The Tinted Gel Cream Is the Complexion Product to Know in 2024

I’ve come to accept that my complexion routine is always in flux. Rather than force myself to settle for just one “favorite” foundation or tinted moisturizer, I allow my routine to ebb and flow based on what my skin needs—and right now, all it wants is a tinted gel-cream.

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A few months ago, I called in a bunch of tinted moisturizers to test and realized I received my exact shade of the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer. Though the formula has achieved cult-status since its 2015 launch, I had not yet tried it and was admittedly hesitant it would not work for me—someone with oily skin and post-acne scarring. I assumed it would appear too sheer and fail at veiling my discoloration; but boy was I wrong. I dotted Complexion Rescue onto my face and began blending with a brush. The results were impressive; I was shocked at how cooling it felt—almost like a cup of water, it essentially dissolved into my skin; imparting an even, hydrating glow perfect for daily wear.

Looking back, I’m not sure why I didn’t think the tinted gel-cream would work for me. It’s literally a tinted version of gel-cream face moisturizers—billed as a weightless hydrator perfect for warm temps, oily skin types, or skin care layering. All this to say, it’s clear the BareMinerals tint was ahead of its time. The last six months have seen a rise in these types of formulas; notably, U Beauty’s The Super Tinted Hydrator which launched in October and Kosas’s BB Burst which hit shelves in February. But what marks the shift towards gel-creams now?

Celebrity makeup artist Glenn Brownell links it to the rise in skin care sales; “I think people are backing away from traditional foundations because consumers want more benefits from everything they’re putting on their face,” he explains. “They want it to leave their skin better after they take it off at the end of the day.” Makeup artist Sean Harris agrees, emphasizing that the tinted gel-creams can even out the skin tone without looking heavy or settling into fine lines. “These formulas are very popular because when applied properly they can help to create a flawless complexion. Think radiant, beaming perfection.”