Maybelline’s Viral New Skin Tint Will Up Your Glow Game

By Stephanie Nguyen

Published on 8/25/2023 at 6:00 AM

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Skinimalism, status skin, glow up makeup — call it what you want, but the trend is clear: it's all about no-makeup makeup these days. It's why complexion products like CC creams, tinted moisturizers, and skin tints have taken TikTok by storm. We're looking to enhance our complexion, not hide it behind layers of foundation.

I've always taken a "my skin but better" approach to makeup, so you could say I'm a bit of a skin tint connoisseur. Similar to tinted moisturizer, a skin tint is a complexion product that provides just enough coverage to help even out your skin tone. Unlike tinted moisturizer, it's designed to offer the barest of coverage for an even more natural finish. Many skin tints also offer nourishing benefits, with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or squalane. I like to think of it like my favorite face serum, but with the addition of complexion-smoothing pigment. It's the ideal product to wear day-to-day when I want lightweight coverage and a natural glow, but still want to look like myself.

At this point, I feel like I've tried them all, from luxury picks to drugstore formulas, but I had never tried one with vitamin C — until now. Hyperpigmentation and dark spots from sun damage are my main concerns when it comes to my complexion, so I'm constantly seeking out skin-care products with the brightening antioxidant. And it now seems I can find it in my makeup products, too. The Maybelline Super Stay Up to 24HR Skin Tint ($18) is infused with vitamin C to help brighten skin and deliver a radiant, skin-like finish. It lasts all day and resists sweat, humidity, and fading. Plus, it's the latest skin tint going viral on TikTok (17M views and counting), so I knew I had to try it out.

One light layer of this skin tint over my SPF evens out my skin tone and instantly brightens my complexion to create a dewy glow that's like my skin — but, you know, better. The formula also contains pearlescent pigments which create a pretty soft-focus radiance. I like to use the dropper to dot the product all over my face before blending with a foundation brush. You can also use your fingers — that's the beauty of a low-maintenance complexion product — but I prefer using a brush to ensure I get the most seamless application. Coverage is buildable depending on your preference, but the result is the same no matter how much you apply: a weightless veil of pigment that doesn't fade and looks good all day long.

At the end of the day, I love looking in the mirror and seeing that my complexion is just as even and radiant as it was when I got ready in the morning, and the Super Stay Skin Tint delivers. I'm a sweaty person, especially in the summer, and the long-wearing formula lasted through a full day of working in my AC-less apartment and my daily post-work walk to get my steps in. In fact, I snapped my selfie in the late afternoon, a few hours before removing my makeup for the day! Turns out, TikTok never fails me.