FGW’s Brand Vs Bargain: Tinted Moisturizers

In the cosmetics world, you know something’s really hit the big time when the cheap drugstore brands start making their version of it.  Inspired by Jen I recently went in search of a good tinted moisturizer.

My first stop was Nordstrom, where I hit up most of the major counters. It’s a sad fact that I am, for some reason, a hard skin tone to match. It took several tries but I finally found a color that would work for me at the MAC counter. At $25 Select Tint is priced pretty close to most other brands, if a bit less.

Later that day I happened across Wet ‘n Wild’s sheer tinted moisturizer and figured I’d give that a shot too. I’ve found some super cheap things that are decent, so what could it hurt to try yeah?  I grabbed the lightest color they offer and got it for under $5, including tax.

In appearance the two seem pretty similar, but the proof of the pudding and all that, I had to delve deeper.  The associate at the MAC counter told me their formula tends to be more pigmented than other brands, and I liked that because this I’m just changing from a regular foundation to tinted moisturizer.  I didn’t want to make too much of a change all at once. 

It’s slightly thinner than regular foundation, and goes on soft and sheer. It takes a bit to sink in, but it wears much better than a regular foundation , leaving my skin looking natural with just enough color to even out my tone.  Because it sinks in there was nothing on the surface of my skin to settle in wrinkles.  It’s easy to blend and lasts fairly well, oily skin and all.  I did apply a layer of loose powder over the top to set it, but that is a step that could easily be skipped by someone with normal or dry skin.  It’s not the most hydrating moisturizer out there, so if your skin is very dry I’d recommend using your usual lotion and letting it sink in before applying Select Tint, but skip the thick creams.  It’s likely that in the summer no extra moisturizing would be needed.

Wet ‘n Wild’s formula is more pigmented than MAC’s, it seems more like a light foundation than a tinted moisturizer. It took a little extra blending to get the color just right but once it was on it stayed put.  It felt like a matte foundation as opposed to a moisturizer.  It felt as though it provides little to no actual hydrating, so it almost has to be used over a regular moisturizer, even on my oily/combination skin. The thicker formula settled into some of my less appealing wrinkles, including one between my brows that I can’t stand. I left a cheek print on my cell phone every time I used it while wearing this product and I got tired of cleaning the screen over and over again.  A minor annoyance, yes, but something to take into consideration. Other than that the color stayed fairly well, especially in that wrinkle I mentioned, and it was not a good thing.  Wet ‘n Wild is great for the younger girls, and those wrinkle free beauties are the only ones who should walk around wearing it.

In short, the MAC tint left my skin feeling soft and light, like a moisturizer should, and added a welcome touch of color. The Wet ‘n Wild felt drying and thick, something I would expect more from a foundation and the color was off just a touch, which certainly didn’t help the appearance.  The winner, by decision, with moisture and a soft, wrinkle friendly formula.…Brand Name: MAC Select Tint SPF15!