser, it has exceptional coverage while being lightweight and is easily buildable. Plus, it has SPF20 via a mix of chemical and physical sunblocks to give you that extra dose of sun protection.
Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturiser, $57.
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation
If you need a little more coverage, the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation is simply incredible and gets the assignment. An addition to the ‘Light Reflecting’ collection, it has cultivated a following very quickly. Another product that claims to be a makeup-skincare hybrid, this one is formulated without mineral oils, silicones and parabens. It blurs imperfections effectively while still being lightweight on the skin. You really don’t need much of this product - you only need enough for a thin veil as it blurs skin texture, pores and spots. It also wears really well over time without oxidising! To set the undereyes, t-zone and jawline, you must pair it with the Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder, $64. They’re made for eachother! And it’s best not to skip the powder-setting step as it really is required with a glowy formula like this to achieve the soft-focus effect.
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation, $91.
Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation SPF25
After peering through my collection to see if I skipped any holy grails, I realised that I had forgotten to include this BB number! I’ve got this one in a couple of different shades to suit my skintone during any season. It truly is an original in the ‘skincare meets makeup’ category and leaves the skin with a luminous texture. Suited for mature skin, this formula is on the nourishing side and hides fine lines.
Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation SPF25, $130
Sisley Phyto-Teint Ultra-Eclat Foundation, NZD$130
Every time I want to look my absolute best without any doubts, this is the one I turn to. If anyone asks me which foundation is the best, this is the one I recommend. It’s a pricey option, but wow, is it worth it. The Sisley Phyto-Teint Ultra-Eclat Foundation has buildable coverage that never cakes and is superbly luminous with a natural finish that lasts. It most definitely is a luxury buy and the quality is truly unbeatable. The best part is, it’s fool-proof. Whether you apply with your fingers, brush or sponge, it will blend effortlessly and set like second-skin.
It can do no wrong.
Sisley Phyto-Teint Ultra-Eclat Foundation, $130.
Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation
If you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to wanting something that is weightless and gives the effect of looking sheer but is in fact high-coverage, you’ve hit the goldmine with Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation. It’s a fool-proof formula with incredible 5 star reviews and for good reason. It comes in a myriad of shades, so you won’t have any trouble when it comes to colour-matching. It also has a smooth luminous finish that doesn’t look super shiny - your skin will emit a natural glow that looks super fresh and radiant for hours and hours. If you’ve got the budget to spare, I’d opt for this formula over the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation!
Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation, $105.
Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation
The most long-wearing and heavy-duty formula on the list is the new Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation. Designed to withstand extreme conditions - and we know an ultra-hot summer is incoming - it includes adaptogens like licorice root and sea asparagus to calibrate oil control and hydration throughout the day. The formula is also infused with priming properties so that your foundation doesn’t cake, flake or streak and is water, humidity, crease, settle and transfer-resistant! It’s well worth grabbing a sample at your local Mecca to try this formula out!
NOTE: this one is only available in Australia at the moment!
Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation, $82.
Concealers
Sisley Stylo Correct
This is my absolute favourite concealer at the moment! It ticks all the boxes of what a barely-there concealer should be. Designed to be a long-wearing high-coverage concealer pen, it hides blemishes seamlessly without adding any cakiness. Although they say that it’s not for use under the eyes, I’ve been using it as an under eye concealer anyway and it works a charm. It’s incredibly lightweight and melts into the skin - the second-skin effect that this imparts could not be any better!
Sisley Stylo Correct, $95.
Rose Inc Softlight Concealer
Blendable, hydrating, blurring, luminous, buildable and easily fixable throughout the day - it does all the work for you. I love using the Rose Inc Softlight Concealer as an under-eye concealer so I go a couple of shades lighter than my foundation. I especially love to mix a bit of cream blush right under the eyes too! It’s an amazing trick I picked up on Instagram. Instead of having obviously bright, white under eyes, when you blend some colour into it, the face looks way more natural and at ease. It also helps to gradually transition into your blush so instead of having that harsh contrast, you give off a healthy appearance with a flushed look. Apply just a dab on the inner and outer corner of the eye and blend upwards.
Rose Inc Softlight Concealer, $54
Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer
This is one of the best concealers to cover imperfections. Full coverage with a velvety airbrushed finish, it’s so effective in hiding spots, blemishes and pigmentation. The best part is, you can’t even tell you’re wearing something that is full coverage. It’s super easy to use and blends seamlessly into the skin. Every time I return to this product, I’m always so amazed by not only its coverage power but also the finish - it’s simply unmatched!
Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer, $65
Kosas Revealer Concealer
This concealer has been talked about several times on Chatty Chums. It’s just that good! It’s a super creamy formula with hyaluronic acid, which is great for those with dry skin. It also has a brightening effect that highlights and smoothes the skin in a natural way. It’s such a great go-to for applying under the eyes.
Kosas Revealer Concealer, $54.
Urban Decay Stay Naked Quickie Concealer
This has got to be the most generous concealer on the market with its 16.4ml size and thick liquid formula that you can use very sparingly. The previous iteration of the Urban Decay Stay Naked Concealer received a rave review by Mahi for her Brown Girl Concealer Guide. It has very high coverage to effectively brighten your under eye bags and hide imperfections but it doesn’t cake! It’s waterproof, humidity proof and transfer resistant too so it really is the ultimate all-nighter concealer! Despite its high coverage capabilities, Stay Naked Quickie leaves the skin with a skin-like matte finish and it doesn’t crease! It’s super impressive and I’ve found myself recommending this one to anyone who asks what’s good!
Urban Decay Stay Naked Quickie Concealer, $55.
And that’s a wrap! There are a fair few options to choose from at a variety of pricepoints so I’m hoping this list helped with the struggles of finding a complexion solution in summer. One more thing - I feel compelled to include an honorary mention of Clinique’s Even Better Clinical Foundation as it’s such a game-changer for those with oily skin. It’s the absolute best for a no-budge finish that will last all day and night!
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