BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer Lives Up to the Hype: Our Beauty Editor’s Candid Review
BareMinerals rose to makeup hall-of-fame status as the first consumer mineral-based cosmetics line with the help of QVC back in the late 1990s. Since its inception, the brand has remained true to its mission of remaining a truly clean and mineral-powered innovative brand, which has earned accolades and awards for the past three decades. One of the hero products in the collection, the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer, is one that women of all ages rave about and keep on heavy rotation as an alternative to heavier foundations. Considered a go-to tinted moisturizer that sits above others regarding coverage, hydration, and sun protection, we put the viral product to the test to see if the formula lives up to the hype (spoiler alert: it does!). Ahead, our resident beauty editor, Elise Tabin, gives the affordable yet high-performance tinted gel a test drive and shares her thoughts.
About BareMinerals
The original BareMinerals product that earned the brand cult-classic status was the iconic Loose Mineral Foundation, a unique type of makeup (and well ahead of its time) to improve the skin’s condition. The foundation was so pure, you could sleep in it. While the brand has evolved over the years, at the core of its mission is to offer clean, conscious, skin-improving makeup that offers benefits far superior to its competition. All the formulas within the BareMinerals portfolio are vegan and cruelty-free, working towards improving the skin’s texture and tone immediately and over time. By combining clean ingredients with clinical formulas, the effective blend of skincare-meet-science makes for skin health-promoting products that enhance the skin’s health.
Clean and pure minerals are the star of BareMineral's makeup, offering a natural UV protection dose. Since the products are void of binder, fillers and parabens and all the makeup is hypoallergenic, BareMinerals is safe to use on even the most sensitive and reactive skin as well as those with acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis, all without ever instigating breakouts, clogging pores, or irritating the skin. Plus, the minerals in the makeup also act as an anti-inflammatory agent, calming the skin and leaving it soothed and less red. The more you use it, the better your skin looks.
The Key Ingredients in BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel
At the core of the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer is a blend of unique moisture-boosting ingredients coupled with plant extracts and minerals to hydrate, protect, and improve the skin. Key ingredients in the formula include:
Hyaluronic acid: Adds moisture to the skin to hydrate it Olive-derived squalane: Quenches the skin for long-lasting moisture Mineral-based sunscreen: Protects the skin from UVA and UVB damage Titanium dioxide: Acts as a physical sun blocker to safeguard the skin Silica: Helps absorb oil while creating a skin-blurring effect Kaolin: Reduces sebum from the skin’s surface and acts as a clarifier Cocoa seed extract: Calms and soothes irritation Camellia Japonica flower extract: Hydrates the skin and gives a plumping effect Glycerin: Moisturizes and helps improve barrier function Lactic acid: Provides a gentle exfoliating benefit to leave skin looking brighter and smoother
Beauty Editor Review of the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer
I remember the first time I got my hands on a BareMinerals product. It was their popular Loose Mineral Foundation, which was to be applied using a swirl, tap and buff method. I was instantly hooked, especially since my then-acne-prone skin was completely covered and concealed without making things worse. So naturally, since my experience with BareMinerals has always been positive, I knew that their Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer, which is chock full of good-for-the-skin ingredients to hydrate, moisturize and protect, would be a winner.
Since trying the paraben-free and vegan formula, BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer has been a staple in my skincare and makeup routine. The first time I wore it was during the day at a business lunch meeting. As my skin has gotten older, I reserve the heavy coverage foundation for nights out and leave lighter-weight ones and tinted moisturizers that offer a good amount of concealing power to the day. So, this meeting was perfect for taking the gel for a spin. I was surprised by the amount of coverage it provided and how soft, smooth and hydrated my skin felt. Only I knew that I wasn't sporting a face full of heavy foundation to the meeting, and by the end of it, the oil-free BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer had not budged, smudged a bit nor did it turn into a greasy mess (hey, that's what comes with having oily and acne-prone skin).
My first impression of the tinted hydrating gel was how amazing the buildable coverage was. As a beauty editor, I've tested my fair share of tinted moisturizers, and most barely even out my skin tone, let alone camouflage redness or blemishes. But this clean, mineral-based one did all of that and then some. The consistency of the gel was perfect—thin enough to spread and blend but not too thick that it felt heavy—and I like that I don't have to layer another sunscreen or moisturizer onto my skin. Too many products can sometimes clog my pores and send my skin into a downright tizzy! I also give the gel major points because it did not turn into a liquidy mess or make my skin look like an oil-slick but instead kept it looking fresh and perfectly dewy all day.
By the end of the day, my skin felt great and still looked good. In fact, the tinted moisturizing gel wore so well that I was able to go out to dinner without touching it up—a major plus in my book!
Now that I have been using the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer, I have replaced my daytime foundations with this multi-tasking product. It gives the perfect amount of coverage, correction, hydration, and protection to take me from Pilates to a meeting to a few hours of work at my desk and then back out to dinner, and for that, I am grateful (and one happy woman!)
The Texture
The BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer is a lightweight, buildable tinted hydrating gel with the perfect amount of "slip" so that it seamlessly applies to the skin, blending in like a dream. Suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and reactive ones, the texture feels like a creamy, hydrating gel that comforts the skin for a dewy finish.
How to Apply It
What's nice about the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer is that you can apply it to your skin in a few ways. Use clean fingertips to dot the gel onto the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose, and then blend it outward until no trace of the product is visible. You can also use a makeup brush or blending sponge to apply it to the skin. For more coverage, use more product and build up to your desired level of coverage.
Always apply to the skin at least 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours.
The Stay-Put Factor
I'll admit, I am a harsh critic when it comes to my makeup and how well it stays put. Many products look good at first, but the formula starts to break down as the day marches on. I was pleasantly surprised that my skin looked just as nice at the end of the day as it did after freshly applying the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer.
Shop Our Additional Favorite BareMineral Products
bareMinerals GEN NUDE Blonzer
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bareMinerals ORIGINAL Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15
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bareMinerals Dewy Lip Gloss-Balm
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bareMinerals Prime Time Redness Reducing Primer
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bareMinerals Smoothing Face Brush
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The Bottom Line
If a multi-tasking tinted moisturizer sits high on your "to buy" list, the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer is a highly reliable one that does the job. In addition to moisturizing the skin, it protects it from damaging UV rays while leaving behind the perfect coverage and glow, making it a must-have staple in your routine.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and beauty expert with more than 16 years of experience. She previously held the title of Executive Beauty Editor at NewBeauty magazine, where she reported on beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health and wellness. She was also instrumental in the launch of the beauty supplement brand Hush & Hush. A self-professed beauty junkie and retinol and sunscreen pusher, Elise knows what’s new, what works and who’s the best to go for every procedure under the sun. Follow Elise on Facebook, Instagram, and on her beauty blog, elisetabin.com
