The Tinted Serum Made for Easy No-Makeup Mornings

Why you’ll love it

Want skin that looks even and fresh, minus the full foundation routine? This is your shortcut.

tarte calls it a CC, or color-correcting, tinted serum. It isn’t a foundation and it isn’t a skin tint. It sits somewhere in between, with light, buildable coverage and a natural finish that still looks like your skin.

It’s made for busy mornings. One tarte reviewer put it simply: “This blends so quickly.”

How it works

Here’s the fun part. tarte says the pigments are tucked into tiny capsules that burst as you blend, then shift and adapt to your skin tone while you work it in.

The routine is easy. Shake the bottle, put one small dot on each cheek, blend with your fingers and give it a minute or two to settle. Need a little more coverage in one spot? Just tap on another thin layer.

What’s inside

tarte packs in colored clays, niacinamide, caffeine, hyaluronic acid and a peptide, and says the formula keeps skin hydrated for 24 hours with up to 16 hours of wear. It’s waterproof, vegan and cruelty-free, and tarte says it’s made without parabens, mineral oil or phthalates.

Wear it on its own on easy days, or under your usual foundation when you want more. Like a soft finish? Dust a little blurring loose powder on top.

Good to know before you buy

tarte lists it at $42 in six shades: light, medium, tan, rich, deep and espresso. Each shade is designed to flex across a range of skin tones, so pick the one closest to yours. Our link opens medium, and you can switch shades on the page.

There’s no SPF listed, so keep your sunscreen in the routine.

Your questions, answered