I've tried many foundations in my six years behind the scenes at a beauty brand and then as a beauty writer. I've tried some really great formulas, and some not-so-great formulas. It's safe to say I’m a snob for a good foundation when I come across one.

You see, I'm pretty picky. Foundation isn't "one size fits all," so what has worked for most hasn't always worked for me. Some formulas are too drying, have the tendency to transfer and worst of all: Only last a few hours into my day.

But not this one — and it's not just any one. I was influenced by my TikTok feed (per usual) to try Milk Makeup's new Hydro Grip Skin Tint. I loved it so much (spoiler alert!) that I had some of my colleagues try it as well — and hopefully, after hearing our testimonies, you will soon, too. After all, it's now easier to buy than ever before because the brand officially launched at Amazon recently. Not to mention, the product also just won a 2025 Shop TODAY Beauty Award from our editors. So next time you're packing your Amazon cart with essentials, you should restock on Milk Makeup favorites, too.

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint

What to know

What is the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip 12-Hour Skin Tint

Skin tints are “a makeup product that provides lightweight, breathable coverage designed to enhance your skin’s natural complexion,” explained Dr. Noah Gratch, a board-certified dermatologist in our previous coverage. Unlike standard foundation, skin tints are typically infused with skin care ingredients to treat and address common skin concerns, such as hydration, anti-aging and more. They're also lighter and more natural-looking.

Similarly, the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint is described as a highly hydrating and long-wearing skin tint, per the brand. It's equally effective in treating the skin as it is with staying on throughout the day, offering a skin care-infused formula and 12-hour wear alongside its buildable coverage. The product also promises to not settle into fine lines, cake or fade with wear.

The formula contains triple-powered hyaluronic acid, squalane, niacinamide and other hydrating ingredients, which the brand says should all help boost skin moisture, smooth and support the skin barrier. This indicates that it should wear comfortably.

How we tried it

Four of our writers and editors implemented the product in their every day makeup routine. I used the product with and without primer, and my team members prepped their skin with their own methods.

We then each used the brand's blending brush recommended to use with the skin tint, but any dense makeup brush works just as well. I also used a beauty sponge for a comparison, and both a brush and sponge blended the product just fine. However, it seems that most of our team noticed more coverage when using a brush, and used their finger to spot conceal.

Our skin types

Madison San Miguel, editorial assistant: Sensitive and very dry skin
Kamari Stewart, associate editor: Oily to combination skin

Shannon Garlin, associate editor: Dry to combination skin
Danielle Murphy, commerce writer: Normal to oily skin

What skin type is the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip 12-Hour Skin Tint best for?

According to the brand, the Hydro Grip Skin Tint is suitable for all skin types, including those with sensitive and acne-prone skin. The formula is non-comedogenic (meaning, it shouldn’t clog pores), and contains no fragrance or silicone.

The skin tint is ideal for those looking for light to medium coverage, a radiant complexion and a light base for makeup. Our team found it easy to blend, were able to build the coverage (and build on top with other products, too) and loved how the product sat and blended on each of our skin types. It’s a new favorite of ours, and soon might be yours, too.

What we liked

Madison San Miguel: shade 5 (light with neutral undertones)

Shade matching is never easy, especially when choosing a shade online. I’m not the best at shade matching since photos aren’t always accurate, but this was a perfect match for me. I think the brand did a great job at making sure shade matching was beginner-friendly.

As someone with very dry skin, I prefer more natural to dewy finishes, which this product has. These formulas sit and feel better on my skin, so I knew I'd be impressed with this one. I already love how hydrating the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer is, and the skin tint is just as hydrating, if not more. I found it super comfortable to wear before and after I used a setting powder, without the annoying "tight" feel.

Before (left) and after (right)Courtesy Madison San Miguel

As for the finish, it definitely is your skin but better. It provides the perfect balance of light to medium coverage, since your skin peaks through slightly (my acne marks were noticeable if you looked very closely, in my opinion).

For extra coverage, I was able to apply a bit more product to my areas of concern without the cake-y look and feel.

Kamari Stewart: shade 9 (medium tan with warm undertones)

Like myself, Stewart was also “pleasantly surprised at the shade match from this skin tint,” despite it not being an exact match. “I still think I’d need to mix two different shades for a more accurate match because the next shade also seemed too dark for me,” she notes. “However, it’s the easiest time I’ve had shade matching myself to any tinted makeup online.”

"As for the tint itself, it's really lightweight and feels like a second skin — perfect for an everyday makeup look," she boasts. "I kept getting compliments on how good my skin looks. It blended in really easy and I was able to layer other products over it easily as well."

Shannon Garlin: shade 2 (fair with neutral undertones)

"I really liked how lightweight and smoothly this formula applied," the associate editor raves. "The product also contains niacinamide, so my face felt super hydrated throughout the day."

Although buildable, Garlin describes the coverage as more lightweight, so if you are acne-prone, "it definitely doesn’t cover up angry pimples," she adds, "but it has great coverage for dark spots, pigmentation and dark circles."

Garlin also was "pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to color match online, which is no easy task for my pale skin," she says. "I’ve been wearing it for the past couple of days, and I barely have to touch up throughout the day — it's really long lasting!"

Danielle Murphy: shade 4 (light with neutral to warm undertones)

"I'm normally not a 'skin tint' gal, having always preferred typical foundations because I need a good amount of coverage. However, this product impressed me," Murphy says. Although she was able to find her shade, she suggested that there could be a broader range.

Compared to Garlin, Murphy found the coverage more medium than light. The coverage may vary per person depending on how much product you use, your skin and how you apply. However, the writer also says the formula is very blendable with and without a brush. "I found using my fingers to spot conceal other areas worked wonders for the second layer," she adds.

The brand suggests that the skin tint has a weightless gel base, which plays into its texture. "It feels thick out of the tube and in my fingers, but lightweight when applied to the skin," Murphy describes. "I think this lends to the 'grip' aspect in the name, and probably has something to do with the fact that it is long lasting. I had it on from 7 am to 11 pm, and my face looked pretty good by the time I got to washing it off."

What to consider

The finish is dewy, and gets a tad dewier as you wear it. If you prefer a more matte finish, this might not be the product for you.
Although it is a skin tint, there could be more shades. Fifteen isn’t enough for all skin tones and undertones.
In my experience, the bottle can be a bit runny, so apply and dispense with caution.

How does the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip 12-Hour Skin Tint compare to the Hydro Grip Primer?

Milk Makeup's Hydro Grip Gel Skin Tint was inspired by the staying power of their Hydro Grip Primer. Although you don't need the two to have good results, their formulas do work very well together.

The Hydro Grip Primer has a slight tacky finish so makeup can easily grip onto it. The Hydro Grip Skin Tint does not, and feels like a thick serum. Both have hydrating formulas with similar key ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, aloe water and blue agave extract.

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

What to know

Use this hydrating primer before the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Skin Tint or your desired foundation to boost its wear and longevity. A pro tip: In my experience, let it sit for a few seconds before foundation for best results.

Meet the expert

Dr. Noah Gratch, MD is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery.

Why trust shop TODAY?

The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.

Madison San Miguel, Kamari Stewart, Shannon Garlin and Danielle Murphy have all covered beauty extensively in their careers, from explainers to product reviews.