Makeup
Best Foundation for Pale Skin

The Best Foundation for Pale Skin

By Ellie Child and Rebecca Jenkinson - 3 years ago | Updated 1 year ago

Now, don’t get us wrong – there is a huge range of foundations for pale skin, and pale beauty lovers are really quite fortunate in that respect. Deeper tones tend to struggle the most when finding the perfect shade, having the least amount of options to choose from (until Fenty Beauty came along and shook the game up, well done RiRi).

However, for really pale guys and gals, you’ll probably find that even most brands’ ideas of fair leave you with that awful orange foundation line somewhere along your neck.

But don’t give up hope just yet! We put a range of foundations for pale skin to the test to see what brands can match porcelain skin. So, say hello to flawless, natural-looking pigments and goodbye to mismatched foundations!

Discover the best foundation for pale skin, here at Cosmetify. Once you've found your perfect match, check out our concealers section to add even more flawless coverage to your visage!

Best foundation for pale skin with pink undertones:

Finding the right foundation is partly to do with figuring out the right undertone. Annoying, but oh-so essential.

The Ordinary Coverage Foundation

$7.00

This is one of the bestselling foundations on the market and it’s not hard to see why. It provides a full coverage finish but has a lightweight formula which feels comfortable on the skin all day long.

Better yet, it comes in a wide variety of shades from fair to deep with a superb range of undertones. Follow their guide to find the perfect one for you. For fair makeup lovers with pink undertones we suggest 1.1P-Fair.

Best foundation for pale skin with warm undertones:

Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals Foundation

$55.00

If your pale skin has warm undertones, try to find foundations with yellow hues. Jane Iredale has a bunch of great options as the formula is self-adjusting, making it easy to find your true match. The fan-fave product also teams together the power of a primer, concealer, and foundation all within one product to reduce the appearance of pores and imperfections for an airbrushed result. Win-win!

Best luxury foundation for pale skin:

Stila Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer

$36.72 $43.20 (15% off)

Now this foundation truly is an indulgent treat for any makeup lover. Not only does it come with plenty of pale hues, but it also offers a waterproof finish to keep your face in place. The foundation has a medium to full coverage and is infused with nourishing ingredients to help you achieve a glowy, dewy effect.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation

$38.00

Fenty Beauty pulls out all the stops for their shade ranges, catering not only to darker skin tones but the pale ones as well! This powder foundation covers blemishes, discolouration and pores with crease-resistant matte finish that can be built up to your desired coverage.

Best drugstore foundation for pale skin:

L.A. Girl Pro.Coverage HD Long Wear Illuminating Liquid Foundation

Lightweight yet full coverage on a budget price, this L.A. Girl illuminating foundation is everything your porcelain complexion could ask for. It'll last all day, covering all impurities with a camera-ready finish.

Best foundation for pale oily skin:

Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Foundation

$11.61 $12.90 (10% off)

Micro-powders in this Maybelline foundation control oiliness and blur pores for a smooth, natural-looking matte finish, and the shade range for pale skin is extensive, with everything from warm ivory to porcelain. Better yet, it's non-comedogenic, so if your oiliness comes hand-in-hand with being blemish-prone, this foundation won't break you out.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

$22.85 $33.50 (32% off)

Another great option for oily skin types is MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. The powder formula is a great way control excess shine, while blurring the appearance of pores for an airbrushed finish. Plus, it comes in plenty of shades and undertones so you can find the perfect match for your skin.

Best foundation for pale dry skin:

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

If on the other end of the spectrum you have dry, dull skin, it’s time you try the must-have Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. This wonder product comes in various pale shades which provide an out-of-this-world glow. Using light-reflecting particles, it creates a silk-like finish which means no more dull days, only glowing ones.

Best lightweight foundation for pale skin:

Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick

$36.00

This popular foundation stick has a whopping 36 shades to choose from, meaning there’s a hue for every skin tone. It’s a great lightweight makeup option that provides a beautiful natural finish. Simply swipe across areas you want to cover and blend with fingertips or a foundation brush.

Best full coverage foundation for pale skin:

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Hydrating Foundation

$18.00

Of course, we have to mention Fenty Beauty at least a few times on this list. This long-wearing, full coverage foundation provides a flawless base for makeup that lasts all day long. Obviously there’s plenty of shade options on offer for both pale and darker skin tones, and you just know it blends like a dream.

Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Liquid Foundation

$40.00

The Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation has a full coverage, water-resistant, matte yet luminous finish that helps blur blemishes, pores and imperfections. It also comes in a vast array of shades so you're sure to find a shade to suit your skin tone.

Best foundation for pale acne prone skin:

Huda Beauty GloWish Multidew Skin Tint

$37.00

There are plenty of non-comedogenic formulas out there that won't make your acne worse, but the blemish-prone amongst us love a foundation that actually helps with our acne. This dewy foundation blurs pores with sheer coverage, while clarifying the skin with rose oil. There's also red bell pepper extract to shield you against blue light, and the neutral shades work great with tonnes of skin tones and undertones.

And there you have it. No matter the occasion, there's a foundation to suit all your pale needs.

If you're looking to add a little extra warmth to your complexion, check out our range of bronzers for a subtle post-holiday glow.

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.

Written by Rebecca Jenkinson

Rebecca is a content writer with over three years’ experience and a keen interest in cosmetics. Cosmetify allows her to combine her blogging skills with her passion for beauty.