When it comes to choosing the best foundation for daily use, finding the right formula for your skin can be tricky. Be it oily, dry or acne-prone, it can be difficult. The beauty minefield encompasses sheer to full coverage foundations, high end to drugstore, matte to dewy finish, so on and so forth; it’s also important to know what you want.
Fret never, Beauty Signal lab is determined to make your journey easier by bringing you an edit of the best foundations for coverage tried and true! Bearing everybody’s budget in mind, we are presenting an array of options from the higher end to the more affordable drugstore choices, best believed that you can find something from the list.
Giorgio Armani’s iconic formula first launched in 2000 and has since remained incredibly popular. Its lightweight texture and, true to the name, silky finish delivers just the right amount of coverage whilst leaving your skin looking natural. There are about 40 foundation shades currently available in conjunction with the product’s 20th anniversary. All in all, this is one foundation you don’t want to miss.
Lightweight foundation with luminescent, airbrush finish.
Great coverage
Long-wearing
Moisturizing
Diverse shade range
Pricey
You don’t always need to shell out the big bucks to get a standout option. L’Oréal Paris continues to impress us with their best drugstore staple. The hydrating formula suits normal to dry skin, leaving a subtle luminosity. Not to mention it comes with an SPF 15. Furthermore, its texture is extremely thin and lightweight, making it easy to build up from medium to full coverage. Most importantly, it comes in a matte variant that caters to people with oily skin, too!
Lightweight foundation with SPF 15.
Affordable
Sun protection
Decent coverage
Limited shade range
Oxidizes
We are all desperate for our base to stay in place, because that’s the whole point of makeup! In that case, try this pick. The unique polymers in Pat McGrath’s ultra-smooth formula help keep your base in place. It also uses a unique diamond core powder technology that translates to a soft-focus finish, blurring away your pores, wrinkles, and other imperfections. We love that it also comes in an inclusive shade range with varying undertones.
Smoothly-textured foundation with a soft-focus, luminous finish.
Great coverage
Wide range of universal hues
Ideal for all skin types
Long-wearing
Pricey
If you’re looking for the best foundation for coverage that comes with a little extra SPF, opt for this pick. Frankly speaking, SPF15 doesn’t suffice in place of sunscreen, but when used on top of a foundation, it’s great as an extra layer of protection. Moreover, it’s breathable and non-cakey, and is able to last up to 24 hours of wear, too.
Lightweight foundation with SPF 15.
Sun protection
Buildable coverage
Long-wearing
Pricey for a small amount
While this technically is a moisturizer, we think it delivers enough coverage to be called a foundation, so we can let that slide. Certainly it’s sheer, but it’s pigmented enough to even out skin tone and conceal imperfections, all while leaving the skin healthy, dewy, and naturally glowing from within. We also love that it comes with an SPF 30, much higher than you get in many foundation products, and the fact that it’s non-comedogenic and dermatologist-tested.
Lightweight Tinted moisturizer with a broad spectrum SPF 30.
Lightweight
Decent coverage
Long-wearing
May be cakey after a period of wear
Those looking for the best foundation for coverage with a matte finish, this pick is beyond compare. Despite its light texture, it never comes across as flat nor dry; rather, it just leaves the skin shine-free and looking completely smooth and flawless. On top of being oil-free and long-wearing, it also boasts a special climate-adaptive technology that resists sweat and humidity, making it a great choice for those residing in tropical climates, or under hot summer days. Just when you think it’s already good enough, it even comes in an incredible line-up of 50 different shades. Rihanna really knows what she’s doing!
Matte, long-wear foundation with a boundary-breaking range of 50 shades.
Lightweight
Long-wearing
Sweat-and humidity-resistant
Buildable coverage
Shine-free finish
Pricey
Bite Beauty has long been known for its incredible range of lip products. This liquid formula is ideal for all skin types, with protective antioxidants and micellar technology that serve to mimic the natural texture of your complexion. In the end, it’ll translate into a completely natural look. We also appreciate that it comes in a nice and clean ingredient list.
Lightweight foundation with antioxidant-rich maqui berry.
Natural finish
Suitable for all skin types
Buildable light to medium coverage
Long-wearing
May get drier or cakier throughout the day
Fragrant
No doubt this is the reigning champion amongst all powder foundations in the market, no jokes! Unlike many other powders, BareMinerals’ loose powder never ends up chalky, all thanks to the natural luminosity from the minerals. It also makes a great choice for those with sensitive skin; containing only five ingredients, it’s very unlikely to cause irritation.
Loose powder foundation with SPF 15.
Enhances skin
Long-wearing
Smooth application
Minimal coverage
We all want the best foundation for coverage that is at the same time, undetectable. Glossier’s skin tint is a complexion perfector rather, that’ll make you forget you’re wearing any makeup on your skin at all. It’s only when you realize just how great it looks that you’ll recall using it. This formula contains glycerin for moisturizing, and diamond powder for brightening. While it only comes in 12 shades, they do blend in exceptionally well.
Featherweight, undetectable skin tint.
Rejuvenates eye
Smooths and firms skin
Suitable for all types of skin
Can have oily and greasy feel under eye
Only moderate effect on dark circles
The best foundation for coverage from a CC cream? You bet! IT Cosmetic’s formula packs enough pigment to deliver the fullest of the full coverage foundations out there, but with the added benefit of all the extra goodness you get from a CC. In terms of hydration, anti-aging ingredients, and sun protection, this is a win. At this point, we’re not surprised as to why it’s been selling out fast in the U.S. for three consecutive years.
Highly pigmented CC cream with SPF 50+.
Sun protection
Medium to full coverage
Hydrating
Anti-aging
Comes off easily
Leaves a mask-like effect
Stick foundations are dear, and we simply can’t keep track of all the things we adore about them. First of all, they are easy to apply. Simply swiping it across your skin using your fingertips will do. We’re especially obsessed with Hourglass’ foundation stick, with its waterproof and long-wearing formula. Note that it also adjusts to your body temperature to achieve that seamless blending. Plus, a unique triangular tip is used to ease application even on those hard-to-reach areas.
Foundation stick for a seamless, airbrushed finish.
Decent coverage
Easy to apply
Non-resistant to sweat
Comes off easily
Boasting a unique distinction of being the only gel formulas out there, Chantecaille’s foundation is a cult-favourite. Just like any gel moisturizer, it’s packed with 60% water, making it lightweight and refreshing on hot days. To enhance coverage, apply it with fingertips or a brush. The only drawback is that its range of shades is pretty limited, so here’s hoping they add more soon.
Oil-free gel foundation with SPF 10.
Shine-free finish
Sheer and natural coverage
Lightweight
Can be unsanitary as it comes out of a jar
Speaking of multitasking complexion products, Gee Beauty’s foundation stick can be used both as a foundation and a concealer thanks to its buildable formula. Not only that, you may opt for deeper tones as a contour stick to create the appearance of a more sculpted jawline or slimmer nose.
Multitasking foundation stick.
Medium to full coverage
Breathable
Weightless
Easy to apply
Color may look flat on some skin tones
Make Up For Ever’s foundation boasts a featherweight formula with hydrating hyaluronic acid sphere and the ability to create a second-skin finish that covers every imperfection without appearing mask-like. This is another best foundation for coverage that comes in an impressive range of 50 shades alongside Fenty Beauty.
Lightweight foundation with hydrating hyaluronic acid.
Great coverage
Natural finish
Lightweight texture
Pricey
Another best foundation for coverage in a stick! Flesh doesn’t just stand out for its quantity of 40 shades, but definitely its quality too! Its excellent amount of choices caters well to those with deeper complexions and various undertones, making them another inclusive brand in the beauty scene. In addition to that, it’s conveniently sized and works well as a concealer and contour.
Multitasking foundation stick with an inclusive range of shades.
True-color shades
Ideal for all skin types
Fragrance-free
Leaves a matte finish despite being advertised as giving a dewy finish
Finding a base that’ll both stay put and tamp down excess sheen is about trial-and-error, but this one skips you from that hassle. BLK/OPL boasts a lightweight and oil-free formula, it also comes with an added benefit of lentil extract to conceal noticeable pores, and multi-colored pigments that match your skin tone perfectly.
Oil-free, lightweight foundation with lentil extract and multi-colored pigments.
Lightweight
Matches skin tone perfectly
Long-wearing
Medium to full coverage
Oils up skin despite being advertised as oil-free
Charlotte Tilbury’s foundation isn’t a foundation per se, but hear us out. If you despise the look or feel of a full-on foundation, this primer is an awesome alternative to use on its own. It hydrates, and at the same time, smoothens and glows skin from within, and somehow blurs out imperfection. In a word, it makes everything look better in the subtlest way possible.
Face primer with a decent amount of coverage.
Light coverage
Delivers a soft luminous glow
Smoothens texture
Evens out skin tone
May come off as glittery
This all-in-one foundation is hands down an absolute steal. Affordably priced, this water-based foundation from Maybelline gives just enough coverage to be worn daily, and it even comes with SPF! Plus, if you’re acne-prone, this lightweight formula makes the perfect option as it’s free of pore-clogging ingredients.
Non-comedogenic, lightweight foundation with SPF.
Affordable
Mattifying finish
Pore-blurring
Medium coverage
Oxides
May come off easily
Getting a foundation that matches your natural skin is possibly the most crucial part of choosing a foundation. Darker shades will have you looking as though you had a fake tan whereas lighter shades will wash out your complexion. Suppose the color is off, it shows on your neck, arms, or hands, evidently. Opt for a brand that is inclusive enough to cover every shade so you can get the exact right one for you. Apart from your skin tone, your undertones play a part as well, which can be warm, neutral, or cool.
Opting for a foundation with an extra layer of sun protection can help if you have sensitive skin. Those requiring lower SPF may go from 20 to 30 SPF range if you’re not outdoors or in the sun much. Foundations with higher range may be able to function as a separate sunscreen product.
Check out this article for the best sunscreens for acne prone skin recommended by dermatologists.
Any products you’re going for should be appropriate for your skin type. Dry skin will benefit from various ingredients in a foundation than oily skin will, and aging skin requires a whole different set of needs, too.
No matter your skin type, moisturizing is imperative to delay aging. Foundations with moisturizing ingredients can prevent your makeup from becoming dry and cakey throughout the day. In general, moisturizers are vital. This is especially true for those with dry or oily skin who are actually in need of better moisture.
Editor’s Choice NEOSTRATA GLYCOLIC RENEWAL Smoothing Lotion CHECK LATEST PRICE 2nd Best Choice Peter Thomas
Editor’s Choice Coppertone Sport Continuous Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50 CHECK LATEST PRICE 2nd
