Guest Author - Kim Ringler
During the summertime months, gone are the days of heavy makeup coverage and pressed powders. This is the time of year for more natural skin, and when the heat rises you don’t want your makeup melting off! Think radiance.
A perfect solution for those of us that need some coverage but do not want to wear too much is Stila’s Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15. The official product description: “A lightweight, tinted moisturizer infused with a hint of shimmer and a protective SPF 15. This multipurpose beautifier does triple duty: It acts as your moisturizer, sunscreen, and luminizer to provide sheer coverage that makes skin appear flawless, and its super hydrating ingredients and protective SPF 15 will keep your skin protected. Perfect for everyday use, the silky formula blends beautifully for a pretty, luminous look.”
Precursor: While there is SPF 15 in Stila’s Illuminating Tinted Foundation, I encourage you to continue to apply your normal sunscreen under the product anyway.
Moving to Stila’s Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, you just need a dab or two and apply to your face. I already make it a point to dot little spots up the very top of my cheekbones, because this helps to achieve that dewy look. As this is a tinted moisturizer, you will not need to use a foundation brush to apply as you would a cream. Your fingers (after you wash your hands!) or a makeup sponge will work just fine. The coverage is very sheer, so if you have a pimple or a discoloration you may want to apply concealer rather than applying more layers. If you need to use a heavier foundation but would like the dewy look and moisturizer, you can always mix them. I use a mixture of mostly my foundation with a small amount of Stila Tinted Foundation, and apply. This still gives me a lighter look than regular foundation.
My experience was Stila’s Illuminating was very positive. I used shade 01, the lightest one—looked great with my skin! My skin in oily, so I used a mattifier (you can’t go wrong with a Smashbox mattifier). After the mattifier, I applied Stila’s Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer on my cheeks, nose and forehead, making sure to apply to the tops of my cheeks. After a dusting of loose powder to keep my skin pretty but not too shiny, I was ready to go.
I received a few compliments on how nice my skin looked. It did stay put most of the day, but I did have to reach for my blotting papers more times than usual. I normally shy away from tinted moisturizers though, so I think it was just a matter of formulas. The fact the makeup stayed on and kept my skin looking as fresh as it did was impressive.
This would not work well for someone who needs a lot of coverage. Also, Stila does not offer this product in many shades so I would encourage you to get a sample and try it in natural light prior to purchase. The price may be a bit much. Although you can find some discounted prices online, at most places (Amazon, Zappos, Beauty Bar), it retails at $32.00.
Overall, I loved Stila’s Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer and the pretty summer glow it gave me. It follows through on the three-in-one product promise for me. I would highly recommend this product (again, making sure one of the shades match your skin). It is definitely my summer staple!
Disclaimer: I am not endorsing this product, nor affiliated with the manufacturer and cannot guarantee quality. This is from my personal experience only. I purchased this product myself, and I am very likely to purchase it again!
