A tint is a lovely thing, but a lot of them are different from one another, and I like knowing where each one sits. Some are watery, some are creamy, some come in a stick, and a few claim to be skincare as much as makeup.

Milk Makeup's Hydro Grip is a 12-hour hydrating gel skin tint, the one I would try first if you like a gel feel. Hourglass's Veil Hydrating Skin Tint is the hydrating one in that group, and it sits in the sheer foundation-like part of the category. Danessa Myricks Beauty's Yummy Skin is a soothing serum skin tint with peptides and ceramides, so it leans toward skincare, and I would try it on drier days. Armani Beauty's Golden Hour is a lightweight 24-hour tint with hyaluronic acid, and I like it for a glow.

Make Up For Ever's Super Boost is a lightweight, moisturizing tint with hyaluronic and polyglutamic acids, a good one to reach for if you want a fresh finish. Charlotte Tilbury's Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint is a stick, so it is the one I toss into a bag to touch up on the go.

Shade matching with tints is more forgiving than with foundation, because the coverage is so sheer. Still, check it in daylight along the jaw. If the line disappears, it is the right one. Then wear it for a full day before you decide, since sheer formulas can look different at noon than they did in the store light, and a tint that still feels comfortable at six in the evening is a keeper.

A tint looks best with a touch of color on top, and a cream or liquid blush is the easiest way to get it. The formula blends into the tint instead of sitting on top of it, so the skin looks like one piece.

With Rare Beauty's Soft Pinch Liquid Blush I use one dot per cheek and blend with my fingertips. Huda Beauty's Blush Filter Soft Glow is a soft glow liquid blush, a good match for a tint. Saie's Dew Blush is a liquid cream blush that I use for a dewy look. Benefit Cosmetics' Benetint is a sheer, buildable liquid tint that stains the cheeks, and it is my pick for a natural flush. Armani Beauty's Cheek Tint is a longwear, lightweight liquid blush made to stay put. Makeup by Mario's Soft Pop is a plumping cream blush veil, the softest looking of the group.

For a bit of warmth I would tap a little bronzer or a deeper blush high on the cheekbone, then blend outward toward the temple.

What I would skip: applying powder blush over a fresh tint, and adding more than one dot to start with. Powder grabs on wet product and turns patchy. With liquid color, start small, blend fast before it sets, and add more only if you need it.

My two-minute base goes like this. Skin care first and a moment to sink in. Then a few drops of tint, spread from the center of the face outward. A dab of concealer where needed. One dot of liquid blush, blended high. That is the entire routine, and it is the one I would teach a friend.

If you like more coverage, use the tint as a first layer and add foundation only on the areas that need it. If your skin is dry, pick a hydrating one and skip powder. If it is oily, set only the T-zone. A tint suits the days when you want to look like yourself, only rested. Keep one in your bag, and you will always have a fallback.