I was a huge fan of tinted moisturizers when they burst on the beauty scene in the late 90s, but then BB & CC creams came along, and I got swept up in that cosmetic craze. During pandemic times, I’ve rediscovered the tinted moisturizer, which has always been a bit of an underdog in the makeup playoffs. Tinted moisturizers can be used to even out skin tone, provide some sun protection, and moisturize while illuminating your skin.

The best tinted moisturizers are more than just glorified day creams, and there’s an option out there that works for every skin type, tone, and texture. But before we delve into particular products and brands, it’s worth knowing what a tinted moisturizer is since they blur the line between most other kinds of face makeup.

Drawing a distinction between BB creams, CC creams, foundations, and tinted moisturizers can be difficult since they all overlap in some ways. The main difference is that tinted moisturizers are creams with a slight tint to them that are meant to hydrate the skin; really, the distinction is in the name. They’re great for people who prefer more natural makeup looks, are looking for lighter coverage, or just want something that doesn’t require too much work every morning.

BB creams are balms that focus on blurring uneven texture but typically with slightly more coverage than tinted moisturizers. This leads into CC creams, which are nearly the same as BB creams but focus heavily on color correction (which is what the CC stands for). And the most different, but still closely related face makeup, is foundation, which tends to have a wider range of colors, and can build up coverage thicker than any of the others. So for days when there’s really no need for a full face of makeup (which is almost every day, nowadays), tinted moisturizer can work both as a skin treatment and provide a bit of polish to your skin tone for those Zoom meetings and FaceTimes.

Laura Mercier makes two great tinted moisturizers. First is their Broad Spectrum SPF 20 – Oil-Free version with a satin finish and infused with vitamins C and E, which fight off free radicals and other environmental pollutants. It also provides a nice even color across your face that’s supposed to last all day. And there’s their Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 made from a blend of macadamia and kukui seed oils to moisturize your skin while keeping out harmful UV rays.

If you already use products from Bare Minerals, check out their Complexion Rescue tinted moisturizer broad spectrum SPF 30, with ingredients to nourish your skin while delicately covering blemishes. For oily or acne-prone skin, consider Estee Lauder’s Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup SPF 40. This formula provides you with a bit more coverage but doesn’t feel heavy like foundation, while it helps to soothe skin. If hyperpigmentation is of concern, try NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturize Broad Spectrum SPF 30. This tinted cream has a vitamin C derivative to combat patchy skin with mineral-rich seawater and kopara in the mix to hydrate and revive your complexion.

Lastly, there’s my personal favorite Glossier’s Perfecting Skin Tint, which is not the usual lotion-based formula, but rather an oil-like substance that melds with your skin for sheer coverage and a dewy finish, if I do say so myself. I use this product almost daily, and it doesn’t look like I’m even wearing makeup, but more so that my skin looks smooth and awake. It’s even fooled my husband who recently said, and I quote, “Why do you have so much makeup, you don’t even need it, you look great.” Full disclosure: I was wearing tinted moisturizer, eyebrow pencil/gel, mascara, and lip balm, and I swiped on a bit of finishing powder, and yes, I did look nice.

Unlike previously mentioned products, Glossier does not come with built-in SPF, so as we roll slowly out of strict quarantine and into summer, I’ll be looking to switch things up for coverage and protection as we begin to head outdoors.

Even if you regularly use BB & CC creams, as well as foundation, tinted moisturizer is worth having a place in your makeup bag, if only for the convenience of application. Tinted moisturizer is the ultimate BOGO: You nourish your skin while getting coverage, all with easy application. Most people are not feeling a full face of foundation during these days at home, but when you want to brighten or even out your complexion, having a tinted moisturizer at hand is a win-win for your face.