THE DIRECTORS’ CUT: SKIN TINTS
Two beauty journalists, two very different approaches. ELLE’s beauty directors George Driver and Jennifer George give us the lowdown
One product, two different approaches: ELLE’s acting beauty directors reveal the many reasons they turn to skin tints over classic foundations
I’ve lost many an hour to Katie Jane Hughes’ Instagram feed, envying the make-up artist’s signature glow, and became determined to replicate that ultra-healthy, high-shine, modernlooking skin. So when more than one person went out of their way to say my skin looked ‘so fresh’, I knew I’d achieved my mission – and my addiction to skin tints was cemented. Sure, I still have my trusty foundation for when I want to look more ‘done’ but, six days a week, my collection of lightweight skin tints
wins. Why? They sit in that sweet spot between tinted moisturiser, barely there CC cream and higher coverage base. Plus, sheer coverage means more flexibility, so I don’t
have to be a pro at matching my skin tone (pale to even paler, depending on the time of year). Saying that, there are still plenty of options – Fenty Beauty’s internet-breaking Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint, £25, comes in 25 shades.
It was Chanel that started it all. Its sci-fi-looking cylinder of Water-Fresh Tint is truly unlike any other product I’ve used. The droplets of pigment suspended in a clear serum might look pure novelty but the uber-dewy skin finish says otherwise. After that, my collection grew. Kevyn Aucoin’s more traditional Nude Skin Tint formula,
followed Nudestix’s radiance-giving Tinted Cover, and Becca’s appealingly named Dewing Tint. Sound excessive? When a product gives you exactly the skin you want, there’s always room for one more. In fact, I’ve already
got my eye on Milk Makeup’s new rollerball…
It’s probably something I shouldn’t admit to, being a beauty editor and all, but I’m not the best at applying make-up. I can make myself look decent, but I’ve never learnt the tricks of layering and baking and contouring without the products caking, pilling and, a few hours later, melting off my face. This applies especially to heavy foundations. When I’ve attempted it, I get streaks, I get oily and I get, well, bored. That’s why I love a skin tint. For me, unlike George, it’s not about a particular look. It’s just easy. You can even out a patchy tone and cover redness without too much coverage. Applied with your fingers, simply swipe and smoosh with no brushes, skill or time required. Tinted moisturisers can fall into this category, but some actually provide as heavy a coverage as a traditional foundation.
I’m more about the formula than the finish. If I can include some additional skincare in my make-up, I will.
This means I’m usually drawn to luxury brands, as I know the research and ingredients will be second-to-none.
I see antioxidants to boost glow, SPF to provide protection and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and I’m in.
I tend to rotate a selection, depending on how my skin is feeling, but since Trinny Woodall launched her BFF Cream four years ago, it’s become my go-to. The grey (bear with me) cream melts into skin, where encapsulated pigment gives a super-sheer tint and veil of SPF30 coverage. A complexion that says ‘make-up master’ when, in reality, your brushes sit collecting dust. Sneaky, yes. But who doesn’t love a shortcut?