Whether it’s sports, you’re running late, or you’re just in a more casual hang-out mood, some days call for a not-too-heavy makeup look. When it does, some of the best skin tints can deliver just the right amount of skin-smoothing coverage. Many skin tints double as serums to help soothe dry skin, blot out shine on oily skin, and even protect skin from sun damage.

In the world of base makeup, you have traditional foundations, tinted moisturizers, and BB creams — skin tints are essentially a combo of all three. “A skin tint is a sheer coverage foundation, it usually has a radiant or dewy finish and is more lightweight than the typical foundation,” explains Natalie Dresher, celebrity and influencer makeup artist.

So, if you've been looking to swap out your traditional heavy foundations for something more lightweight, opt for a skin tint. They're also a very popular makeup trend for spring and summer because of their breathable and lightweight formulas. We happen to think they make a great base for graduation makeup looks, too!

Our favorite skin tints:

Tula’s tint offers enough coverage to skip the foundation. Plus, the bonus dose of SPF helps protect skin against sun damage. The formula is more dewy, so oily or acne-prone skin types may prefer a more matte option. “The added sunscreen first got my attention with this tint. Then, once I tried it, the medium, buildable coverage, and dewy finish easily made it my go-to when I don’t want to wear foundation. My skin glows in all the best ways and it evens out my skin tone perfectly. I also love that there’s a wide enough shade range for me to have both a winter and summer shade in the same formula.” — Nykia Spradley

I took a masterclass with Dolce & Gabbana Beauty and got to try out their latest skin drop, the Blueberry Nutri-Tint Hydra-glow & Fresh Skin Tint. When I told you at first swipe, I was immediately sold; the product feels super lightweight, goes sheer, and gives off a glowing, radiant look. It also made my skin feel softer and look better, fresh and revived. It also comes in 30 inclusive shades, which is very impressive. Pro tip: Start out with just a small amount and then build up to the coverage you want. Teen Vogue commerce editor, Shauna Beni-Haynes.

Leave it to Fenty Beauty to come through with a wide color range. Their Eaze Drop Blurring Tint comes in 25 shades, is buildable from a light to medium coverage and once it dries down it stays put through humidity and sweat. “Fenty really is one of the best imo! I have oily skin and this is easy to apply and stays put all day long in the hot NC sun.” — Karmelisha Alexander

File this gem from Laura Mercier among the greats. The creamy coverage is perfectly balanced for everyday wear and won’t feel too heavy or cake up in warmer weather. There’s vitamin C inside to brighten skin and to top off the goodness, there’s SPF 30 to keep sun damage far away. “This is my go-to tinted moisturizer! It has the light natural coverage I want and always gives my skin a flawless, weightless, dewy glow that lasts ALL DAY!” — Mez Davis

Made with melanin-rich skin in mind, Ami Colé’s skin tint comes in six olive to deep shades only. The complexion-smoothing cream has baobab seed, hibiscus, and pumpkin seed extracts. — all with moisturizing properties. “This skin tint is the perfect lightweight product for everyday use. It melts into my skin effortlessly and provides a hydrating, even finish.” — Keishauna Bradley

Danessa Myricks always gets the color range just right. But in addition to 16 buildable shades, this skin tint is loaded with moisturizing hyaluronic acid, skin barrier-building ceramides, and vegan collagen to smooth skin. “As someone who isn’t a ‘makeup person,’ I love how Danessa Myricks's Yummy Serum and Blurring Balm make my skin look and feel. I can get a lightweight seamless glow in minutes. It layers well with my daily sunscreen and holds up all day.” — Nicole Davis

While it’s always recommended to apply traditional sunscreen before any color products, Supergoop’s tint comes laced with a broad-spectrum SPF 50. The mineral-based SPF comes in 14 shades and helps blur pores and discoloration.

On days when you don’t have some for full-face beauty, Rare Beauty’s tinted moisturizer will come in clutch. The light-coverage base comes in 24 shades and has nourishing vitamin E to give skin a quick glow and go finish.

Summer Friday’s tint blend is made to not only give skin the look of hydrated, dewy skin but with the help of glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane, skin is deeply moisturized from within. There’s also tiger grass inside to help bring down redness and soothe irritation. “This product is formulated with beneficial ingredients including niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, centella asiatica, and green tea. The sheer coverage is also very shade-flexible and though there are only 12 options, they are very broad, with hues ranging from fair to deep”

A combo of skin-soothing prickly pear extract and moisturizing glycerin treats skin while natural silica blurs out imperfections and visible pores.

It’s no surprise that Glossier is one of the OGs of skin tints. The 12 shades it comes in are super sheer so, they deliver very light coverage to smooth away post-breakout discoloration while letting your skin shine through. “In general, the lighter coverage of a skin tint may cause less congestion in acne-prone skin than heavier foundation or makeup,” says Dr. Turner.

Saie is another fan favorite that blends skin-smoothing coverage with good skin care ingredients. There’s hyaluronic acid to pump up the moisture in your skin and licorice root to diminish dark spots. Plus, the 14 shades it comes in keep the mineral SPF 35 in the tint from showing up chalking and white.

There’s a lot to love about this gem from Live Tinted. For starters, there’s SPF 50 to keep skin protected from sun damage. Then there’s the gel-cream formula that’s neither greasy nor drying. Lastly, there are extracts from butterfly bush flowers to infuse skin with antioxidants and Indian gooseberry that help bring out your skin’s natural radiance.

Sensitive skin types can count on this fragrance-free, clean formula to hide imperfections and deliver a natural glow without looking cakey.

Are skin tints good for the skin?

As with any makeup or skin care product, “Whether or not a skin tint is good for the skin depends entirely on the ingredients in the formula,” says Dr. Ryan Turner a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of TRNR Skin. Often, they are designed as a skin care/makeup hybrid with active or beneficial ingredients, including sunscreen. However, Turner points out that some makeup and skin care products contain mineral oil, which can congest the skin. “Coconut oil is a popular ingredient in skin care and makeup products but can be comedogenic, triggering breakouts. If someone has acne-prone skin and uses a product with these ingredients or heavier emollients, they could be risking the formation of blemishes,” he adds. Or if you have sensitive skin, a skin tint with fragrance might cause irritation or breakouts, too.

How do I find the perfect skin tint?

Skin type plays a big factor in finding the right skin tint. “To some degree, a skin tint may be better for the skin than a traditional foundation, and a product with sheerer coverage could be less likely to congest the skin, but it will depend on what ingredients are used to create the product,” Turner adds. So, for example, the best skin tint for combination skin is ideally loaded with non-greasy, moisturizing ingredients that make skin dewy but not too shiny. To find the right shade, swipe the tint at your jawline to see how it blends.

You don’t need to spend a lot on skin tints either, there are a bunch that you can find right at the drugstore. So, as warm weather approaches hit pause on the heavyweight foundation and swap in some of the best skin tints from beloved brands like Rare Beauty, Glossier, and more.