Best BB Creams and Tinted Moisturisers of 2018: The Ultimate Guide to Effortless, Skin-Perfecting Coverage

Overview

2018 was, without question, a landmark year for the “your skin but better” beauty movement. As the full-coverage foundation era began its slow retreat, BB creams and tinted moisturisers charged boldly into the mainstream — offering the holy trinity of skincare, sun protection, and a hint of complexion-perfecting colour in a single, fuss-free step. Whether you’re a dedicated minimalist, a time-strapped commuter, or someone who simply wants their skin to look healthy and radiant without the weight of a full face of makeup, these hybrid products became the beauty bag essentials of the year.

One-line verdict: The best BB creams and tinted moisturisers of 2018 redefine effortless beauty — delivering hydration, coverage, and SPF protection in formulas that genuinely work for every skin type and lifestyle.

This roundup covers the standout performers of the year — from beloved drugstore heroes to prestigious department store finds — evaluating each on texture, coverage, finish, longevity, and skin-loving ingredients. The products highlighted include the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Skin Perfector SPF 20, Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream SPF 30, Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30, and Bobbi Brown Skin Tint SPF 15.

---

Design & Build Quality

One of the defining shifts in 2018’s BB and tinted moisturiser category was how much thought brands invested in the packaging experience. Gone were the days of flimsy squeeze tubes that split at the seams after a fortnight.

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream arrives in a sleek, weighty pump bottle — a triumph of practicality. The airless pump dispenses a perfectly measured amount every time with zero mess, zero waste, and maximum hygiene. The matte white barrel feels premium in hand and travels without incident in a makeup bag.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser comes in a classic glass-like plastic tube with a screw cap. It feels luxurious and refined — the kind of product that looks equally at home on a vanity shelf or inside a Chanel tote. The tube doesn’t kink or crack, and the formula dispenses smoothly without separation.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB takes the accessible route — a simple squeeze tube with a flip-top cap. It’s unassuming but practical, and importantly, the formula doesn’t run or pool at the nozzle. For its drugstore price point, the packaging holds up admirably.

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream is packaged in a squat, cool-toned tube reminiscent of a skincare moisturiser — which is very much the point. It signals the skincare-first philosophy at Clinique’s core, and the packaging is robust enough to survive a gym bag.

Bobbi Brown Skin Tint opts for a minimalist glass bottle with a dropper-style applicator, leaning fully into the skincare aesthetic. It’s the most luxurious-feeling vessel of the group, though the dropper requires a slightly steadier hand for precise application.

---

Key Features & Performance

Coverage & Finish

Coverage across the 2018 category ranged from barely-there sheer veils to surprisingly buildable medium coverage — and this is precisely what sets these products apart from traditional foundations.

The IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream is arguably the most impressive performer here. It delivers medium-to-full coverage with a satin finish that smooths the appearance of pores, discolouration, and uneven texture without ever looking cakey. It contains hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins A, B, C, and E — essentially a serum and a foundation rolled into one. Blended with a damp beauty sponge, it looks breathtakingly skin-like.

Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser sits at the opposite end of the coverage spectrum — intentionally. It offers a luminous, buildable sheer-to-light coverage that makes skin look genuinely radiant rather than made-up. The SPF 20 is a welcome addition, and the formula contains Japanese Green Tea and Vitamin E for antioxidant protection. It photographs beautifully and flatters all undertones across its 18 shades.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB offers light coverage with a dewy, fresh finish and SPF 30 — impressive at its price point. The formula contains mineral pigments and skin care actives, and while it doesn’t have the sophistication of the luxury offerings, it genuinely delivers a clean, natural look.

Clinique Moisture Surge CC focuses heavily on hydration — its hero ingredient is Activated Aloe Water, which plumps and softens skin throughout the day. Coverage is light to medium with a natural finish, and the SPF 30 makes it an ideal daily driver for those who want skincare performance above all.

Bobbi Brown Skin Tint delivers an ultra-sheer wash of colour that is the closest to wearing nothing at all. It enhances skin tone, adds a subtle healthy glow, and its dropper format means you can customize coverage by mixing it into your existing moisturiser.

SPF & Skin Benefits

2018’s BB and CC creams largely embraced SPF as a non-negotiable. IT Cosmetics’ SPF 50+ stands as the gold standard of the lineup — broad-spectrum protection that doesn’t pill under makeup or leave a white cast, even on deeper skin tones. Clinique and Maybelline’s SPF 30 offerings are equally commendable, while Laura Mercier’s SPF 20 is adequate for daily incidental sun exposure.

Shade Range

Shade inclusivity improved measurably in 2018. Laura Mercier expanded to 18 shades with a thoughtful undertone range. IT Cosmetics offered fewer shades but its formula adapts subtly to the skin’s natural tone. Bobbi Brown’s Skin Tint launched with an impressive 32 shades — a genuine industry benchmark moment.

---

Real-World Use Experience

Commuting: The IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream and Clinique Moisture Surge CC proved to be the commuter’s best friend. Applied in 60 seconds with fingers or a sponge, both looked polished and fresh even after a sweaty morning tube journey. Neither transferred noticeably onto collars or face masks.

At work: Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser earns a near-perfect rating for office wear — it photographs beautifully under fluorescent lighting without appearing flat, and its radiant finish keeps skin looking awake through long afternoon meetings.

Travel: The Maybelline Dream Fresh BB is the ultimate carry-on companion. It meets liquid restrictions, doesn’t require a brush or sponge (fingers work beautifully), and its SPF 30 protects against UV exposure during window-seat flights.

Exercise: The Bobbi Brown Skin Tint, with its ultra-sheer coverage, performed surprisingly well during light workouts. It didn’t cling to perspiration or streak, and the minimal coverage meant post-workout skin looked naturally flushed rather than streaky.

Longevity: IT Cosmetics CC+ lasted the longest of the group — around 7-8 hours before needing a touch-up. Laura Mercier faded naturally and gracefully over 5-6 hours. Maybelline, despite its budget price, held up for around 5 hours on combination skin before looking slightly patchy in the T-zone.

---

Pros

• Multitasking brilliance: SPF, skincare, and coverage in one streamlined step saves time and reduces morning routine complexity
• Natural, skin-like finish: All five products reviewed deliver a complexion that looks healthy and real rather than mask-like
• Improved shade ranges in 2018: More inclusive shade launches (particularly Bobbi Brown’s 32-shade Skin Tint) meant better options for deeper skin tones
• Skin-loving ingredients: Formulas across the board include hydrating actives like hyaluronic acid, aloe, and antioxidants that benefit skin over time
• Versatility: Wearable alone for a no-makeup look, or as a base layer under powder for a more polished finish
• Price accessibility: The range spans drugstore to luxury, ensuring a high-quality option is accessible at every budget
• Lightweight wearability: None of the reviewed products feel heavy or suffocating on skin, making them ideal for year-round wear

---

Cons

• Limited full-coverage options: Those dealing with significant hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, or redness may find even the most pigmented BB creams insufficient without additional concealer
• SPF caveats: While multiple products include SPF, dermatologists note that the amount typically applied of a tinted moisturiser is far less than the required 2mg/cm² needed to achieve the stated SPF rating — a separate dedicated sunscreen remains advisable for high-exposure days
• Shade range inconsistency: While 2018 saw improvements, some brands still lag in serving very deep skin tones convincingly, and shade descriptions can vary significantly between brands
• Longevity limitations: Even the longest-lasting formula (IT Cosmetics) requires touch-ups after 7-8 hours — not ideal for 12-hour days without a powder or setting spray

---

Who Should Buy / Who Should Skip

Buy if you:

• Prefer a natural, “your skin but better” finish over full-coverage makeup
• Want a simplified morning routine without sacrificing a polished look
• Have normal, dry, or combination skin (most formulas lean towards hydration)
• Are new to makeup and want a forgiving, easy-to-apply product
• Already have good skin and simply want to even out tone and add glow

Skip if you:

• Require heavy coverage for significant acne, deep scarring, or severe redness
• Have very oily skin prone to midday breakthrough (look for mattifying-specific BB creams instead)
• Need clinical-grade SPF protection for prolonged outdoor sun exposure
• Prefer a matte, long-wear, transfer-proof finish

---

Verdict

Score Breakdown

Category	Score
Coverage & Finish	4.5/5
Skincare Benefits	4.8/5
SPF Protection	4.5/5
Shade Inclusivity	4.2/5
Packaging & Usability	4.6/5
Longevity	4.0/5
Value for Money	4.7/5
Overall	4.6/5

Final Recommendation

The BB cream and tinted moisturiser category reached a genuine maturity in 2018 — and the five products reviewed here represent the very best of what the year had to offer. If you can only choose one, the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ is the definitive all-rounder: impressive coverage, exceptional sun protection, and a skincare ingredient list that would make a serum blush. For a luxury, skin-first experience that prioritises radiance over coverage, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser remains peerless. And for anyone navigating a tight budget without wanting to compromise, Maybelline’s Dream Fresh BB continues to overdeliver at every turn. Whichever you choose, one thing is certain: 2018 proved that flawless skin doesn’t require a full face of foundation — and that’s a beauty revolution worth celebrating.