Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer Review

FTC Disclosure:  For the purposes of review, I was mailed a sample of Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer.

Many make-up artists recommend tinted moisturizers, particularly for older women, as lines and wrinkles tend to look emphasized – “with a firm crease” – after too much product is applied.   Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer claims to offer lightweight and superior hydration that will automatically match the shade of your skin.

How “Color Matching” Moisturizer Works

Tinted moisturizers and foundations are very similar:  both contain water, hydrators, and pH-stabilizing ingredients.  However, there are a few differences.  For one, tinted moisturizers contain more water-binding ingredients and less color. Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer, for instance, is actually a sheer formulation that contains a high concentration of clear silicones, triglycerides, and glycerin, all of which give the formula a lightweight feel, serve as hydrators, and provide the ability to fill in fine lines and wrinkles.

Beneficial Ingredient #1:  Green Tea

There are a number of beneficial ingredients in Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer.  Green tea, for one, is a potent antioxidant that reduces the amount of oxidative damage in the skin following UVB exposure (Carcinogenesis, 2001; Molecular Epidemiology, 2003).  Although the active ingredient in green tea, EGCG, only comprises about 50% of the green tea extract in skin care products, this is still enough to have a positive impact in most skin care and cosmetics products (Archives of Dermatology, 2000).  Green tea also serves as an anti-inflammatory reagent that helps to soothe the skin.

Beneficial Ingredient #2:  Vitamins C and E

Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer also contains vitamins C and E.  Vitamin C is included in the formulation as tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which is more stable in the light than the traditional form of vitamin C used in skin care products, L-ascorbic acid.  Together vitamins C and E reinforce one another:  Antioxidants work by grasping free electrons before they are released into the system and able to do damage.  Vitamin C essentially “looks out” for electrons vitamin E may not catch, and vice versa.  Altogether, vitamin C is better at enhancing UVA protection and vitamin E at UVB protection (Acta dermatologica venearologica, 1996).

Beneficial Ingredient #3:  Ubiquinone

Less research has been done on ubiquinone than many other antioxidants in skin care.  This is most likely due to the unfortunate way skin care research works.  It is a sad fact that much of the research for new product development is conducted by companies and not independent dermatologists and researchers.  Ubiquinone, also known as coenzyme Q10, is present within nearly all of your cells naturally, but is not present in many major companies’ skin care products – hence the limited research.  Stores of ubiquinone deplete with age and many outside factors, including birth control pills.  Ubiquinone applied topically has been found to significantly reduce the amount of oxidative damage following UV light exposure (Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2004), but not as significantly as idebenone.

Personal Use and Opinions

Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer has a lot going for it, providing lightweight, blendable coverage suitable under most cosmetics; a high, broad-spectrum, UVA/UVB SPF without telltale white streaks; and, for those of you who are concerned, no parabens, phthalates, or fragrance.

Perhaps the only qualm I have about Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer is that I have a lot of natural yellow undertones in my skin that I prefer to disguise rather than enhance with my cosmetics.  However, the sheer nature of Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer doesn’t do that; instead, it lets my natural skin tone shine through.  So I won’t be using it in the future, despite the fact that it provides excellent lightweight coverage simultaneous with SPF.

Bottom Line

Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer has it all:  a lightweight, blendable formula; a high SPF; even antioxidants that are proven to boost the level of SPF in the formulation (!).  However, if you are someone who desires a bit more coverage, particularly with yellow or olive undertones, you may want to select a different moisturizer.  Product Rating: 9/10  (High or optimized concentration of proven ingredients: 3/3.  Unique formulation or new technology: 3/3.  Value for the money: 2/3.  Sunscreen: 1/1).

Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Zinc Oxide 2%. Inactive Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Sorbitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Dimethicone, Betula Alba (White Birch) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Plankton Extract, Beeswax, Dimethicone, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexydecyl Ascorbate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Ubiquinone, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.