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Paula’s Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 Review

Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 in 1 Fair Light Review and Swatches

Happy Friday! Today I’ve got the Paula’s Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 in 1 Fair Light review. I’ve been wearing this for months now and every time I wear it I’m showered in compliments with how great it makes my skin look. So clearly, you need to know all about it!

The Website Says
Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 is an unbelievably light and silky tinted moisturizer that blends effortlessly to even out your complexion while allowing your natural skin tone to show through. You’ll get a smooth, satin-matte finish with sheer coverage and a hint of color to enliven skin. All this, plus broad-spectrum sun protection via pure titanium dioxide and zinc oxide make it the perfect beginning to your makeup application! This is recommended for all skin types and may be used by those with rosacea.

  • * Effective for: Anti-Aging, Extra Sensitive Skin, Rosacea, Wrinkles
  • * Newly perfected shades with a higher SPF rating!
  • * Excellent as a BB cream: evens skin tone while delivering anti-aging ingredients
  • * Creamy but light texture is easy to blend and ideal for all skin types
  • * Provides a smooth, satin matte finish with sheer coverage and a hint of color to perk up skin color
  • * Softly evens out your complexion while allowing your natural skin tone to show through
  • * Protects skin with a titanium dioxide and zinc oxide sunscreen
  • * Clinically proven non-irritating
  • * 100% fragrance free, no added dyes
  • * Cruelty free! No animal testing!
  • * Key Ingredients include sodium hyaluronate, titanium dioxide, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc oxide

Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 Shade 1 Fair Light Swatch Unblended

Ingredients
Active: Titanium Dioxide 5%; Zinc Oxide 5% (mineral-based sunscreens);
Other: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane (silicone slip agent), Propylene Glycol (water-binding agent), PEG/PPG-18/18-Dimethicone (silicone-based emulsifier), Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate (thickener), Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane (silicone slip agents), Talc (absorbent), Phytantriol (water-binding agent), Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (antioxidants vitamin E and C), Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate (skin-repairing ingredients), Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid (thickeners), Triethoxycaprylylsilane (slip agent), Boron Nitride (absorbent), Sodium Dehydroacetate (preservative), Palmitic Acid (thickener), Dextrin Palmitate (emulsifier), Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben (all preservatives). May Contain: Mica, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide (pigments).

Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 Shade 1 Fair Light Swatch Blended

Shades Available
1 Fair / Light
2 Light / Medium
3 Medium
4 Medium / Tan

Price
$14.95 for 1 oz

Wearing Sheer Matte Tint. See the look.

You can see me apply Paula’s Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30 in 1 Fair Light in this video.

My Thoughts
This tinted moisturizer has a lengthly list of claims and to me, it lives up to most of them. It’s perfect for my sensitive, rosacea skin. It does give me a matte finish that will last without a setting powder, but I really like to use it with a setting powder to diffuse imperfections. It provides a physical mineral sunblock with the titanium dioxide and zinc oxides.

This tinted moisturizer gives me the PERFECT amount of coverage for my skin! It evens out my red overtones and gives me the appearance of perfect skin, especially when I pair it with NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder. It’s funny sometimes, how a more sheer product can give the appearance of better looking skin, as opposed to a full coverage product that comes off like a mask.

Flawless Face with Paula's Choice and NARS
Wearing Paula’s Choice with the NARS setting powder.

I’ve worn this both on its own and paired with another moisturizer. Typically, because I live in Sunny Florida and have rosacea, I use another moisturizer with SPF under this foundation. However, I do love that I can get away with wearing it on its own.

I love the packaging. It’s a sleek, squeeze tube. It’s also a steal for the price! I can’t name a better tinted moisturizer in this price range. The only fault that I can find with this line is that it has a limited shade range of 4 colors. I’m impressed that 1 Fair / Light works on my porcelain skin, so I love that. But I would love for there to be deeper shades available so that my BFF Brittany (Clumps of Mascara) could give it a try!

What do you think of the Paula’s Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 30? What’s your favorite tinted moisturizer? Tell me in the comments below!

21 Comments

  1. This is my first tinted moisturizer/foundation! I got it a few months
    ago and use it when I want to look enhanced but still natural. It’s
    fantastic! Shade 3 a tad too dark for me, but nothing I can’t work with.
    🙂
    I’m considering getting Shade 3 in the RESIST Foundation,
    which you’ve also reviewed. I might get a perfect colour match by mixing
    some of the TM with the RESIST Foundation. My only complaint with
    PC foundations/TMs is that the colour range is not consistent across her
    lines. Shade 3 in the TM is *definitely* not the same as Shade 3 in the
    RESIST Foundation.

  2. I’ve never tried any of Paula’s Choice makeup but use some of their sknicare products. I so appreciate you using and reviewing it!! I wanted to get it but wasn’t real sure about the color. Looks like it would be just right for me too

  3. I’ve used Paula’s Choice skincare in the past and liked it but never the foundations. This looks like it is actually light enough for us pale skinned girls!

  4. Another PC item on my wishlist. Now if I could just finish a foundation or two so I can justify picking up this and the Resist Foundation. 🙂 Thanks for the review!

  5. I’m glad you like this, too! I’ve been wearing it non-stop as I think it is especially perfect for the hotter, summer months. I love the SPF and how it works for very fair skin!

  6. Wow I’m glad this works so well for you! I’ve tried PC’s foundations in the past, but I don’t think I ever got a sample of this one. I do use PC skincare and they’re great about offering samples with your orders, so I’ll have to get one next time I stock up on skincare.

  7. Ooh, I may be forced to try this next time I get the itch to buy a base product. My coloring is similar to yours and I’m always wary of products with “fair-light-medium” shade selections, because so many “fair to light” options aren’t quite light enough.

  8. Thanks for this review! I tried this product years ago and loved the formula but the lightest shade was simply too dark for me. When I saw this I thought, “how can it match her? She’s my shade!” So I called PC CS and they told me they actually did change the shades over the last few years. Woohoo! I am so excited to be able to give this a try again, knowing it might actually match my skin this time around! I have a sample on its way to me now 🙂 thanks again for sharing this!

    1. SasquatchSwatch You’re welcome! I was pleasantly surprised that it matched! I’m working on a tinted moisturizer roundup too, and I’ve got some duds, but this one is a clear winner! It’s my ‘go to’ right now.

  9. Girl, you are bad for my wallet but I am so happy when I read a positive review of yours on something I’ve been wanting to try! I’ve been using the PC extra care non-greasy 45+ sunblock the past month and love it so will definitely try this, though I do worry about the limited colours.

    1. trumpette That PCA Skin is awesome! So basically what I’ve been doing is applying the OWN serum to my face, waiting a few minutes, then applying the PCA Skin SPF 45, because it’s not very moisturizing at all (it’s  meant for very oily skin), and then I’ll apply this tinted moisturizer when I do my makeup.

      1. Phyrra Just out of curiosity, when using products like the PCA do you reapply sunblock throughout the day over makeup? I cycle to work so apply in the morning before makeup and then I pat it on over my makeup again before I leave the office but it tends to wash out blush and make me look a tad oily, even the PCA. Just wonder how everyone else copes with suncare and makeup throughout the day if they spend time outdoors and they use the type of sunblock that says to reapply after 2 hours, etc. (Sorry, that sounds really long winded!)

  10. Once I finish my current tube of BB cream, I think I will try this.  Looks perfect for a day at the office where I need to look a bit polished and still want sun protection for the commute.

  11. Man, I’ve been loving bits of Paula’s Choice skincare lately.  This actually might make me drop my favorite-of-four-tubes Urban Decay tinted moisturizer in favor of a stronger SPF formula!  Phyrra, you and I have very similar skin–how well does it last on you?  (With setting powder, naturally?)

    1. hazakaza I set it with the NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder and I really only feel like I need to touch up with powder arond 6 to 8 hours. I just don’t seem to get much, if any, shine with this combo.

      1. Phyrra Awesome.  I’m totally gonna grab some samples and see how well it works for me!  Thanks, Phyrra!

    1. Kissandmakeup There are some days when I know I need more coverage, but lately I’ve been happy that this seems to be just the perfect amount. What’s your favorite daily wear product?

      1. @Phyrra Hi Phyrra! Lucky you 🙂 Ever since I moved abroad my skin has been acting up a lot (acne, redness, dry patches, oil, and all this at the same time) so my routine is pretty heavy. Primer, concealer, foundation, powder. Smashbox’s HD foundation has been working great for me.

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