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I don’t know about you but I don’t miss that 2016 makeup look where we layered foundation like there’s no tomorrow. These days, I enjoy light base makeup as my everyday look. I try foundation alternatives like CC creams and tinted moisturizers. And more recently, I’ve been enjoying skin tints, especially Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint. It exceeded my expectations so much that I had to do a review on it.
But before diving in, here’s the recap on skin tints in case you’ve never used one before. Skin tints are lightweight products that offer both skincare and makeup benefits. They usually have very low coverage and are mainly used to create natural, no-makeup makeup looks. They’re like makeup foundations but without the hassle. And you’re about to meet one of the best ones out there!
Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint Review
Read on for my full review of Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint.
What It Has
Water with pigment beads.
Water Fresh Tint is made up of 75% water, hence the name of the product. It also contains glycerin to add to the hydrating benefits. The formula contains what they call micro-droplets which are little drops of pigments that burst when you’re applying the product onto the skin.
How It Feels
Very light gel.
Chanel Water Fresh Tint feels incredibly light all because of the high water content. The runny consistency is a lightweight gel that spreads out as a thin layer of pigment.
How It Smells
Perfumy.
The Water Fresh Tint contains fragrance and has a perfumy scent to it. It’s not uncomfortable but you do get that clean smell from it.
How It Blends
Fun and easy to blend.
Each pump squirts out a pearl-sized amount of the gel that contains microdroplets. When you start blending the tint, the droplets burst and dissolve, creating a seamless consistency that feels like a liquid foundation. The formula is very easy to blend. And it’s actually very fun watching the droplets melt and mix with each other.
How Much Coverage It Gives
Low to medium.
The tint has low coverage if you apply a single layer of it. But it’s incredibly buildable because it allows you to apply multiple layers that go on evenly and smoothly. The second layer will give you medium coverage. In terms of how that would look and what that would mean for covering up skin imperfections, here’s the thing. The tint neutralizes redness and uneven skin tone. It covers up light discolorations such as red or brown dots. It also minimizes the appearance of light imperfections such as fine lines. But it doesn’t smooth uneven skin texture, acne bumps, or enlarged pores. This is expected because again, this is not a foundation but a skin tint.
Finish
Naturally radiant but adjustable.
The finish of the skin tint is natural but very subtly radiant. But here’s what I love about it. Because of the fact that this is a low-coverage skin tint with a skin-like finish, whatever you apply underneath the tint will show through. And that means you can adjust the finish of the product depending on your preference. For example, if I apply a dewy finish, radiant primer, or a face serum before applying the tint, I have glowy makeup all day. If I have a mattifying primer or an invisible finish product underneath, I have natural-looking matte makeup all day. On a side note, I wouldn’t recommend using a dewy product underneath the tint if you have oily skin. It can make you look greasy and sweaty.
Longevity
Long-lasting coverage.
Even if I don’t set my makeup, the tint stays on my skin for a good portion of the day. The coverage is still there in the evening. It lasts long considering that it’s only a skin tint.
Packaging
Elegant-looking.
The packaging is a see-through bottle that looks elegant and classy. You can see the micro-droplets through the clear bottle which is what makes the packaging so interesting. Also, the pumping mechanism in the bottle allows you to see how much product you’ve left. On the flip side, the bottle is plastic. It’s very light and I think it’d feel better if it had some hefty feel to it.
Brush
Convenient.
Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint comes with a little foundation brush to apply the product. It’s a short stifling brush with soft bristles. It’s a bit tapered in the end but it’s very dense and has this amazing swirling action. It’s actually helpful in applying the tint but here’s why I think you shouldn’t. The brush itself is amazing. But it picks up more product than you need. Considering that the tint is only 1 ounce or 30 ml, you can use up your product too quickly.
Results
Amazing coverage with a skin-like finish.
Chanel Water Fresh Tint is literally the definition of weightless, hassle-free makeup. As you can see from the image below, it gives me healthier-looking skin with its subtly radiant finish. It doesn’t look like a medium coverage foundation but the coverage is more than what a typical skin tint would offer. Its lightweight consistency allows me to cover up my fine lines without creasing or settling, which is why it doesn’t emphasize my smile lines. I’m wearing a medium coverage concealer under my eyes and some blush, and that’s it. Though there’s no information about it on the packaging, I’d say the tint is suitable for all skin types as it’s practically water and just pigment droplets. So you can wear it even if you have dry, combination, or oily skin.
How to Apply Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint
You apply Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint after you’ve done your skincare routine. So make sure you’ve washed your face, and applied your serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen before moving on to makeup. Before moving to the steps, here’s what you need to know. You can use your fingers to apply the tint or you can use the brush that comes with the product, or the brush of your choice for that matter. But I don’t recommend using a sponge as the tint requires blending and a sponge doesn’t allow that.
To apply Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint using a brush:
- Squirt out a few pumps of the tint onto the back of your hand
- Take your brush and swirl it on the back of your hand to blend the tint, allowing the pigment droplets to burst and melt
- Once you have a seamless consistency, swipe your brush onto your cheeks and start blending the tint onto your skin where you want to cover up
To apply Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint using your fingers:
- Squeeze a pump of the tint on one cheek
- Blend the tint into the skin using your fingers and do so until you see a seamless fluid
- Do the same thing for the other cheek and spread out any excess product toward the chin and forehead
- This way, you’re making the droplets burst and dissolve using your fingers
- Make sure you blend everything so that there’s no patchiness left
Tips & Tricks
- I usually pair this skin tint with a radiant, natural-looking concealer like Tarte Shape Tape Radiant Concealer if I’m going for a natural, breezy look. The luminous finish of the concealer complements the skin tint and creates a glowy makeup look.
- For longer-lasting, higher coverage makeup and to tone down the radiant finish and make it more matte, I pair it with Lancome Teint Idole All Over Full Coverage Concealer. This type of look is helpful when you need a longer-lasting, higher-coverage look.
- If you have oily skin, keep your tint matte and prevent your skin from getting shiny later during the day by applying a mattifying primer or a matte finish moisturizer underneath. Alternatively, keep a translucent powder and a clean makeup sponge in your bag. Dab the sponge onto the powder and pat it onto the oily areas of the face to absorb shine.
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