As someone who can’t stand full-coverage foundation—no matter how many I try, they all seem to look cakey on my skin—but still wants evened-out, glowing skin, I’m always on the hunt for lightweight alternatives. Serum-y skin tints and tinted moisturizers with SPF with tend to work best for my skin type and needs; they offer a sheer layer of coverage with hydrating ingredients and blendable formulas (with the added bonus of sun protection depending on the product).
I gravitate towards this category of makeup because I’m a beauty minimalist—with the exception of my wedding day, every day is a no-makeup makeup day for me. Skin tints have been dominating the market as of late, and I’ve made my way through a handful of formulas—from L’Oréal’s Glumi Lotion to Ilia’s Skin Tint—that all serve their own purpose. One skin tint had evaded me though: the Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint, which is the first makeup product to debut from the buzzy skin care brand cofounded by influencers Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland.
Summer Friday’s Sheer Skin Tint debuted in August and was met with rave reviews across the Internet (seriously, it seemed like everyone and their mother was capital-O obsessed). So, when my one-ounce bottle arrived last month—I know, late to the party—I couldn’t wait to incorporate it into my daily routine.
Ordering base makeup online can be tricky, and I wasn’t sure if I’d picked the correct shade. I opted for Shade 2, which is described as “light with cool undertones.” It ended up being the perfect color match for my skin tone.
Lauren Dana
Before applying the product, I shook the bottle and squeezed some onto my hand. I then used my fingers to dot the liquid all over my face, subsequently blending it out with a dense foundation brush. I loved how weightless the texture felt on skin, without erring on the watery side.
In addition to being easy to blend (and build if you wanted to), it dried down in a matter of seconds and I appreciated the skin-like finish. The formula isn’t super matte (or too dewy) so you really get that your skin-but-better look. And it has serious staying power: It didn’t budge all day while I was running errands, eating and drinking with my family, and then chatting on the phone with the device held against my ear, which usually results in cheek mark splotches transferring onto my cellphone.
