I tried the best-selling Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer and it's a solid staple for summer

I tried the Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer as someone who loves natural-looking makeup and this is my honest verdict on the newest addition to the Positive Light family.

If you've been hunting for a product that evens out your complexion while also providing a bit of extra sun protection to boost your best sunscreen for face, a tinted moisturizer formulated with SPF is usually a good way to go. Plus, with summer approaching, now is the time that we usually swap our favorite non-comedogenic foundations for something a little lighter and sheerer, to let our skin breathe.

So I was ever so eager to try the Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer—after having already put the Rare Beauty Liquid Luminizer and Rare mascara to the test—as I too, am on the hunt for a new tint to replace my fave Armani Luminous Silk foundation this sunny season.

So, whether you're already a Selena Gomez stan looking to make another Rare purchase, or are new to the singer's beauty brand—here's my Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer review...

A beauty writer's honest review on the Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer 

So, before we dive into whether Selena's tinted moisturizer is going to find a home next to the e.l.f halo glow filter in my makeup bag, let's first discuss my skin texture and makeup preferences...

My skin type

To help you suss out if this product might match up to your skin needs, I have very pale skin—I tested shade 12C, as I have cool undertones. As for my skin's texture, I am blessed with fairly clear skin, apart from some dryness and some stubborn pores on my nose.

My chin, on the other hand, isn't looking so cute thanks to some hormonal breakouts that have been plaguing me lately and I do have some heavy dark circles—because my toxic trait is being a self-proclaimed night owl, despite being a grown-up with a 9-5 job. 

So, I do tend to use products that offer medium to high coverage, though I still try to keep my makeup looking subtle and natural. 

My makeup preferences

As mentioned, I'm a lover of natural makeup, so my routine usually consists of a glow filter (either Charlotte Tilbury's Flawless filter or the e.l.f dupe), foundation, concealer, powder, blush, highlighter, eyebrow gel and lastly mascara.

Through my testing of the Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer, I layered it over my daily moisturizer (as I like to be as dewy as possible), as well as the Flawless Filter. I then went over with powder, but not foundation or concealer—so what you're seeing is the tinted moisturizer fully at work.

What's in the Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer?

This tinted moisturizer is available in 25 inclusive shades, which you can snag directly from Rare's website or Sephora—for anyone wondering "Does Ulta sell Rare Beauty?" alas, it does not.

It's described as: "A flexible tinted moisturizer that goes on easy to instantly blur skin with glowy, light to medium coverage that stays put—all while hydrating and protecting skin from the sun." 

It offers SPF 20, with moisturizing vitamin E and is cruelty-free, vegan, paraben free, suitable for sensitive skin, dermatologist-tested and non-comedogenic (so all the good stuff).

Now that's settled, let's quit the yammering and cut to the review!

My Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer review final verdict

So, is this Rare Tinted Moisturizer worth the hype and its $33 (£30) price tag? 

My first impression of this skin tint was one of pleasant surprise. Squeezing out a few drops onto the back of my hand, I applied it first with my fingers before going back in with my beauty blender to make sure it was all seamlessly blended—and I was pleased to discover no foundation pilling in sight! Past tinted SPFs I've tried have not played well with my glow filters or even my moisturizer, so this earned Selena a tick right off the bat.

I was also surprised by the coverage. As mentioned I do have some dark circles, zits and scarring, which I try to even out, and this tinted moisturizer did provide a blurring effect and evened out my complexion well.

However, I didn't find it as glowy as I was hoping. In fact, I felt it made my skin look a little dry—and as someone who loves to look as shiny as possible, this disappointed me a bit, as I was promised a glowy complexion. That being said though, I don't really mind adding in that sheen separately with a highlighter or a cream blush—especially for the coverage this gave, while still being just a tinted moisturizer.

As for its wearability, it's very comfortable, non-greasy and feels light, almost like a second skin—exactly what you want come the summer months. The color match was also perfect and I'm a big fan of the packaging—it's the perfect size to slip into your vacay makeup bag. That being said though, for $30, I'd hope it was a tad bigger—but a little (like with the viral Rare Beauty Soft Pinch blushes) does indeed go a long way.

So, is it worth the spend? Personally, I do think there are comparable tinted moisturizers out there for less, but it is a solid tinted moisturizer. I was impressed by the coverage and how light it felt on the skin—though to really win me over, it needed to deliver more of a glow.

I'd say that if you're looking for something you can wear on its own, with minimal or no concealer and powder, this is a great option. I'll definitely be reaching for this in the warmer months, when I still want some coverage but also something low-maintenance, that keeps my skin protected, while still letting it breathe.