11 Best Foundations 2023: Best Foundations for Your Skin
Looking for the perfect foundation?
Best foundations are ones that match your skin tone and texture. But finding one that does both can be a challenge. This guide helps you find the right one and shows you how to find your perfect foundation shade. The ingredients lookout for a good formula and how much coverage you should expect from each type of product. You’ll also learn about some new trends in makeup like tinted moisturizers and BB creams so you can stay on top of all the latest beauty innovations.
Best Foundations 2021
Best Foundations Overall
1
COVERGIRL+OLAY Simply Ageless
Covergirl Simply Ageless Instant Wrinkle-Defying Foundation is a perfect choice. It’s an anti-aging foundation that delivers coverage and benefits. This formula glides over fine lines and wrinkles to diminish their appearance while providing a youthful glow. The hyaluronic complex and vitamin C hydrate your skin, SPF 28 protects it from sun damage, and multiple shades ensure you get the perfect match with your skin tone. Plus, this airless pump keeps it fresh until you use it! You can have all of this without having to spend thousands on expensive treatments or surgeries!
What we like:
- Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in minutes.
- Instantly brighten skin’s appearance.
Best on Budget
2
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation is the perfect full coverage, matte finish foundation. The formula is oil-free and infused with Vitamin E to help keep your skin feeling hydrated all day long. This lightweight liquid foundation provides medium coverage that lasts for up to 16 hours! It’s also available in 40 shades, so there’s one for everyone. Best part about this foundation is that it can be worn in multiple ways depending on what you need for each specific occasion.
What we like:
- Flawless, matte finish all day.
- Oil-absorbing.
- Skin looks naturally perfect.
- Feel confident in any setting.
Best for Oily Skin
3
Revlon ColorStay
Revlon ColorStay Liquid Makeup provides full coverage and a flawless, natural-looking finish that lasts all day. This oil-free formula contains SPF 15 sun protection for added skincare benefits. The broad-spectrum SPF 15 sun protection boost helps protect your face from harmful UVA/UVB rays. It comes in 43 light, medium olive, deep, and dark skin tones. With this lightweight liquid foundation, you can achieve a natural look while also protecting your skin from harmful UV rays.
What we like:
- Long-lasting color that lasts for hours.
- Protects your lips from dryness and cracking with a conditioning formula.
4
Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free
Neutrogena SkinClearing Liquid Makeup is the first and only liquid makeup foundation for acne-prone skin. It’s made with salicylic acid acne medicine to provide fast acne relief and help fight breakouts. This oil-free foundation covers imperfections while providing breathable coverage that lets your skin breathe. Oil-free liquid makeup provides natural coverage that controls shine and won’t clog pores. Designed by dermatologists, this lightweight formula blends seamlessly into your complexion for a flawless look all day long—without feeling heavy or looking cakey on your face!
- Helps control acne, blemishes and breakouts.
- Noncomedogenic (won’t clog pores).
Best for Dry Skin
5
Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation
Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation is the perfect solution to your dry skin. This liquid foundation can be used as a full face foundation with buildable coverage for a flawless, natural-looking finish. The Fit Me formula hydrates and smoothes skin texture for a natural-looking, luminous finish and protects with SPF 18. You’ll love how this lightweight yet powerful formula feels on your skin – it’s so comfortable that you might forget you have anything on at all! It provides coverage for various skin tones, from Ivory to Mocha.
What we like:
- Comfortable and lightweight.
- Blurs away imperfections.
6
Hilareco PHOERA Foundation 102 and 103
Hilareco PHOERA Foundation 102 and 103 are full coverage foundation buildable and blendable, smoothing over pores and imperfections to give an airbrushed look and clear complexion. Natural and flawless, carry bright skin color, naked makeup makes glittering and translucent light. It contains a whitening and moisturizing repair composition, covering fine lines and wrinkles for radiant, beautiful coverage. And won’t crease, crack or settle into lines. You can use it as a concealer too! Just apply a little on your dark circles under the eyes or any other area that needs some extra attention before applying.
What we like:
- Get a flawless complexion in seconds.
- Wear your makeup for hours without it smudging or melting off.
Best for Natural Skin
7
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup Foundation
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup Foundation is an oil-free foundation that provides flawless, beautiful coverage across various skin types and tones, so your skin instantly looks its best. This lightweight, non-greasy liquid makeup glides on smoothly for flawless application with a silky formula that helps visibly improve skin’s luminosity, tone & texture while keeping it looking young and healthy. Made with broad-spectrum SPF 20 sunscreen with titanium dioxide, the total coverage foundation helps to protect skin from dangerous UVA/UVB rays that can burn and prematurely age skin.
What we like:
- Provides a sheer, lightweight coverage.
- Oil-free formula feels weightless on skin.
8
CoverGirl Simply Powder Foundation
Covergirl Simply Powder Foundation is a lightweight, liquid-powder foundation that feels like a powder. It’s hypoallergenic and non-acnegenic so that it won’t clog pores, and you’ll get the flawless finish you want. This dermatologically tested formula evens skin tone and reduces shine for a clean look that lasts all day. Available in 4 shades, this gentle foundation is excellent for all skin types. This gentle formula is great for all skin types, including sensitive ones like yours. So even if you have trouble finding makeup that works with your unique complexion, this foundation will be perfect for you.
What we like:
- Builds a flawless, natural looking foundation.
- Feels lightweight on the skin.
Best for Sensitive Skin
9
Almay Clear Complexion Makeup
If you’re looking for a foundation that will cover and conceal blemishes, control shine, minimize pores, and suppress acne flare-ups while allowing you to build coverage without caking then Almay Clear Complexion Makeup is the perfect solution. The soft matte finish foundation is ideal for all skin types, especially those with combination or oily skin. It’s clinically proven to conceal breakouts and reduce redness while fighting future ones. This lightweight formula contains salicylic acid, a powerful acne fighter beloved by dermatologists that helps treat current breakouts and prevent future ones.
What we like:
- Your skin will look flawless with the lightest coverage.
- You’ll have a radiant, natural glow.
10
Dermablend Flawless Creator Multi-Use Liquid Foundation Makeup
Dermablend Flawless Creator Multi-Use Liquid Foundation is an oil-free, water-free foundation with only 10 ingredients. These concentrated pigments are lightweight and have full coverage for a flawless look. Non-comedogenic foundation for acne-prone oily skin. Suitable for sensitive skin. Water-free formula with no oils or fragrances makes it easy to wear on any skin type. Formulated without parabens, this foundation is allergy tested, and the vegan formula makes it perfect for all kinds of skin, including sensitive skin.
What we like:
- Long-lasting coverage
- Buildable to your desired coverage level
- Feel confident with a natural-looking makeup application
11
Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation
Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation is the one. It features a unique dropper applicator and lightweight formula to give you an airbrushed effect without clogging pores or irritating your skin. It covers imperfections and mattifies the skin creating a smooth and even complexion for up to 24 hours; natural-looking matte finish; lightweight formula; airbrushed effect—cruelty-free, Vegan, Paraben Free, Gluten Free, Oil-Free, Alcohol-Free. You can use it every day because it doesn’t contain any oils or alcohol that will cause breakouts on your face.
What we like:
- Smooth, even coverage.
- Lightweight, oil free formula.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of foundation is better?
There are three types of coverage in foundations; sheer, medium, and full. When using makeup, the more coverage you want, the thicker it will go on. As a rule, if you have acne or blemishes (unless they’re severe) then I recommend using a sheer to medium coverage because these areas are best left untouched by makeup; it’s much better for them to breath. However, when using concealer, you can cover up any skin issue with layers of full-coverage providers.
Which foundation is best for beginners?
I would recommend a cream foundation. It is thicker and gives more coverage than powder-based products. This is good for people who do not need to wear makeup often. The cream foundation will last longer, which is perfect for beginners.
Is foundation bad for skin?
It can be bad for your skin if it’s not the right type. This is especially true if you have acne-prone skin. Foundation made of heavy powders, silicone, or artificial preservatives will clog pores and cause your skin to produce more oil. If this is the case, use cream or liquid foundations instead.
How do I choose a foundation?
It is best to go into a store and get help from someone who works there. They can show you what different foundations look like on your skin and what they will look like after using them for a while.
Is liquid foundation better?
Liquid foundations are often better than conventional ones because they often have ingredients that make your skin feel good and protect it.
Does makeup age your face?
Many things make your face look old. Sun exposure is one of them. But if you wear makeup, this can help protect you against future sun damage. This type of sunscreen can lower the risk for skin cancer by 50%. So while wearing makeup may make your face look older now, it can protect you against future signs of aging.
Does the foundation expire?
Most foundations last around 2-3 years after they are made. This will vary depending on different factors, such as humidity.
Foundations Buyer Guide
A good foundation can do wonders to your look and the wrong foundation can destroy your whole look. Achieving the right finish and coverage with the foundation is very important. There are so many foundations available online and it can become confusing to choose one among them. The problem with combination skin is that some parts of the face are dry to normal while other areas are oily. Most foundations are either formulated for dry skin or for oily skin. There are some factors which should be kept in mind when using a foundation for combination skin:
1) Formula
Choose from a liquid formula, mousse or a mineral formula depending on your skin type and concern. Mineral makeup is good for sensitive skin while liquid foundations and mousse foundations work well on all skin types. Make sure that the formula you choose is suitable for your skin and does not break out or cause allergies. Look for oil-controlling formulas which absorb excess oil from the areas which need attention.
2) Coverage
Go for a full coverage foundation if you are using it for a special occasion. Buy a medium to sheer coverage foundation for daily use as full coverage foundations can look too cakey for normal use. Most foundations have a buildable formula and can be adjusted to suit your coverage needs.
3) Staying Power
Most foundations have a staying power of around 8-10 hours when used without a primer and of 12-14 hours when used over a primer. You can choose the foundation depending on the usage and occasion. Make sure that you use a primer underneath to enhance the staying power.
4) Sun Protection
Using a foundation with added sun protection can help you eliminate sunscreen from your routine. Foundations with an SPF of 15 or 20 are sufficient enough for daily use. Make sure that you do not wear foundations with added SPF on occasions where flash is used for photography as the SPF can make your face look white or gray.
5) Price
A good foundation for combination skin can cost anywhere between 5$ to 15$ depending on the formula and the brand. You can check online for best deals and discounts available on your favorite foundation to save some extra money. You can also try to read the customer reviews about the product before buying it to get an idea of the results of the foundation.
Here are some general tips and tricks which you should keep in mind when buying and using foundations for oily skin to get an even and flawless look:
- Make sure that you hydrate your skin with a moisturizer before using a foundation to prevent dry patches and for ease of blending.
- Store your foundation in a cool and dry place to maintain its consistency and shelf life.
- Wash your sponges and brushes after every few uses to prevent contamination.
- Using a wet sponge to blend the foundation gives a much more natural finish as compared to a dry sponge. Wet your sponge and squeeze excess water before using it to get a natural streak-less finish.
- Start with a tiny amount of foundation and build the coverage as you blend to prevent caking.
- Try different finishes of foundations before buying a full size as one foundation can look different on different skin tones.
- Make sure that you use a foundation which is free of harmful chemicals and parabens which can clog the pores and harm the skin in the long run.
So these are ten of the most popular foundations for combination skin which give a good coverage and make your skin look radiant and flawless. These foundations add radiance to your skin and hide all the imperfections to make it look smooth and flawless. You can use this buyer guide to find the right type of foundation for your skin tone and skin concerns.
