Tinted moisturizers don't tend to be my cup of tea. For one, many companies offer only three shades (light, medium, and dark) and call it a day — and, inevitably, those shades won't address the needs of millions of women. Really, it's nonsensical to offer only three shades of tinted moisturizer when there's such a plethora of complexion shades and corresponding undertones — it's almost as bad as treating women like a monolithic mass. Take me, for example: I am, by all accounts, rather fair-skinned, but seeing as I'm Puerto Rican and hence of mixed racial heritage, my skin's undertones aren't the same as those of, say, an equally light-skinned Irish women (not to say that all light-skinned Irish women have the same undertones, but you get the point). There are a gazillion shades of liquid and cream foundation, of pressed powder and mineral powder, so why wouldn't we approach tinted moisturizers with the same attention to detail? To quote President Obama, "Let's try some common sense — a novel idea." Side note: I marvel at how I can use that phrase in almost any scenario!
Tarte Cosmetics understands these slight nuances and distinctions in skin tones, which is why it expanded its range of Smooth Operator tinted moisturizers, adding five new hues: Agent 00, which is designed for porcelain/fair complexions with pink undertones; Agent 04, designed for light complexions with beige undertones; Agent 08, aimed at women with light complexions with pink undertones; Agent 12, aimed at ladies with medium complexions with beige undertones; and Agent 16, which targets women with medium/dark complexions with golden undertones.
I tried both the Agent 04 and Agent 08 shades and found that the Agent 04 hue was the exact match for my skin. Score! But the greatest part of Tarte's "Smooth Operator" Natural Oil-free Tinted Moisturizer With SPF 20 is how lightweight and soothing it feels. Most tinted moisturizers tend to be a bit too thick, and they make my pores feel like they've been coated with some nasty caulk-like substance. As soon as I start sweating, I worry that the tinted moisturizer is clogging my pores and sealing in all those impurities being shed with my sweat (and, oftentimes, that's exactly what's going on). Applying Tarte's Smooth Operator on my face was a novel experience — the all-natural, paraben-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formula features a water-in-silicone formula that makes the moisturizer lightweight and easy to blend into the skin.
In addition to the Smooth Operator's pleasant texture, the moisturizer features antioxidant-rich botanical ingredients like: rosemary extract; sugar cane extract; ginseng root; gingko balboa; camellia extract; apple, lemon, and orange extract; and vitamins A, C, and E. Together, these ingredients protect skin from UV exposure and free radical damage, minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, hydrate and soothe the skin, help to brighten the complexion, a and give the skin a smooth and even finish. If your skin is in good shape (meaning it's nice and clear) ad you want to go for a natural look, you can pretty much apply the moisturizer onto your face and be ready to face the world. And that, my friends, is what I call the work of a "smooth operator" (cue the Sade song).
Here's a look at the new Tarte Smooth Operator shades. Also, scroll all the way own for some pics showing how the Tarte Smooth Operator Agent 06 looks on my skin.
Tarte Smooth Operator in Agent 00:
Tarte Smooth Operator in Agent 04:
Tarte Smooth Operator in Agent 08:
Tarte Smooth Operator in Agent 16:
Here's what the Smooth Operator Agent 04 looks like on my face (I have nothing else on my face, FYI, so it should be a pretty accurate assessment!):
Tarte "Smooth Operator" Natural Oil-free Tinted Moisturizer With SPF 20, $36. Visit TarteCosmetics.com
