NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30

My favorite Stila Tinted Moisturizer ran out the other week and I toyed with the idea of simply ordering a second tube of it or trying a new formula.  As usual, trying a new formula won out for me and I ordered the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 from NARS.  I have loved NARS foundation formulas from the first day of use and I was excited to try more face products from this line.  NARS has been one of my favorite makeup lines for years and I love everything that I have ever used from this line.  My favorite product is their lipsticks and their Sheer Matte Foundation is my second favorite product they make.  I really wanted to see if the Tinted Moisturizer lived up to the performance of my beloved foundation.

I mostly use tinted moisturizer formulas from April to the middle of October, I know that I am at the end of my usage for this product however I wasn't going to wait until next spring to order a new product.  I still use a lighter product on my days off and will until my skin gets too dry to not use a traditional face cream.  I am not interested in whether or not my tinted moisturizer or foundation has SPF in it, I have read in multiple articles from dermatologists that the addition of this ingredient to makeup is relatively useless.  Foundation and tinted moisturizer are usually not applied heavily enough to reap the SPF benefits and I always use a separate sunscreen designed for the face.

"A lightweight tinted moisturizer that evens skintone and provides a translucent veil of protection.  Infused with lush, naturally-derived ingredients, this lightweight tinted moisturizer immediately helps thirsty skin feel hydrated. It has been proven to help reduce the appearance of discoloration and dark spots caused by hyperpigmentation for a clearer and brighter complexion in as little as four weeks. Oil-free and luxurious, it obscures the appearance of lines, wrinkles, pores, and other imperfections while broad spectrum SPF 30 protects skin."

"Natural polysaccharides from Moorea Island in French Polynesia hydrate, condition, and help support natural cell renewal. Mineral-rich seawater uniquely revitalizes and adds key minerals back into the skin. Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 helps improve skin’s overall condition. Soft and smooth to the touch, skin looks natural and glowing. This oil-free, dermatologist-tested product is free of synthetic fragrances and is noncomedogenic.", states the Sephora website. 

This product is available in a range of shades, I ordered Terra Neuve which is a pale porcelain with pink undertones.  This is a great shade for me and I picked it out by comparing it to the shade of NARS Foundation that works very well for me.  There are 12 shades in total for this product and they are pretty evenly distributed between light and deep shades.  The product hydrates as well as any other tinted moisturizer, I haven't found much of a difference between any of the formulas that I have tried in this aspect and I doubt that I ever will.

The NARS tinted moisturizer is a much lighter version of the foundation.  It covers nicely and evens out my skintone.  I always apply tinted moisturizer products with my hands and this one is no exception.  A light coating of this product helps to even out the redness in my skintone and makes blemishes and under eye circles easier to cover with concealer.  I still need to use a separate concealer with this product, I still need it under my eyes and on random blemishes. 

I have never really reaped all the long term benefits of the hydrating ingredients in any tinted moisturizer formula.  I only use this product once or twice a week and will not receive the effects from everyday use.  This product is very high rated for both coverage and hydrating benefits and I have really liked this formula so far.

I will use this product for a few more weeks and then put it aside for next spring.  I used to only use tinted moisturizers if I knew that I wouldn't be leaving my house at all but now I am starting to use them all the time on my lazy days off.  The coverage and natural finish have improved a lot over the years and these are fast becoming some of the best products in my traincase.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

The final time that I used my Sephora VIB 15% coupon (it is finally expired!) was to actually purpose a product that I really needed, I had no tinted moisturizers in my collection and I found that my primer/foundation/concealer/loose powder routine was not the best choice when I had to get ready to go in a huge hurry.  I needed a product that I could use quickly in the morning and still create a flawless face.  I have used the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in the past and I really liked the finish and coverage that it gave me, however the makeup artist at the counter used it on me and showed me a concealer to use with it so that I cover add an additional layer of coverage to red areas or dark circles.  I was undecided whether or not to just rebuy the Laura Mercier product since I really liked it but in the end I decided that I wanted to try a product from a different brand.  I then decided that I wanted to try a brand that I don't own very much from.  After wandering around the busy store and looking at every single tinted moisturizer that I found, I decided to try the product from Stila.

I found a great description on this product on the company's website.  "Stila's iconic tinted moisturizer got a makeover!  Introducing the new and improved Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 that is now WATER RESISTANT!  It's more than just makeup; it's sheer lumimous color infused with light-diffusing pigments to help diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, plus it includes skin-enhancing ingredients such as ginger root extract, gingko biloba leaf extract and chamomile for anti-oxidant protection.  This revolutionary oil-free, tinted moisturizer multitasks as a skin-hydrating, skintone-perfecting, SPF-protecting complexion enhancer.  The micro-fine light diffusing pigments create a sheer wash of natural color and help diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles.  Its oil-free formula melts right into the skin and dries down, creating a gorgeous glow without the tackiness or greasiness."

This product is available in ten shades, not quite as big a shade selection as Laura Mercier but most people are still able to find a good match to their skintone.  My shade is Fair, the palest shade that is recommended for porcelain to fair complexions.  I tried this shade on one hand and the Bare shade on the other hand.  The Bare shade was made for fair skin with neutral undertones, it was slightly too dark for my skin and didn't look as natural as the Fair shade.  The other product that I tried was the Urban Defense product from Urban Decay, the coverage and SPF are comparable but the Halo (light) shade was too warm and too dark for my skin.  The shade choice was what pretty much made my decision to purchase the Stila product, I won't be able to use the Urban Decay product unless more shades are introduced.

I applied this product to bare skin with my hands, in the past I have used tinted moistuizers on top of skin cream or primer however I felt that this type of use actually detracted from the product and made the wear much worse but didn't add to the benefits of the product.  This product gave better-than-average coverage for a tinted moisturizer (major reason that I chose this product based on product recommendations from the associates at Sephora) and lasted all day.  I haven't tried the water resistant aspect of this product yet, I have only worn it out running and around the house on my day off.  This product held up well when I was sweating during my run so I can see that it would perform well on a rainy day or at pool party.  This product was hydrating enough to make my skin soft, but I can't see that it will be hydrating enough in the fall and winter months.  This is going to be an exclusively warm weather product for me, the time of the year that I try to wear less makeup anyway.

This is a good choice for a tinted moisturizer if you want a product that still gives medium coverage, this one could be too heavy for ladies who hate foundation but it is a great product for ladies who typically wear foundation every single day.  I like the shade range of this product, it was pretty easy for me to find a really close match to my skintone.  I still wish that tinted moisturizers had no SPF in them, they don't cover well enough for the SPF to be effective and having the SPF 20 in this product dilutes any other SPF that you would use during the day.  An SPF 20 is not high enough for me when I am out running in the summer months and would be much too low at the beach or pool.  Why do all tinted moisturizers contain an SPF 20?  Does anyone have an answer to this question?

photo courtesy of Stila

Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer

With the heat and humidity that is plaguing my area of the country at the moment, I have scaled back my makeup routine to eliminate any type of foundation.  I am now using a combination of tinted moisturizer, a bit of spot concealer, and then some bronzer to top it all off.  Instead of repurchasing my stand-by Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer, I decided to try out one of the unopened samples that I found in my makeup collection.  I remember being very interested in the Smashbox Tinted Moisturizer when it first came out but I was half way through a tube of the Laura Mercier and very much in love with it.  I got a very large sample of the Smashbox product from Sephora and I deicded to put it away until I was finished with the Laura Mercier product.  And then I completely forget about it since I use foundation and any type of face product very slowy. 

To begin with, I only use Tinted Moisturizers (from any brand) in the warmer weather.  If I plan to use one instead of a typical foundation, I only apply a facial sunscreen to my face and skip the moisturizer all together.  I can only really do this in the warm weather when my skin gets oily enough that it can hydrate itself with only a little boost from a very light face product.  Also all the self-tanner that I use in the summer helps to make my skintone look much smoother and more even, allowing me to use a lighter coverage than I would in the winter.

"Our new lightweight, oil-free tinted moisturizer is packed with vitamins and anti-aging peptides for naturally raidant skin.  The unique citrus honey moisturization technology nourishes as it absorbs excess oil throughout the day, and UVA/UVB SPF 15 guards against future damage so skin stays flawless and protected."  In addition to a product description, the Smashbox website provides several tips to enhance the usage of this product.  "For longer wear, apply Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer over the Photo Finish Foundation Primer of your choice using fingertips.  Luminous can be worn alone or mized with Fair, Light, or Medium shades for a soft, all-over glow."

Luminous is the shade that I was given in this product, this is the multi-purpose neutral shade that can be used by anyone who has a skintone from fair to medium.  This one works quite well with the results of the self-tanner on my face and I would use the Fair shade only if I would use this product in the spring or fall.  For summer, Luminous is my top choice since most people's skin is constantly changing hues due to sun and tan fading.  This one covers the range of shades that my skin is in the warmer months. 

This tinted moisturizer provides very sheer coverage with one coat and would need to be built up with two coats or use of another product to reach a medium coverage finish.  I use one coat of this product to set a base and then use a spot concealer on dark circles and any areas of uneven pigmentation.  The finish of this product is sheerer than the Laura Mercier version, this one can't be used in place of foundation if you want a medium coverage without the feel of a foundation.  Smashbox recommends that this product be used with a primer underneath (of course one of their's is the pick!) and I did try to use it that way.  I am currently using a Clarins primer that I found to be a bit to heavy for the summer so with the combination of the two products, it was no difference than wearing a full coverage foundation.  Which totally defeated what I was trying to achieve with the use of the tinted moisturizer formula.

The only major dislike that I have with this product is the inadequate sun protection.  SPF 15 is never enough for me and this product is applied sheerly so the SPF never really penetrates and covers every single area of the face.  I find it very irresponsible of many beauty companies to try and tell people that using SPF in foundations, tinted moisturizers, or powders is enough for full protection.  It isn't and it never will be.  I never look at SPF in any face product of mine, I prefer to buy my own sunscreen and use it in combintion with the rest of my facial care products.

This product is lovely if you want a tinted moisturizer with sheer, buildable coverage.  This is a product is best for skin that needs very little hydration and only in times that a separate hydrator isn't needed.  This product is best layered over sunscreen since the SPF is minimal at best.  The Luminous shade is a great choice to use on summer skin that changes shade with the sun and tanning products.  I wouldn't recommend this product for anyone with dry skin or that needs a medium to full coverage.  It helps to make my skin look lovely and natural in the warm months and (in tandem with self-tanner and bronzer) gives my skin a great glow.

photo courtesy of Smashbox

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

When the name Laura Mercier is uttered, many people think of one product only. That product is the famous, award winning tinted moisturizer, a product that has many Allure awards and is a consistent Sephora best seller. I was first turned onto this product quite a few years ago when Jean Godfrey June covered it (and raved over it ) in her column for Lucky magazine. I was in college at the time and have never really heard of using a tinted moisturizer instead of a liquid or powder foundation. I was somewhat interested in the product but mostly because she raved about it and I love everything that she loves.

Flash forward several years and land right in the middle of a Laura Mercier event at their counter in bloomingdales. Since they had several professional makeup artists right there and no one was in line at that moment, I decided to take a chance on the product and have them use it on my face. I was a bit worried that the coverage just wouldn't been enough to cover my red areas since a tinted moisturizer seems like a plain hydrator that is spiked with just a hint of color. When I expressed this concern to the artist, she recommended that I try using a lighter coverage foundation and look at a heavier concealer instead of heavy coverage foundation used alone. She did my face with the combination of this product and the Secret Camoflage concealer and I caved and bought both products. And the matching Secret Camoflage brush. What can I say? Impress me and I am a pretty easy sale.

The Laura Mercier website gives the following product description and usage details. "Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is a sheer, lightweight moisturizer with SPF 20 and a hint of color that can be used in place of foundation for a natural appearance while adding a healthy glow to your complexion. Moisturizing formula hydrates skin, softening and easing fine, dry lines. Leaves a natural, dewy finish. Features an anti-oxidant vitamin complex that acts as a free radical scavenger to protect the skin from even the most aggressive effects of the environment. Extremely long-wearing, stays colour true, and wears evenly. Add SPF and a sheer finish to the skin by mixing 50% Tinted Moisturizer into your foundation". "To Use: apply to clean skin and use an outward and downward motion - be careful not to pull the skin. Can be worn with or without Foundation Primer".

I found that the simplest method of application was the best for this product. I tried applying it with a sponge, thinking I could get it one like foundation. It just made the product streak all over the place. I tried applying it over another moisturizer, thinking that it would be twice as hydrating. More streaking occured. The best results came when I applied to it clean skin (using it as my hydrator) with my fingers and just blended it in with the pads on my fingers. Sometimes the easiest way really is the best way...

This product comes in two formulas, one that is oil-free and one that is not. I have bought and used both in the extra same shade (Porcelain - what else?) and find that there is very little different in the texture. If you are prone to breakouts, you might like the oil-free version a tad better but I experienced no issues with either version.

This product gave me even coverage and reduced the appearance of the redness in my cheeks. The use of this and a heavier concealer really helps my red areas without looking like I am wearing a ton of makeup or having my face look cakey. This formula stays on most of the day but does tend to sweat off pretty easily in humid weather.

The only part of this product that I'm not all that impressed with is the SPF 20. Tinted Moisturizers are not applied to the skin with a heavy enough hand for SPF to really even be useful in this product. It doesn't hurt to have it in but I would prefer a product with no SPF and then to add my own under it.

photo courtesy of Laura Mercier