Tinted Moisturizer

During the summer I had issues with this tinted moisturizer feeling heavy on my face because of sweat and excess oil production from my combo/oily skin, in combination with sunscreen and argan oil sitting on top of it. I gave it a break for the rest of the season until my skin started to dry up and tighten as fall/winter approached, so I decided to give this tinted moisturizer another chance. I absolutely LOVED it for winter use!

The texture of the tinted moisturizer is thicker than most typical lotions so this is difficult to spread for an even coverage and the thickness of it the formula can risk cakeyness. To counter this, I apply this in small amounts with my fingers by dotting it on my cheeks, chin, forehead, once under each eye, and whatever I have left is slicked on my T-zone where it's usually most oily. I then swirl the dots into each other thoroughly (you really need to blend), and am able to get evened-out skin. Although I had to blot my oil during the summer, during the winter I never had to blot and for the first winter in a long time, the skin on my face didn't feel tight and stayed moisturized throughout the day. I used the tinted moisturizer by itself—no primer, and no setting powder. The tinted moisturizer's lasting power isn't great as far as pigmentation, since it's sheer-to-medium coverage and it does fade eventually, but otherwise it is very emollient. Setting powder may help this last longer but again, you risk caking.

I tried this tinted moisturizer in Linen (3) and Butter (2), and found Butter to be a better match for my skin tone (light/medium) and the great thing about it being sheer is that it this shade brightened my skin tone a little bit without looking like a mismatch. Unfortunately, the tinted moisturizers in this range may just work better for light to medium shades, but since they're sheer, I'm sure medium shades will work for deeper skin tones as a brightener as well.

My only problem with this tinted moisturizer as far as packaging goes is that if product leaks outside of the opening of the tube (even if inside the cap), it does harden into a stiff gel that can be peeled off, but if it gets stuck right at the opening of the tube, squeezing the tube may not only pop out the dried moisturizer (what an oxymoron) but it would also squeeze out more excess product (or even oil, if it for any reason separates). Definitely has to be a daily-use product just to keep the tube from clogging!

Other than that, I do recommend the formula for those with dry to normal skin all year long, and possibly for combination/oily skin for winter only. I would however stay away from it if you are acne prone, though, since it does contain an ingredient (wax) that can cause breakouts.

I have super duper sensitive combination dry skin, and this is amazing. Its a MUCH thicker tinted moisturizer which I like, you just have to use a smaller amount to get a thinner coating then what you would normally use, you can build it up, but be careful because it can give a cakeish appearance if you use too much. I really Love all the argan products josie puts out, on occassions i've used tazorac for acne, and it make my skin beyond sensitive, and using the argan products from josies line never irritated it more, it felt very soothing on my skin, and it's tinted enough it gets rid of a lot of blemish redness. love this stuff!

I first tried this in Butter and realized it was too dark for my fair skin (I'm about a NC15-20 in MAC for all that understand MAC code :P). Creme is a much better match on me!

The texture is smooth and like mousse. I noticed a bit of separation in the tube so I had to shake it every time I applied. Going on the skin, it feels very and even softens my skin. I suspect that's the Argan Oil in it. Her products have great ingredients in them, and I'm happy about the SPF 30. Unfortunately it only has 1% Avobenzone which isn't enough for me, meaning I still have to layer another sunscreen another (not a big deal, really). It oxidizes slightly on the face but not enough for anyone to notice, and gives an overall dewy sheen. I have combination skin so I can get away with this by powdering or blotting over a bit, but I'm concerned it might be too moisturizing/oily for oilier skin textures. I personally prefer a little more coverage than this but it was nice for light days

Overall a nice feeling TM with very good ingredients, but just doesn't do it for me.