Hi,

The best thing to do is go into a Sephora near you and let the consultant help you find exactly what you want. This may not be the correct product for what you need. The consultant can help you determine what you want the product to do, and then help you with the right color. Plus, she can also give you samples to make sure you like it. Smashbox has other products which might fit the bill and if not, there's other brands, too.

Hope this helps.

I think the fair or luminous would be great for you. It has some coverage but if you are looking for more full coverage I would try the healthy definition foundation from Smashbox in F0.
I don't think you would get a tan look from these though. The color takes just seconds to blend into your skin.

No. This is not a fake tanning product, the color won't "show up". Its a tinted moisturizer, which means it offers light to medium coverage. It works like a creamier and sheerer foundation.

Medium shows up tan for me when I am very tan, so get the lighter shade. color shows up right away and beautifully.

If you are looking for full coverage then this product would not be for you as it is a sheer formula. Dior, Clinique, Lancome, CK and LORAC to mention a few make excellent foundations. Try your luck there instead!

When looking for a foundations color match I always test. Most women test on their arms, but you should always test on your face. Ask for help when going in a Sephora store and they will be more then happy to assist you. Because I dont know your extact match without seeing you I advise you experiment. Color should show up quickly. Then add a light bronzer, nothing dark or orange based. Try Warmth from Bare Minerals. Perfect for all skin tones! Hope that helps!

I think the fair shade would be best for you as it works for very light and light skin tones. The color shows right away when you apply it.

this is not a full coverage foundation. it is a tint and is very sheer. the color shows immediately

immediately

I don't think this will be the product you are looking for. This is more like a lightweight foundation, not a tanning lotion.

I wear this over Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer (Light). It helps the tinted moisturizer last longer on my oily skin.

You really don't need to. It has replaced my daytime moisturizer, primer and foundation.

I don't think its necessary, but you certainly could.

I do. i find its easier to go on but its just personal perfence.

you should first where the foundation primer and then wear the sheer focus tinted moisturizer.

I tried this alone, over moisturizer, over MAC primer, and over Too Faced primer.
I think it really is a stand alone product. I felt like the best finish came from using it alone over clean toned skin. If you tend towards the drier side of things, it works over oil free and water based moisturizers, but I found it to get slightly chunky over primers and oil based moisturizers.

I have combination skin, oily in my Tzone, drier on my cheeks and around my mouth. But I have HUGE pores on my nose and on my cheeks close to my nose. This is the only tinted moisturizer I have tried that doesnt seem to magnify my pores. In fact I think the finish minimizes the look of them, without feeling like my pores have been "filled in" like primer sometimes makes me feel.
I love this on its own, if I feel like I want extra shine control, I top it with MUFE HD powder or MAC skinfinish natural.

No. This product does not cover my acne scars, though it makes them less noticeable. It has very sheer coverage.

This will not "cover" scars. Depending on how dark the scars are, it will lighten them. If you want to cover imperfections, a tinted moisturizer is not what you want.

I think you could get something a little heavier with more coverage; this tends to just even out skin tone.

I have both products. Trust me it will be with your money. I have fair skin with redness and a few zits here and there. But the 17$ smash box primer because you only use a little, youll be amazed at how soft your skin is and it prevents from getting more acne from your make up. Also get the tinted moisturizer to help your foundation and powder apply evenly and easily. You end up using less make up. So you put on the primer then the tinted moisturizer and then foundation and a little loose or pressed powder. The primer and tinted moisturizer provide little coverage but protect your skin, help your make up go on evenly, also helps to use less make up so your skin won't look cakey. It leaves your skin with a dewy fresh look. It's worth it. Both.

This has a very light coverage and while it's better than nothing for my acne scars, I would only recommend for very light scarring.

totally get the moisturizer! the primer will not cover the imperfections, it just help the makeup last longer and create a smooth silky surface for the skin, its just to prep your skin. i chose this over the primer and its really good. very lighweight also

Hi,

I have very pale skin and Luminous is for me. However, a friend who has similar skin needs fair. The best thing you can do regarding which shade or product to choose, is to go to a Sephora if one is near you. The consultants there are trained to help customers pick perfect shades and the right products, addressing each issue the customer might have. Sometimes what has been suggested to me has been surprising, but they're always right. Having someone on a review board suggest a shade or product is based on someone else's perspective never having seen you or your skin.

If there is not a Sephora near you, I suggest you call the 877-SEPHORA toll free line and they'll also be pleased to give you a phone consultation. This way you can get something perfectly suited to what you need, and not what someone reviewing here happens to personally favor for themselves. The Sephora consultants are much more objective and can deal with all sorts of skin conditions and issues and shade selections much better than any of us can, when it deals with specific issues.

The return policy is excellent if there is a problem with a product. However, if a consultant helps, either on the phone or in person, problems in shade selection are rare.

Hope this helps.

I agree that Luminous would be a great match for your skin. I am also very fair and it's tough to find natural looking light tones, but this was perfect. It's cooler toned than the fair shade, and would be less noticeable.

Update: Luminous was the best match. Fair was a little too orange-y.

Luminous is the color I use and I have fair, pale skin.

Luminous was the color I picked for my fair skin, it is a bit more glowy than the light shade. I think the luminous would be for you if you want really sheer coverage and a bit of a glow, and light if you want a more natural finish.

I am a redhead with freckles & use the light. It hides the "red" areas around my nose. Not sure about pimple coverage though...

Its great ! but I find about after 5-6 months it starts seperating. Im fair and its good for me. any lighter makes me look way to plale.

I have really fair skin, green eyes and the occasional skin flare. This is really my go-to product. Whether worn underneath layers of more makeup or by itself for a fresher look, I have never had that caked makeup look. I love it and would recommend it.

Hello! I use this along with Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting powder. I have light skin, very green eyes and red hair so naturally I have a ton of feckles! I love this combo because it give me light, natural coverage. I was a skin care model and have used almost everything under the sun. This gets an A+ in my book!

I switched to this from BE because the BE was clogging my pores... so I went on a Dr. Brandt regimen to get my skin back in shape, and tinted moisturizer was my reward. I tried a lot of different ones, this was my favorite. I bought it both in fair and luminous, expecting that the luminous would be a little more light reflective and "dewy" looking, and fair would be more of an every day look. I honestly can't tell the difference between the two shades... I even tried to put both on next to each other, and still can't tell the difference. But I do love it, it gives just enough coverage and it is really good for your skin because it has anti-aging peptides.

Hello gorgeous!
I've been using this product for two years and I would say that it has buildable coverage. I apply it with my fingers (instead of a makeup brush) and I set it with MACs Skinfinish Natural powder. I have oily skin and this TM is my favorite.

Keep in mind that this is really a moisturizer, not a foundation. So, it's probably not buildable in the way you may mean. If you are looking for TRUE coverage, this is not the product for you.

Definitely build able coverage. I have fair skin with redness and it works wonders. It has little coverage but helps your foundation and powder apply evenly. I would also suggest trying smash box travel size primer. Apply that first and then follow it up with this tinted moisturizer. It really helps to protect your face and provide even coverage.

Coverage is light, smooths out discolorations a little and not very buildable. Perfect for hot humid summers. I use tarte smooth operator over this product to finish. Lasts all day.

I've been using it for a few weeks now, and haven't really used this for buildable coverage. However, I have the same problem (more redness on my nose, especially during the summer) and I use a tiny bit of the Smashbox concealer blended with the tinted moisturizer on my nose. They're the same shades, so my nose doesn't look like it's caked in make-up, and it blends with the rest of my skin.

i have been using this for a long time, now. i have never ever had a problem with my pores being clogged. just be sure to always remove your makeup at night with a simple witch hazel astringent and a cotton ball or 2. your skin will love you for it.

I have extremely oily, comedone prone skin and this has not contributed in any way to breakouts!

It might but that's what primer is for. I suggest trying the smash box travel size primer underneath this tinted moisturizer...you will be amazed.

Not really build able coverage.

It doesn't say that it is but my skin is very touchy and it's been good

For my morning routine, I put on the tinted moisturizer directly after I've applied my contacts for the day so my fingers are always clean when I work it into my skin. I have dry skin so really want to work the product into every inch of my skin, so I feel it's better to use my fingers. I don't wash my hands again until the rest of my make up has been applied.

I think it works best to use your fingers, just like you would with a regular moisturizer.

I use my finger to dab a few spots over my face and then use 2 fingers to blend it over all of my face. I end up using about 5 mm or less of product each time I apply it to my face. If I were to use a brush, I think I'd end up using more product. Don't forget to blend down to a little under your chin, just as you would a foundation, so you won't have a line.

fingertips

I like to use a foundation brush to apply this, but when I'm in a time crunch I'll add a dab of moisturizer to it and smooth it on my face with just my hands. It's very lightweight and distributes evenly.

I used L.M before as well but also found it to be an expensive habit. This product has a light veil coverage to it, and you will find that it covers mild redness beautifully..I wouldnt use this for blemished skin though, you may want to consider a full coverage foundation for a more flawless result.

I have roseacea, and this did it for me. However, since Sephora stores allow you to try products before you buy them, why not go to a store and see for yourself?

I have ance and redness so i thought this would be better than foundation but it didn't cover the acne but it did cover the redness.

Personally for me, this does not cover redness, i like the typical woman carry redness around the nose, between the eye brows and random blemish here and there. This is VERY sheer coverage buildable but very sheer. you would have to use a concealer seperately to cover the blemish you want as this did not even out my skin tone as much as i wanted. I would suggest though it itsn't a tinted mosturizer NARS sheer glow, it does cover redness and for only i believe 42$ a little goes along way and goes on sheer.

For me it neutralizes a little bit of the redness on my face, but it definitely doesn't cover any blemishes like a regular foundation would.

I think it would work well with combination skin. Its moisturizing for the dry zones yet the matte finish does not make oily areas look shiny.

I have combination skin and have used this product for 2 or 3 years now. It doesn't bother my skin at all, which is very rare.

I have combination skin and I actually thought it helped my blemishes even when I took it off. It worked really well on though.

I have combo skin & it works great ! I put Laura Mercier's translucent powder over to set. Works like a charm !

I believe Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer would work well on combination skin. I have extremely dry skin, and this would not be enough moisture for me in the cold weather. However, even on a warm day, it was not at all greasy feeling or looking. I hope this helps!