Tinted Moisturizer Vs. Foundation- When to Use What

With the number of cosmetics out there, knowing which one is the right for you might seem like a great challenge. It is probably a dilemma faced by every girl/woman, unless she keeps up with every new product hitting the market. Among this confusion is the dilemma regarding tinted moisturizer vs foundation makeup.

A lot of women find it difficult to choose between the two, particularly because they are unaware of the differences that exist between them. So here's a low down into everything that the use of both these products entails, and how to choose one over the other.

Let's start with understanding what these cosmetic products actually are. Foundation is what you have been using traditionally, as a base for your makeup, and to cover up all the pigmentation, scars, wrinkles, and age lines that may show up on your face. It is an opaque product that gives your face a clear, spotless look.

A tinted moisturizer on the other hand, is a moisturizer or a face cream, that has a light foundation added to it. It gives the face a more transparent look, and can be used when you would prefer light makeup rather than anything heavy. It also gives the face a lightly illuminated look or a glow.

While it is natural to assume that one product would have certain benefits over the other, both products have their own uses and benefits.

The benefit of a tinted moisturizer is that it eliminates the need to apply two separate products. It is also available with sun protection abilities, which means you can safely use it before a trip to the beach.

Further, just like makeup foundation, these are available in numerous shades to match your skin tone, which make them a choice as great as foundation itself. As mentioned earlier, these give the face a radiant glow.

If you were worried about the effect of this product on your acne prone skin, there are specific oil free formulations for acne prone skin and oily skin that make it extremely safe to use, without worsening the condition.

In terms of the drawbacks, the one that is most prominent is its inability to give a full face coverage like foundation does. Because it is a light form of makeup, it maintains transparency and does not cover up pigmentation or spots completely, though it may make them appear lighter.

In case of foundation, it is the perfect choice for mature skin, as it helps in covering up the many signs of aging that usually steal the glow of a face. It holds makeup such as blush and bronzer better than a tinted moisturizer, which makes it a better base for makeup.

As mentioned earlier, it does make the face look slightly caked in comparison, and sometimes oily too. However, there are oil free varieties from which you may choose one for oily skin to tackle this problem.

In effect, makeup experts suggest that younger women may make use of a tinted moisturizer to give them a natural glow and a feel of light makeup. On the other hand, makeup foundation should be used by mature women for adequate skin coverage. Of course, this use also may be based on your need. For instance, the best foundation makeup gives the skin an even tone, and younger women may also need to use it sometimes. Similarly, older women may use tinted moisturizer when they wish to apply just some light makeup.

Finally, the only real benefit is that it this product combines two products into one, which makes it more cost-effective. Apart from this benefit, the use of either really depends on your need, and the kind of effect you are looking for.

So first decide what you really are looking for in terms of the effect of the product you use, and then choose from a tinted moisturizer or a foundation.