Blurring the lines between makeup and skincare, the latest raft of skin tints add warmth and soften the look of fine lines yet feel like nothing on your skin
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There’s a new word to add to your beauty lexicon: ‘skindation’. This hybrid of skincare and foundation answers a collective call from those who like their base to offer a little more pigment and coverage than a tinted moisturiser while still letting freckles have their day.
The pandemic impacted our relationship with traditional foundation in two crucial ways. After so much time spent hiding behind face masks, many of us now forgo a full face of base out of habit. We also got to grips with an efficient skincare regime so feel more self-assured about boosting the clarity and radiance of our skin without resorting to a heavy layer of makeup. In fact, a recent Mintel report revealed that 50 per cent of consumers now prefer to purchase hybrid cosmetics with skin benefits. So it’s little wonder that a ‘skindation’ feels like a more natural choice over foundation.
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Capitalising on this paradigm shift is a new crop of skin tints that rival foundation when it comes to results and boast impressive skincare benefits (many contain hydrating hyaluronic acid and antioxidants). Simply put, they make low-key skin look expensive.
Hermès Plein Air by Hermès Beauty is one such product. A pigmented, balm-like cream, it adds a gossamer fine veil of colour to the skin, the result of the Maison’s partnership with a Japanese laboratory specialising in the sensory materials. This ‘skin-on-skin’ effect “conceals yet reveals the beauty of a face in the open air,” according to Menehould de Bazelaire, Hermès’ director of cultural heritage.
When it comes to choosing the most natural-looking shade, the same rules for foundation apply. “Always test the shade on your jawline or lower cheeks,” says Copenhagen-based make-up artist Marie Thomsen who has worked with brands such as Ganni and Stine Goya. Dotted on to forehead, temples, cheekbones and chin, skin tints can then be blended using your fingers or a brush for a real-skin finish without harsh lines. While many offer light to medium coverage, “use concealer where you need a little extra help,” she instructs, especially where blemishes or redness are concerned.
Ahead, the best 'skindations' to add to your make-up routine:
With buildable coverage that lasts for eight hours, the light-as-air formula blurs fine lines while at the same time deploying hydrating hyaluronic acid, evening primrose oil and Baikal skullcap to help protect skin from pollution and aggressors. The freshness of your complexion is only matched by that of the fragrance: arnica, sandalwood, green tea.
Boasting 14 shades, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s first foray into base is the equivalent of a tinted serum. Hydrating squalane joins forces with skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and peptides but the star of this show is the micro encapsulation technology. In other words, what the naked eye sees as a translucent gel in which hundreds of tiny pigmented spheres are suspended. These burst on contact with the Number 3 brush, when first blended together on the back of hand before applying to the face.
Oily and sensitive skin types will find the fresh, gel-like texture immediately appealing. Easy to blend into the skin without harsh lines, the formula is also spiked with Pure Arctic Spring Water and Nordic Algae to to lock in moisture without suffocating pores.
Despite being called a foundation, its featherlight, virtually undetectable finish is why this formula fits so neatly into the zeitgeisty skin tint trend. Better still, the inclusion of Chanel’s hero camellia extract works behind the scenes to refine pores, restore elasticity and add luminosity over time.
If you’re looking for a very sheer tint and a reef-safe SPF then look no further than Milk Makeup’s Sunshine Skin Tint. As well as imparting a dewy sun-kissed glow, it feeds skin ingredients such as grapeseed, avocado and olive oils to keep it plump full of moisture, too. Stockpile this for days when you need to inject life into a tired complexion.
Anyone who has experienced the sensorial pleasure of a La Mer cream on the skin will be familiar with its glow-galvanising properties. The same is true of the Skintint, which deposits a whisper-light hint of colour and harnesses the power of giant sea kelp and lime tea to serve up a hit of hydration and dial down inflammation.