Trust Me: This Tinted Serum Is About to Be Your Most-Used Product

When I got wind that celebrity makeup artist Nikki DeRoest was releasing her own makeup line, I practically jumped out of my seat. She's pretty much the reason why the hottest stars today look so good — DeRoest is responsible for the dewy cheeks of Phoebe Dynevor, Meghann Fahy, Emma Corrin, and Barbara Palvin, to name a few. She's known for her "your-skin-but-better" look, which is very much the vibe I strive for.

DeRoest partnered with beauty industry veteran Cerre Francis to create Ciele Cosmetics (which loosely translates to "sky" in French), a cosmetics line with a focus on formulas grounded in SPF and non-pore-clogging, good-for-you ingredients. The hero product of the line is the Tint & Protect SPF 50+ Serum ($44), a lightweight serum foundation. Keep reading for my review, along with a tutorial on how to apply.

The biggest thing I like about this product is the texture — it really glides onto your skin and sinks in within a matter of seconds. I also love that it's pretty long wear, which is hard to find in a serum-based foundation. I've applied this in the morning and gone all the way through dinner without it settling into creases or starting to just sit on top of my skin. It doesn't lose the dewy finish and it doesn't feel heavy or sticky — two other perils associated with serum tints. It feels very second-skin-esque, which is what you want in a lightweight foundation.

I'm a big sponge girl, and lucky for us, Ciele gives you a free Blending Sponge ($16) with every purchase. Because I prefer an extra dewy finish, I wet my sponge slightly, add about 6 drops of the Tint & Protect to the back of my hand, and dip the sponge in it. For me, this is the best way to get really even, lightweight coverage. The brand also makes a Complexion Brush ($36) if that's more your speed, providing a little more coverage. Of course, you could also use the dropper to place product directly onto your face and blend with your fingers if you'd like.

Blending Sponge

From

$16

$16 at cielecosmetics.com

Complexion Brush

From

$36

$36 at cielecosmetics.com

The biggest thing to consider when using the Ciele Tint & Protect Serum is that you must also wear regular SPF under it, and reapply throughout the day. Yes, it's amazing that this formula has the added bonus of a high SPF, but in order for your skin to be truly protected, you need to use at least two tablespoons of sunscreen on your face. You can definitely try to apply that amount of the Tint & Protect to your face, but I can pretty much guarantee you're going to look clownish. That much pigment just isn't going to sink in; the color is just going to sit on top of your skin. So, while it's great to have the little extra layer provided by the product, it shouldn't be your only form of sun protection.

The only other thing to consider here is that the finish is quite dewy, so if you're looking for something on the matte side, this likely isn't for you.

Ciele's Tint & Protect Serum is currently available to buy at Sephora.com and Cielecosmetics.com.

Rating: ★★★★

Aviel Kanter is the editorial director of branded content at Vox Media, where she oversees lifestyle content across the portfolio of brands, including POPSUGAR. Her main expertise is in the beauty space, specifically editor experiments and reviews. Before her time at POPSUGAR and Vox Media, Aviel worked in the editorial departments at Condé Nast, Artforum, and Interview Magazine.