Review -- bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

I love playing with makeup, so on an given day, I'm probably wearing more than the average person.

And I'm fine with that.

But when it comes to face products like foundation, concealer, and powder, I do like to wear as little as I need to so my skin get a chance to breathe.

I'd say that light to medium coverage foundation, whether powder, liquid, or cream, is probably the most-used option in my makeup drawer, but I do love a good BB cream for a lighter look -- and when my skin is really behaving, a tinted moisturizer.

But despite the relatively simple concept, a good tinted moisturizer is pretty hard to find -- at least in my experience.

Too often, they offer way too little color so you're almost left wondering if you've applied anything to your face at all.  My favorite up until now has been the Josie Maran Argan Tinted Moisturizer, which I find has just the right amount of coverage and hydration.

When I heard that bareMinerals was coming out with their own tinted moisturizer, I knew that I had to give it a try. Their first liquid foundation, Bare Skin, has become a favorite of mine, so I was curious to see what they'd do with a lighter face product.

The Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream is designed to provide sheer to medium coverage with a smooth, radiant finish. It also claims to boost skin hydration in just one week, but I see it as a makeup product, not a skincare item, so I can't say I pay much attention to those kinds of claims (I'd have to be using this product exclusively to judge whether its skincare properties are real and I switch my face products pretty much on a daily basis).

It does have SPF30, though, which I appreciate.

The Complexion Rescue comes in a squeeze tube that contains 1.18 fl. oz. of product. It doesn't have any discernible scent, and its consistency is thicker than a usual liquid foundation but it's also very creamy so it blends in easily and feels very lightweight on the skin.

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue

As you would expect from a tinted moisturizer, the coverage is extremely light. I would call it sheer, for sure -- which means I typically only use this on days when my skin is seriously behaving -- and while it is definitely is buildable, I don't think it really ever gets to medium territory as bareMinerals claims.

I really love the way it looks on the skin, though. I wouldn't say it has an overly dewy or glowy finish, but it really makes my skin look healthy.

Despite the claims, I wouldn't say the Complexion Rescue is overly hydrating. I think it works wekk for dry skin, but you'll need a regular moisturizer first. Normal to oily skin might be able to get away with a moisturizer, though.

I purchased it in the lightest shade, Opal 01, and I find that it's a good match for my fair skin. (The product is sheer, though, so it's not as crucial to get as an exact match as it would be with a fuller coverage face product.)

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue in Opal 01

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue in Opal 01 (blended out)

bareMinerals is selling a special brush to go with this product (which I didn't pick up... I have enough brushes, so it seemed like overkill), but I prefer using my fingers to apply it. I always feel like that's the best application method for a tinted moisturizer because the warmth of your hands really helps work it into your skin -- and the Complexion Rescue applies beautifully that way.

So I definitely like this product -- not quite as much as my Josie Maran tinted moisturizer, but right up there.

It is $29, though, and while that's a little cheaper than the Josie Maran ($38), I know that's quite a bit to spend on a tinted moisturizer. I think whether it's worth that price tag would come down to whether it's going to be your primary face product or not.

If you use it everyday, I think it would be worth the splurge.

If you only use tinted moisturizer once in a blue moon, you might think you overpaid.

Have you tried the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue? Are you a fan? What's your favorite tinted moisturizer?