Skin tints have officially become a staple in my makeup routine, so whenever one becomes popular, I’m always curious to see if it actually lives up to the hype or just looks good on social media. I’ve been testing the Milk Makeup skin tint for a while now, wearing it on different days and pairing it with different skincare and primers to really see how it performs in real life. As someone who gets to try a lot of beauty products through my work as a beauty editor, I’ve learned pretty quickly which formulas are worth the splurge, and which ones need a little more convincing.
How It Wears:
I’ve worn this skin tint a few times now, and honestly… I’m on the fence. I really wanted to, but it’s been a bit finicky on my skin. I’ve tried it with different serums, moisturizers, and primers, and for some reason it keeps pilling. I can’t say for sure why, but I suspect it might be because of the gel formula, it just doesn’t seem to play nicely with certain base products.
After taking a look over at the ingredients, this formula leans heavily on gripping, film-forming ingredients like pullulan and blue agave extract, which are there to help everything stick and last up to 12 hours. Although, those ingredients are great those same ingredients can be the reason it starts to roll or pill, especially if you apply it over serums, moisturizers, or gripping primers that haven’t fully sunk in yet.
The formula also includes several polyglyceryl emulsifiers mixed with humectants, oils, and butters in a gel base, so if there’s too much going on underneath or you blend it a bit too aggressively, the formula can start to break up instead of smoothing out.
That said, I’ve had the best luck pairing it with the NYX The Face Glue primer and the e.l.f Putty primer to fill in the pores. When it does sit well, it looks nice on the skin. It’s definitely very hydrating and gives a dewy finish, though not as luminous as the Hourglass Skin Tint, which has a beautiful glow. It does have mover coverage than your typical skin tint. It will cover redness and and light hyperpigmentation.
One thing I can’t fault it for is wear time. It actually lasts really well throughout the day, especially for a skin tint, and doesn’t break apart or fade quickly once it’s on. I just wish it were more consistent during application, because the pilling really takes away from what could otherwise be a great everyday base.
Who Would Like This Product?
This skin tint makes the most sense for normal to dry or dehydrated skin, especially if you love a hydrating, dewy finish and don’t apply too much before makeup. There’s a lot of moisture built in thanks to hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, aloe, and nourishing oils, so it definitely feels comfortable on the skin. And to be fair, once it’s on, it actually wears really well and lasts throughout the day.
If you have very oily skin or a lot of texture I definitely recommend using a pore-filling primer. If you’re someone who likes to layer serums, moisturizers, and primers, this formula can be a bit unforgiving during application, even though the longevity itself is solid.
Is It Worth The Money?
For me personally, no. There are other skin tints I reach for way more and enjoy a lot better, like the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, the L’Oréal Tinted Serum, the Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, and the Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint. With this one, the experience just isn’t consistent enough—sometimes it looks really nice, and other times it pills, even when I haven’t changed much in my routine.
I want a skin tint that works with the skincare and primers I already love, without having to tweak everything just to make it behave. That said, this doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else. If you keep your base routine simple and like a hydrating, long-wearing finish, I can see this working well for you, but for my makeup preferences, it’s a pass.
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint, $54, sephora.ca
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