1. Face Freezie Primer/Moisturizer
2. Can't Stop Won’t Stop Foundation
3. Bare With Me Blur Tint Foundation
4. Total Control Pro Drop Foundation
5. CSWS Concealer
6. Plump Finish Setting Spray
Moisturizing primers, hydrating lip oils, skin-brightening setting sprays: Hybrid makeup is one of the biggest beauty trends of 2023. And of the different types of skincare-makeup hybrids available, the skin tint is undoubtedly one of our favorites. This hybrid product—a slightly lighter version of the classic tinted moisturizer—hydrates the skin while offering light, dewy coverage that’s ideal for no-makeup makeup looks. And though there are tons of skin tints on the market, you can also DIY a similar product by mixing foundation with moisturizer. Here, we’ll teach you how to make tinted moisturizer at home using a few NYX Professional Makeup staples. You’ll also learn how to wear your custom-made tinted moisturizer for a fresh, low-key makeup look. Find it all ahead.
What is Tinted Moisturizer Used For?
Tinted moisturizers are the perfect blend of a face moisturizer and foundation. They provide much-needed hydration along with a just-right amount of coverage. Not so heavy that it looks like you’re wearing loads of makeup but enough to help conceal discoloration and blur minor spots. Some tinted-moisturizer fans choose to use them every day for a fresh-faced look, while others wear foundation some days and seek tints out for more casual occasions, like running errands or a trip to the gym.
Can You Mix Foundation With Moisturizer to Make a Tinted Moisturizer?
As we’ve established, yes—you can make a tinted moisturizer by mixing foundation with moisturizer. There are stipulations, though. For one, not every foundation is ideal for mixing with moisturizer (imagine trying to dissolve a powder foundation into your daily face lotion—it probably wouldn’t be super practical). The formulas of both products need to complement one another in order to achieve a smooth, even-looking finish.
What Are the Benefits of Making Your Own Tinted Moisturizer?
If you do have the right tools for the job (so to speak), there are benefits to making your own tinted moisturizer. These include:
- Versatility: You can easily tailor the coverage to suit your needs.
- Affordability: DIY-ing your own tinted moisturizer means you don’t have to buy a new product.
- Customization: Your skin may be a slightly different shade in the winter than it is in the summer. With a DIY tinted moisturizer, you can easily adjust the shade of your base to match your skin at any time of year.
Of course, while there are benefits to DIY, you don’t have to make your own tinted moisturizer. If you’re after a lighter base but prefer a ready-made option, try our Bare With Me Blur Tint Foundation. It’s available in 24 skin-enhancing shades and helps blur the appearance of pores, dark spots, and blemishes with a medium-coverage finish that lasts up to 16 hours. Plus, the glycerin, matcha, and niacinamide-infused formula offers up to 12 hours of hydration. Apply it with a brush or sponge, or blend it out with your fingers for a lighter, sheerer finish.
What Ingredients and Tools Will You Need?
For those who do want to DIY their tinted moisturizer, you’ll need the following:
- Moisturizer
- Foundation
- A small bowl or clean palette
- A miniature spatula for mixing
How to Make Tinted Moisturizer in 4 Steps
Once you’ve assembled your tools, you can go ahead and get started. Learn how to make tinted moisturizer in our step-by-step tutorial ahead.
Step 1: Determine Your Desired Coverage
By design, tinted moisturizers are meant to provide lighter coverage than a traditional foundation. However, you can still tailor your product a bit, depending on how much coverage you want. So before you get started, take a minute to plan out how sheer you’d like your tinted moisturizer to be. This will make it easier, later on, to determine how much product you’ll need to mix together.
Step 2: Select Your Foundation
Generally, you’ll want to use a liquid foundation when making a DIY tinted moisturizer. At NYX Professional Makeup, we have several options to choose from. Whichever you pick, make sure it matches your skin tone and undertone (our foundation shade finder is super helpful if you’re unsure where to start). Another thing to keep in mind is the finish.
If you prefer a matte base, we recommend using our iconic Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation. It’s available in 45 pigment-packed shades that offer up to 24 hours of waterproof, transfer-resistant wear. Plus, the full-coverage formula is non-comedogenic and suitable for normal, sensitive, and oily skin types.
For a more natural, skin-like finish, try the Total Control Pro Drop Foundation. It offers buildable coverage with a natural-looking finish and comes in a range of shades to flatter a variety of skin tones. You can further customize the shade and undertone with Total Control Pro Drop Foundation Hue Shifters if needed.
Step 3: Choose a Suitable Moisturizer
In order to get the best result with your DIY tinted moisturizer, you’ll want to make sure the two products you’re using are compatible. Water and oil don’t mix, so if you mix a water-based foundation with an oil-based moisturizer, they’ll separate rather than mix homogeneously.
As both of the foundations mentioned above are water-based, we suggest opting for a lightweight, water-based moisturizer, like our Face Freezie Cooling Primer + Moisturizer. The niacinamide-infused formula is a powerhouse in its own right, offering 10 benefits in one. It preps, evens, smooths, minimizes pores, tightens, hydrates, sculpts, softens, calms, and revitalizes skin, leaving you with a dewy, fresh-faced finish.
Step 4: Mix Your Foundation and Moisturizer
Once you’ve got all the ingredients (and tools) gathered, you can go ahead and start mixing up your DIY tinted moisturizer. Start with a 1:1 ratio of foundation to moisturizer, and use your spatula to combine the components. From there, you can add more moisturizer or foundation to sheer out or increase the coverage, respectively. Continue the process until you’ve reached your desired consistency.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for something more akin to a skin tint, opt for a lightweight, fluid moisturizer rather than a cream.
How to Use Tinted Moisturizer
Once you have your tint ready to go, how to wear it is easy. Start by prepping your skin with a makeup primer, then use a makeup brush or sponge to apply a thin, even layer of skin tint to your face. If needed, you can use color corrector and concealer (like our full-coverage Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Contour Concealer) to more thoroughly conceal dark spots, blemishes, or other imperfections. From there, complete your look as desired. Don’t forget to spritz your face with Plump Finish Setting Spray at the end of your routine to help set your makeup in place and give your skin a moisturized, healthy appearance.
Can You Store DIY Tinted Moisturizer?
If you’re making your own tinted moisturizer, it’s best to do it on an as-needed basis instead of creating a big batch all at once. It’s difficult to ensure proper storage when you’re DIY-ing your beauty products—and at the end of the day, you need to be sure what you’re putting on your skin is fresh. Plus, when you make your tinted moisturizer as needed, it’s much easier to adjust the color to account for seasonal variations in your skin tone.
PRODUCTS USED
Bare With Me Blur Tint Foundation
Blurring tint foundation in 24 medium coverage, matte shades
Face Freezie Cooling Primer + Moisturizer
10-in-1 benefits with snow mushroom + niacinamide
Plump Finish Setting Spray
Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray With Electrolytes
