Hints for moisturising tints

Tinted moisturisers sit mid-way between full cover and complete nudity. They are perfectly suited to those days when going about bare-faced is more than you could stand and all-out war paint just isn't right. Full maquillage at the beach just isn't done.

Lancome Aqua Fusion Teinte
$69 for 50ml

Aqua Fusion moisturisers (there's a fluid, gel-cream and rich cream) do such a great job hydrating the skin with 16 essential elements, it was almost too much to hope that it would become a tinted moisturiser. But it has - in four colours. And there's an SPF15. Beautiful to wear.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.

Clarins Hydra-Care Tinted Moisturizer SPF6
$62 for 50ml

As you'd expect from the French skincare company keen on botanical extracts, this is packed with things like echinacea, horsetail, mallow and sea fennel to moisturise and help skin keep its moisture. Lovely job it does too. As for the tinted part, there's special auto-focus pigments that

Tinted moisturisers are a godsend in summer when heavy foundation has a habit of looking harsh in direct sunlight. If you're caught short you could improvise and mix two parts moisturiser to one part foundation until you can replenish your tinted-moisturiser stock.

diffuse light evenly so imperfections are minimised. The SPF6 is a step in the right direction.

From selected department stores, pharmacies and beauty therapists.

DuWop Face Revolotion
$58 for 50ml

The two former Hollywood hair and makeup artists who started DuWop don't much go in for blinding us with science. All they say about this is that it's a breakthrough blend of tinted moisturiser, light-reflecting pigment, an SPF15 and a satin matt finish. Nice result. Cool packaging.

From Glamorpuss.

M. A. C Select Tint SPF15
$52 for 50ml

Classified as a lightweight moisturising tint, this water-based, oil-free formulation does a decent job of moisturising. The success of this sheer-look-and-feel tint has much to do with the fact that you're able to hook your skin up with a near-perfect invisible colour. There are an impressive 11 shades.

From M. A. C Chancery and Smith & Caughey's Newmarket.

Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint SPF15
$55 for 40ml

In typical no-nonsense Clinique style, this light, oil-free cream gel gets in and does its job of moisturising and protecting skin with an antioxidant complex. The sheer hint of colour from one of the four shades works cleverly, making it look like you've got great skin naturally.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.