Glo Skin Beauty Oil Free Tinted Primer - Medium

Medium is the middle shade of the five. A tinted primer with broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection that evens out your skin, reduces shine, and protects, and for many people, it is sufficient to forgo foundation altogether.

Why it works

This is more than just a light foundation. The protection comes from zinc oxide, a mineral filter that sits on top of your skin and reflects light instead of absorbing it. This is why this type of protection is usually well-tolerated by sensitive or reactive skin, and why color has been added: a mineral filter without a tint leaves a white cast on many skin tones.

In addition, it contains three ingredients that actively benefit your skin rather than just sitting on top of it. Niacinamide supports your skin barrier and helps balance sebum production, vitamin C brightens your skin and acts as an antioxidant against external stressors, and salicylic acid, a BHA, helps keep your pores clear. This explains why it feels different on oily or blemish-prone skin than a classic primer, which primarily creates a layer for makeup to adhere to. The texture is light and silky, the coverage is sheer and buildable, and the light-diffusing mineral pigments provide a soft, matte finish without making your skin look flat.

About this shade

Medium sits in the middle of the range, for skin with a distinct natural color that is neither light nor deep. The shades in this range are categorized from light to deep, not by warm or cool undertones, and because the coverage is sheer, a shade adapts more easily to your own skin than a foundation. If you are between two shades, choose the lighter of the two; your skin color will still show through. If you are in doubt, please let me know.

For whom

For combination or oily skin that starts to shine throughout the day, for those prone to blemishes, and for anyone who wants even-looking skin without wearing foundation. It also works well on mature skin: because the layer remains thin and light, it is less likely to settle into fine lines than full-coverage foundation. It is also suitable for sensitive skin, as the protection is entirely mineral.

How to use it

In the morning, as the final step of your skincare routine. Apply your serum and cream first and give them time to fully absorb, as it may pill on damp skin. Then, take one to two pumps, dot it over your face, and blend it out with your fingertips. Make sure to use enough: with a protective formula, applying too thin a layer is the most common mistake, which means the protection on your face no longer matches what is stated on the packaging. Don't forget your neck. After that, you can apply foundation or concealer, or just leave it as is.

A final tip

I often hear "I already use a day cream with SPF," but it turns out it was applied in a paper-thin layer in the morning. Protection is a matter of quantity and reapplication. If you apply this in the morning and stay indoors all day, that's fine, but if you are in the sun or sitting by a window for hours, you need to reapply something in the afternoon. That's not the story makeup brands like to tell, but it is the story your skin will still feel in ten years' time. And give it a week or two: a mineral formula feels slightly firmer at first than what you are used to, but once you find the right amount, it will become the product you think about the least.

Are you unsure if this is the right shade for you? Feel free to send me a message, and we can check it together.