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The Best Foundations for All Skin Types
Finding the best foundation for your skin’s personal needs can take quite some time, what with the abundance of different formulations gracing the market every day. Some of us are lusting after a foundation that deals with our dried-out skin types, while others simply want a formula that offers full coverage from dusk ‘til dawn.
Not sure where to begin? Don’t worry, we’ve got you and your complexion covered (literally). We’ve rounded up the crème de la crème of foundations that suit every skin tone, type, concern and budget to help you on your way to finding your perfect match.
Our guide is here to help you hunt down the best full coverage foundation for those extra special occasions, as well as the best foundation for oily skin that doesn’t melt off by 12pm. If you're looking for a totally flawless visage, we recommend checking out our range of concealers to target those areas that need a little extra coverage!
BY SKIN TONE
For Asian skin
L.A. Girl Pro.Coverage HD Long Wear Illuminating Liquid Foundation
£11.22 £14.12 (21% off)Gone are the days of foundations that are either too orange or too ashy! There are plenty of true-tone shades to choose from and it'll give you complexion a luminous, healthy glow all day long.
Looking for more brands that cater to Asian skin tones? Have a browse through our guide to the best foundation for Asian skin types.
For pale or translucent skin
Jane Iredale Beyond Matte Liquid Foundation
£34.95 £53.00 (35% off)Jane Iredale has mastered the art behind creating an all-inclusive foundation line that caters to even the palest of skin tones, banishing the likes of that unwanted orange neckline that fair-skinned beauties dread. To find out more, check out our guide to the best foundation for pale skin types.
For olive skin
Benefit Hello Happy Velvet Powder Foundation
£15.48 £29.20 (47% off)Huda Beauty have sent shockwaves throughout the beauty industry with their FauxFilter Skin Finish Buildable Coverage Foundation Stick, and with good reason! This skin-enhancing foundation arrives in a variety of shades and offers a huge selection of olive-hued formulations for those with a golden tan.
For dark skin
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
£25.50 £30.00 (15% off)Fenty Beauty are known as being one of the most diverse makeup brands to grace the scene and we can really see why. Not a single skin tone is left out when it comes to RiRi’s epic line-up, which features a whopping 40 true-to-life shades. If you’re still struggling to find your perfect shade match, give our blog to the best foundations for dark skin a read through!
BY SKIN TYPE
For sensitive skin
bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15
£16.93 £29.00 (42% off)Sensitive skin requires caring, chemical-free ingredients where possible, which is why we turn to bareMinerals when it comes to safe beauty. The bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15 protects sensitive complexions from irritation by utilising a selection of clean and natural ingredients that comfort the skin, rather than break it out in redness and irritation. Find out more with our guide on the best foundations for sensitive skin types
For normal skin
Dr Hauschka Foundation
£16.99 £23.85 (29% off)If you’re lucky enough to have a relatively normal skin type, you have your pick of the litter! With that said, we’d still recommend trying out the beauty world’s most iconic foundation by Dr Hauschka as it offers a filter-like effect that hydrates the skin with every wear. It’s our holy grail makeup essential!
For dry skin
Maybelline Dream Radiant Liquid Hydrating Foundation
£10.93 £11.46 (5% off)This iconic release from Maybelline is arguably one of the best foundations for dry skin types, thanks to its inclusion of water-retaining hyaluronic acid. This glow-enhancing formula allows skin to look and feel comfortably hydrated without compromising the foundation's longevity, making it a real kit must-have. For more inspo, read through our roundup of the best foundations for dry skin.
For combination skin
Inglot Cosmetics All Covered Foundation
£34.51This foundation is an inoffensive formula that meets the needs of combination skin types. The product itself is hydrating enough to nurture drier areas whilst remaining free from pore-blocking chemicals to prevent product build-up within the pores. We also love it for its moderate-to-full coverage! Explore more of the best foundations for combination skin.
For oily skin
Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup
£19.37 £30.00 (36% off)Sufferers of oily skin, you’re in for a treat! Our editors have tried and tested a whole bunch of the best foundations for oily skin and found that the famed Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup was the winning solution! A foundation that mattifies our skin and saves us from breaking out? We’re sold. Find more of the best foundations for oily skin.
BY SKIN CONDITION
For eczema
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Hydrating SPF 25 Foundation Stick
£9.00 £30.00 (70% off)When it comes to eczema-prone skin, we put our trust in bareMinerals to deliver a solution that doesn’t aggravate irritable skin types. This unique cream-stick foundation employs a cocktail of oils and minerals to appease the skin, helping to improve the skin’s tone, texture and hydration levels for a healthier complexion.
For rosacea
Stila Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer
£18.07 £35.40 (49% off)This lightweight formula from Stila acts as a wearable foundation and concealer that provides a long-lasting, irritant-free coverage. Combining skin-loving ingredients together with a concentrated blend of pigments, the foundation helps to cover up unwanted redness without blocking the pores or upsetting sensitive skin types.
For acne prone skin
The Ordinary Serum Foundation
£6.40 £6.64 (4% off)This serum-like foundation blurs your blemishes, as well as fine lines and wrinkles, with a semi-matte, natural looking finish that blends seamlessly over your skin. SPF 15 is just the cherry on top!
For dullness
BY TERRY Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation
£28.77 £53.00 (46% off)We all suffer with lacklustre skin from time to time. Luckily, this hyaluronic acid-infused foundation drenches your skin in moisture and light-reflecting pigments to give you a luminous glow. Build it up to your desired coverage by using more drops, and you're ready for the day ahead.
BY PRICE RANGE
Drugstore foundation
The Ordinary Serum Foundation
£6.40 £6.64 (4% off)Whether we’re on a budget or not, the The Ordinary Serum Foundation is our go-to pick for a light-wearing coverage that withstands the test of time. Their impressive shade range allows for all skin tones to find their perfect match, whilst the infused serum provides the skin with a blanket of hydrating comfort.
Find more of the best foundations at a wallet-friendly price with our guide to the best drugstore foundations.
Luxury foundation
Bellápierre Cosmetics Compact Mineral Foundation SPF 15
£34.00 £39.99 (15% off)If you’ve got the cash to splash, we highly recommend investing in this powder foundation. While it may be a little pricey, you get your money's worth, as the product acts not only as a foundation, but also a concealer, finishing powder, setting powder and SPF. Your skin won't look cakey at all, thanks to the inclusion of jojoba oil and honeysuckle extract, and the compact is non-toxic and 100% cruelty-free.
BY COVERAGE
For sheer coverage
Kevyn Aucoin Stripped Nude Skin Tint
£36.25 £38.01 (5% off)This sheer foundation is the ideal solution for those that lust after a ‘barely there’ tint, giving you a naturally even-looking complexion with the added benefits of hyaluronic acid (which draws moisture intot he skin) and vitamin E (which protects the skin with its antioxidant content). The light-diffusing particles will give you a gorgeous glow too.
For buildable coverage
Colorescience Tint Du Soleil SPF 30 Whipped Foundation
£45.00Sometimes, we just want a diverse foundation that allows us to rock a natural glow, as well as a full face of glam coverage. The Colorescience Tint Du Soleil SPF 30 Whipped Foundation gives us a buildable pigment that caters to any and every occasion, making it a kit must-have for professionals and beginners alike.
For full coverage
DIOR Diorskin Forever Undercover Full Coverage Foundation
£34.95Dubbed as the ultimate life-proof foundation, the DIOR Diorskin Forever Undercover Full Coverage Foundation delivers a long-lasting wear that can withstand even the most testing of environments. Its full coverage finish masks the appearance of harsh blemishes, discolouration, dark circles and other impurities to provide a flawless visage that doesn’t let you down. We recommend this one for your next night out! Discover more pigmented foundations with our round-up of the best full coverage foundations.
BY AGE RANGE
For teenage skin
Max Factor Facefinity All Day Flawless Flexi-Hold Foundation
£2.74 £12.99 (79% off)Teenage skin requires a gentler, less offensive formula that will not result in any unwanted breakouts. The answer? A non-comedogenic formula like this full coverage, oil-free matte formula. It'll control all that pesky sebum that teens so often have to deal with, blurring imperfections and protecting young complexions with SPF 20. Plus, it's pretty affordable - perfect for any teen shopping with their own pocket money.
For mature skin
Guinot Fond De Teint Soin Youth Time Foundation
£34.50 £64.50 (47% off)This creamy, blendable foundation fuses cutting-edge skin care technologies together with true-to-life pigments to create a unique, anti-ageing foundation that caters to mature skin types. Explore more of the best foundations for mature skin types.
Okay, so you’ve now found the perfect foundation, but how do you make it stay put? Discover our insider tips and tricks with our guide on how to apply foundation that lasts all day.
Written by Ellie Child
With five years’ experience under her belt, Ellie has worked alongside a range of highly regarded makeup artists, giving her a real insight into what consumers should be spending their money on.