TM. But I learned something: if you use a brush you get virtually no coverage, but if you use your hands you will get decent coverage AND decent SPF. Huge difference, so this is truly buildable and really excellend. For your skintone consider Agent 08, this oxidizes on a lot of people and this color claims for pink undertones but it is NOT, it is yellow, just not AS yellow as all of the other colors and if it does oxidize it will just do so a little. No way is 08 for pink skin and my coloring is the same as yours.

When I got a sample, the sales rep wrote "foundation" on it even though the product is called tinted moisturizer. It's really thick out of the bottle so it definitely reminds me of a foundation.

has the coverage of a foundation, but the feel of a tinted moisurizer, so in conclusion it is both simultaneously =^)

The coverage is buildable so its not as sheer as other brands of tinted moisturizer but its not as thick as normal liquid foundation, so it's actually both

Tarte customer service said it was a tinted moisturizer, but when I called Sephora, they said it was both, because it goes on like a tinted moisturizer, but provides more coverage than most, so some consider it to be a foundation, too.

I just called Tarte Cosmetics and the customer service said it was a tinted moisturizer because it's lighter and more sheer than foundation or something like that.

If you apply just one thin layer...it will look sort of like a tinted moisturizer. But if you apply like 2-3 layers it will start to look more like a liquid foundation.

Dear tarte product user,

This product is classified as a foundation. However, the coverage is light to medium and not heavy at all.

I find that right when I put it on I have to be a bit careful to not get my face near anything. It takes a while for my skin to fully absorb it and for it to dry so if something touches my face while the moisturizer is still wet, it will transfer. If I'm in a rush I just gently pat a tissue on my face and it's fine. Once it dries it doesn't move or go on anything.

It really does stay where its supposed to, its one of the most amazing foundations I've ever used! Its light yet buildable to give the right amount of coverage. Very mattifying and long lasting, I've worn it to the beach and outdoors many times this summer!

This stuff doesn't budge, even if you get oily or wet. The only thing that takes it off is when you use your cleanser. I've never had a bit of trouble with this coming off or transferring.

Dear tarte product users,

Our Smooth Operator SPF 20 is transfer proof. To ensure the best results possible, start with tarte's Clean Slate primer, and set your
Smooth Operator with one of our light weight mineral pressed powders!

2 answers
Is this product transfer resistent (i.e. will it smudge off on my jacket collar). Do you recommend any foundation makeup that is transfer resistent.

This is the longest wearing foundation I have found. I have very oily skin and this stays on and doesnt budge all day, even when using oil blotting sheets, it stays put. The words "transfer resistant" is hard to use for any foundation, because no matter what, if you rub and rub and rub, obviously its going to come off, its makeup, not a tattoo. But this is very long wearing and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a sheer foundation that stays put.

Completely depends on how you apply it, with a brush, rounded, it is very sheer, with your fingers/hands it is almost foundation. If you are using it for SPF you have to put a good amount on, but it never ever looks cakey. Great product. I was dissapointed when I used one of my brushes, but with my hands, which I rather not use, it is beautiful.

I would describe it as light coverage, but closer to being medium than to sheer. Does that make sense? It is far from the sheerest tinted moisturizer I have used. I have only used two others with more coverage than this one. I highly recommend it. If you need more coverage, I suggest mixing it with tartes new amazonian clay full coverage foundation. Wait until you try this though. This may have the perfect coverage for you. If not yes you have to buy two expensive products, but you will wake up every day and can create the coverage you need each day. I bought both over a year ago, and have gone through about 1/3 of each. Bonus, the full coverage will cover pimples and scarring very nicely. Even if all you use the full coverage for is covering imperfections, it will last you forever. Nice to have options. You only need an under eye concealer and you are done for face products. If you find you are in between colors, for the foundations, buy one in the lightest shade you are in the year and the other in the darkest shade you are, and mix them together throughout the year. I suggest buying the darkest shade in the tinted moisturizer, as you will want less coverage in the summer. Buy your lightest shade in the full coverage, as you will want a little more coverage in the winter. Plus you can cover imperfections with the lightest and not look ridiculous. If you covered imperfections with the darkest when you are lighter it could look bad. I personally own two shades of both and am not sorry I do. They are expensive, but they are also better for your skin. They last long too.

I have acne prone skin so uneven skintone and this covers very well, its practically a liquid foundation. Coverage is buildable but its still sheer enough to let your skin show through =)

Dear tarte product users,

Smooth Operator SPF 20 offers light to medium coverage. It will cover skin imperfections, yet allow your natural beauty, (like freckles!) to show. This foundation is amazing! Don't forget to finish your look off with our mineral pressed powder for lasting coverage.

This is not as sheer as a tinted moisturizer, I dont know why its in that category. I think it gives pretty decent coverage, and I have a lot of reddness in my skin.

This product's not thick enough to cover redness but I'd suggest wearing the smashbox green primer and or concealer prior to wearing Smooth Operator

This product did not cover my red spots at all. I think if used in conjunction with concealer it would work better, but then again if you have dark spots most foundations wouldn't cover them either.

Dear tarte product users,

Tarte Smooth Operator SPF 20 Oil-Free Foundation will absolutely cover skin discolorations. We suggest using our Eraser, 4 in 1 concealer first, then layer over problem areas with Smooth Operator, and set with our pressed mineral powder.

I think this is a little light to cover age spots. It evens on minor variations in skin color, but it doesn't cover pimples. I guess it would depend how dark the age spots are. If they a just a little darker than your skin tone, it might cover ihem, but if they are pretty dark, I don't think it will cover them.

A lot of people don't look up what ingredients in the product do to your skin, Sodium chloride is in this product and is high up on the list of pore clogging ingredients and is in many foundations sadly.... Horrible for acne prone skin!

I have combination/acne prone skin with oily tzone and haven't had any acne related problems. Honestly, its really mattifying. Great for the summer, very low maintenance because it lasts all day! NO touchups required!

I have the same skin concerns and I tried this product and was not impressed. On the dry parts of my skin, the foundation really showed. it looked cakey. On my T-Zone it was fine. so I think this should be geared more towards normal/oily skinned folks. I also found it did not cover acne related redness well.

Dear tarte product user,

I would definitely try out our Smooth Operator SPF 20. It has so many beneficial elements for skin and is free of so many harmful ingredients. Someone with sensitive skin would be a great candidate to try this product.

I have combination/acne prone skin with oily t-zone, this is the first and only product that I've used that didn't require me to do any touch ups all day! I've worn this to the office and outdoors. Regardless its kept me shine and oil free ALL Day! This is my must have summer product!

No, if anything this will matte it down a bit. I usually have a grease pit on my T-zone by 11 AM and this holds up to it better than anything I've tried.

I have VERY oily skin. I purchased a kit that Sephora had a while back, that included this foundation, primer, concealer, and the pressed powder. I IMMEDIATELY fell in love! I no longer need to do any touch-ups. When the summer comes I may need to, but that is not the case so far. I have to say that I am a little surprised that this has worked out so well for me being that I was a loyal powder mineral foundation user for the last 8 years. But this is soooo much better, doesn't cake, doesn't melt off, and doesn't change color throughout the day. I hope that this helps.

So I tried Agent 10,12,14 on my face yesterday and Agent 14 was the best match for me. Agent 10 was a bit too pinkish. Agent 12 would pass, but Agent 14 was the best match because it was more yellow. To give you a better idea of my skintone, I also wear Bare Minerals Golden Medium and I add warmth directly into the foundation to darken it a bit.

I am also that color in nars foundation and Sand in Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. Based on what other people are saying, I would be agent 12 or 14, I'm going to buy soon so I'll keep you updated!

I highly advise swatching this somewhere, as the swatches on the site don't look like they do when you apply them on your skin. also, your skin may have different undertones, and that will also affect which color you should get.

I have almost exactly the same skin, light to medium and I also use BE medium beige ( though my undertones are neutral) and I have this in Agent 12 and it looks great.

I thought Agent 12 would be too dark but on the advice of 2 other reviewers I bought it and it's amazing! It's quite sheer so even if the colour was a tiny bit off you would be able to get away with it as it blends really well

not sure why my reply just got deleted

umm it actually doesn't help staff from sephora... you recommended agent 16!! i said that my complexion was light to medium not medium to tan. I was thinking more like agent 6 or agent 10.

It is not. Different formula and different shades

They are not the same the colors are completely different.

Yes, it's the exact same product. Tarte just changed the name to get with the times. :D

HAHA! That's right this is not an emergency!

i use fairly light in BE and agent 02 in this.

I have used the fairly light in BE and found the agent 12 gives a natural healthy glow.