The following content may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.
Beautycounter has been discontinued! Read about what happened to Beautycounter (and when it might come back) here. In the meantime, I have lots of great recommendations for Beautycounter product swaps linked in this post. Also, be sure to join my email list so you can be the first to know when your Beautycounter favorites come back.
About 4 years ago, I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a tinted moisturizer or natural-looking foundation. I had previously tried a lot options from skin care companies like Laura Mercier, Tarte, and Bare Minerals and didn’t love any of them, which is why I always brand hopped. They were fine, but nothing I was pumped about. I did try a Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm sample that I loved, but when I looked it up, it was a pricey $87. And then, I looked up the ingredients and learned it contained oxybenzone, EDTA and PEGs, which I do my very best to avoid. (There are now other ingredients I avoid as well!)
After getting recommendations from friends and readers, I finally settled on Beautycounter’s Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer that my friend/long-time blog reader Ally recommended. It sounded exactly like what I was looking for and after using it for a month, I was OBSESSED. All this time later, I still am. Enter your email here and I’ll send you a code for 20% off!
That bottle of Dew Skin was my gateway drug into the world of Beautycounter. I had never heard of the brand then, and now it’s a big part of my life. And I eventually switched most of my skincare and most of my makeup and beauty products to Beautycounter. I find their products work better than the high-end products I was using before and they’re better for my health. Win win.
Beautycounter Dew Skin Review
Okay, let’s dive into why I love Dew Skin so much!
Lasts forever
You really don’t need to use much – just 2-3 pumps, at most — so it lasts forever. I find it lasts about 6-8 months and it costs $50. I was previously paying $40-$60 for tinted moisturizers, BBs, CCs, foundations that ran out in 2-3 months and didn’t really love any of them.
Natural coverage for glowy skin
Once you apply it, it absorbs right into your skin and gives that perfect, dewy, glowing look. I am all about the Dew Skin’s sheer-coverage moisturizer which really helps even out my skin tone. Since so many people are working from home these days, it’s a great option to help you feel like you got ready without putting too much effort into makeup. And even if you don’t work from home, I still love a natural makeup look with sheer coverage, and Dew Skin does the trick.
Shades are forgiving
Dew Skin’s shades are very forgiving, which is nice since bottles last forever and my tan/pale levels obviously change throughout the seasons. Most of the year I wear No. 3 (light). If I get a tan, I wear No. 4 (medium). But it’s so sheer, that even if my skin is a little more pale or a little more tan, I can get away with any of them without that dreaded line from my jaw to my neck. And even though it’s sheer, it still helps even out my skin tone and makes me look a little more polished. It comes in eight shades and it’s honestly hard to go wrong unless you choose a shade WAY off your skin tone.
Can wear alone or layer
Some days I wear only Dew Skin if I want very sheer coverage (see a makeup tutorial with that look here). But, if I want a little more coverage, it works beautifully under my foundation and pairs nicely with my concealer. I like the glowy look, but if you prefer a more matte look, just follow it with a powder. ( I like this powder best right now.)
Contains SPF
I also like that it has SPF 20 built-in for protection from UVA and UVB rays because I am all about avoiding sun damage to help prevent aging and skin cancer. While I spend a lot of the day inside working, my home office is in my sunroom so the windows are letting in sunshine all day. I love all the natural light, but I also need to protect my skin! And, I am spending more time outside since the weather is nicer and taking Thomas on lots of stroller walks!
And, because Beautycounter only uses safer ingredients, the sun protection comes from zinc-oxide, a mineral-based sunscreen, rather than chemical-based ones like oxybenzone or avobenzone found in mainstream sunblock. Chemical-based sunscreens not only damage the coral reefs (they’re actually banned in Hawaii), but they also are endocrine disruptors, which mean they mess with your hormones and can lead to fertility issues. (Source) You may have also heard that Johnson and Johnson has recalled some of their Neutrogena sunscreens for safety concerns, so looking for a safe alternative is important.
And, if I’m going outside just to enjoy some time in the sun, I always make sure I have it on! Especially for sunny golf days!
How to use it
You can use Dew Skin alone or on top of your moisturizer if you have dry skin. I recommend applying it on top of your moisturizer since it’s not really designed to be used as your main moisturizer and moisturizers have other ingredients to help protect your skin. But, it’s certainly better than nothing. It may take a few minutes to fully absorb given the SPF. So don’t be alarmed if your skin looks a little greasy at first!
Dew Skin has a really light feel to it so it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin like some BBs and CCs I used to wear. I don’t even mind running or riding the Peloton with Dew Skin on. I like just a little bit of coverage before I face the world. 🙂 Most days when I get ready for the day, I follow the Dew Skin with Skin Twin Foundation for a little more coverage or at the very least, the Skin Twin Creamy Concealer for my under-eye circles and reddish nose!
At the end of the day, I use the Cleansing Balm to remove my makeup and then follow with my full skincare routine. I like a double cleanse most nights, but it’s not necessary. (If you need skincare help, fill this short form out and I’m happy to help you! I love talking about skincare!)
Dew Skin Ingredients
Dew Skin uses ingredients like black currant, peony flower root extract and Vitamin C to help even and brighten skin. Hyaluronic acid helps boost hydration.
Black currant seed oil:
Evens skin tone and enhances radiance
Peony flower root extract:
Brightens the skin’s complexion
Sodium hyaluronate:
Supports water retention and nutrient absorption, i.e. helps your skin stay hydrated and absorb the other good ingredients in the moisturizer!
Vitamin C:
Helps enhance skin brightness, evens out skin tones and helps promote firmer, smoother looking skin. Basically, it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines.**
Non-Nano Zinc Oxide:
This is a mineral that protects the skin from sun damage. Like I mentioned above, it doesn’t harm the ocean like other sunblock lotions out there on the market and it doesn’t harm your body either.
I always like knowing what ingredients are in my skincare and makeup, not only for safety purposes but also because I think it’s interesting to know how things work! And, I want skincare and make-up products that WORK. I don’t want a mess every time I use something even if it’s safer (cough, who tried the coconut oil cleansing trend? Guilty) but I definitely don’t want a product that is full of scary ingredients. Finding products that performed well and weren’t a pain to use was actually pretty hard, until I came across Beautycounter. But before that, I just gave up and tried not to think about what I was putting in my body.
Before I got on the Beautycounter bandwagon, I didn’t care that much about skincare safety (or at least I didn’t think I did) until I read up on the company and their mission. Thinking back, it was kind of dumb how careful I was about the food I eat, but I didn’t give much thought to what I slather on my skin (which obviously absorbs into my body). I most definitely do now! Once you learn this stuff, you can’t unlearn it.
The EWG Skin Deep website is super helpful to help you evaluate your current products’ safety. And, if you want more information on how I prioritized what products to switch first (I didn’t overhaul all at once), sign up for my beauty newsletter here.
Alright, your turn: what tinted moisturizer do you use? And are you a tinted moisturizer or a foundation person? Or both?
Here are a few photos from when I first published this post!
My Other Beauty Must-Haves
