3 Tinted Moisturizers For Your Hot Girl Summer (Over 50 Edition)

I know summer. I now live in Texas. I’ve tested makeup in sweat, sun, and straight-up sauna weather.

Happy Makeup Monday!

When it’s hot and humid, heavy foundation feels two squirrels screwing in a wool sock. No thanks! And since moving from Chicago to Austin, Texas, baby, I went from cold to “satan sat his ass on Texas” weather.

As a pro makeup artist, licensed esthetician, and 56-year-old woman who's seen it all (and applied it all), I can tell you: tinted foundations are your summer MVP. They let your skin breathe, move, and glow without making you feel like you’ve got a layer of latex on your face.

Hot Pro Tip: Did You Know?
Tinted moisturizer = moisturizer + a bit of pigment. That’s it.

You can buy it, or better yet, mix your own with your favorite foundation and a little help from Water Elixir, Water Oil, and Water Balm. That’s the secret sauce I’ve used on clients for decades.

DIY Tinted Moisturizer Recipe

1 part Water Elixir, Water Balm
1 part your regular medium or full coverage foundation
Instructions: Mix on palette or hand and apply.

For Extremely Dry Skin:
1 pump Water Oil
2 pumps medium or full coverage foundation
Instructions: Mix on palette or hand and apply.

Pros & Cons
Pros: A workhorse for mature skin types. Looks skin like and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and pores.

Cons: Tinted foundation by their very nature do not have staying power. They fade. They slide. They vanish by lunch, especially if you’re sweating, talking, living your life. So you will need to reapply.

Tip: If you’re going outside for more than a couple of hours, make sure that formula includes SPF that you can re-apply easily.

But Sonia, I’m lazy, I’d rather buy it.
If this sounds like you, here are 3 for your consideration:

Tinted Moisturizer for Dry Skin

Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint

Pros: Lightweight, elegant, hydrating; gives that fresh-faced glow without weight.
Cons: Lacks shade range, minimal coverage, not long-wear. No spf.
Prep with: Sexapeel Gel+Water Elixir + Water Balm. Add Water Oil + Intense Barrier Cream for extra plush bounce. Or choose the Quick Glow Kit. (I am wearing this tinted foundation and this skin prep kit in my video here, and there is no filter)

Roselli Beauty Quick Glow Kit

Juice Beauty CC Cream SPF 30

While “technically” not a tinted sunscreen, it has the coverage of one.
Pros: Includes SPF, feels like skincare, adds light hydration and glow. Great for light rosacea skin types.
Cons: Very limited shade range; can cling to dry patches without proper prep.
Prep with: Sexapeel Gel > Water Elixir > Water Balm or the kit the Texture Relief Kit. Skip Water Oil unless you’re desert-dry.

The Texture Relief Kit

Best Tinted Moisturizer for Oily Skin

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free SPF 20
Pros: Oil-free, lightweight, demi-matte finish perfect for humid climates.
Cons: Lower SPF than some options; may not be ideal for very deep tones.
Prep with: Sexapeel Gel > Water Elixir > Water Balm. Texture Relief Kit
Great combo for keeping the skin balanced and shine-free.

Texture Relief Kit

My Summer Skin Stack (That Works with All of the Above)

• Sexapeel Gommage Peeling Gel

• Water Elixir Skin Prep

• Water Balm Skin Prep

• Optional: Water Oil + Intense Barrier Cream if you’re super dry

• Sunscreen that works with all of them: Nivea Japanese Water Gel SPF 50 (doesn’t pill, works with everything and is black girl friendly!)

Want to be ready for anything? Get the full routine:

What’s your go-to tinted moisturizer? And tell me, what’s your skin type and where do you live? Humid? Dry? Swampy AF? I wanna know.
XO
Sonia

Ps. Working on Season 2 of the podcast. Let me know what you want to discuss!