Review: Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser SPF15

When I heard about Clinique discontinuing my favourite Almost Makeup SPF15, I was a teeny bit heartbroken. Where else was I going to find a sheer, lightweight, easy-to-use foundation-type product that I would love as much?

I really should have figured that I would find a replacement Holy Grail product in the cosmetic sanctum that is Bobbi Brown.

Photo courtesy of bobbibrowncosmetics.com

Thank you Bobbi, I am well and truly enamoured by your Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser SPF15.

Here are the various reasons why this product has earned its spot in my makeup/skin care arsenal:

Formula: Some background information to start off – there are two variants of Bobbi’s tinted moisturiser: the regular and the oil-free. Both offer a similar set of benefits: light hydration, sun protection, smooth-blending natural-looking coverage. The difference between the two is that the former contains jojoba oil, has a creamier composition and is intended for normal to dry skin types, while the latter is gel-based, has Vitamins C and E for free radical damage protection and hydration purposes, and was created for oily-skinned girls. I love that the oil-free formulation appears quite rich and dense directly out of the tube, but feels very light on skin. Also, it spreads with great ease so all you need is a little over half a pea worth of it per section of the face (I use that amount for each cheek, the entire forehead, and the nose + chin areas combined).

Scent: Light, pleasant, not quite discernible or distinctive (i.e. doesn’t really smell of anything specific), almost negligible. Doesn’t bother me one bit. In fact, quite like it.

Shade Match: This tinted moisturiser is available in nine different shades, although I have yet to see any Bobbi Brown store or counter in Singapore or Malaysia that carries the full range. (Ladies, do let me know if you have!) I matched myself to the Light Tint, and I have zero complaints. The shade is a lovely neutral beige with (as one would expect from Bobbi) a yellow undertone, and it blends seamlessly into my skin. The makeup artist who tested the product on me used a brush for maximum coverage and precision, but for everyday purposes, I prefer using my fingers to warm and spread the moisturiser evenly over my face. That way I get sheer but substantial coverage from patting it in.

Performance: This lovely product evens out my skin tone so nicely that I have (almost) abandoned all thoughts of purchasing a liquid foundation. My skin has been terribly splotchy of late, and this tinted moisturiser does a great job of toning down the glare of irregular red patches across my forehead. The coverage it offers is natural enough to look like bare skin, only slightly enhanced. I use this tinted moisturiser every day and it has not caused clogged pores or breakouts at all. Oil-free as it may be, however, this tinted moisturiser does not control oil terribly well over the course of the hours, so I always top it off that with a layer of Clinique Blended Face Powder before leaving the house, and that helps a great deal.

Pour conclure, I’m going to be stuck like glue on this tinted moisturiser for a while. And I don’t think I am the only one – this product has a five-star rating on the Bobbi Brown website, 9.5. out of 10 points over at Temptalia, and a 9.0 out of 10 rating at TotalBeauty! Thank you once again for a stunning product, Bobbi 🙂

A 50ml tube of Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser SPF15 retails in Singapore at SGD 63.00 and in Malaysia for MYR 150.00.