The 15 Best Foundations for Every Skin Type, Tested and Reviewed by Editors

Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk foundation is a classic pick among beauty lovers. It’s been in makeup aisles since the year 2000 — yes, it’s 23 years old — and remains a top seller wherever it’s carried. So, what makes it such a standout? Perhaps its super natural, skin-like finish and buildable medium coverage that can take your glam from day to night. Its formula features micro-fill technology, which lays color pigments flat to the skin for fuss-free layering, smooths texture, and creates a filter-like effect. Hydrating glycerin moisturizes dry skin, while its long-wear, oil-free formulation keeps the makeup looking shine-free throughout the day.

Editor testing and review notes: “Those with combination skin types know the struggle of finding a foundation that tamps down shine without making dry areas look dull. Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation is one of select few that work with my skin in any season: It doesn’t make my complexion slick during summer, nor does it leave me dull in the doldrums of winter. The consistency is on the watery side, which makes it easy to apply thin layers I can build up to my desired level of coverage. When I’m looking for less coverage, I’ll mix it with a touch of moisturizer for a skin tint-like finish. ” — Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $69

Saie Beauty is one of the leading beauty brands combining makeup and skin care, and the Glowy Super Skin Foundation gives other hydrating foundations a run for their money. It shines on TikTok at over 77 million views, with users raving about its radiant dewy finish and flexible feel. Its thin texture positions it for smooth, buildable medium coverage, while impressive hydrating ingredients virtually melt the makeup into the skin. Saie’s Hydrobounce Complex combines hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, and rice bran peptides for a plumping effect, and sugar-derived squalane deeply moisturizes your skin as you wear the foundation. Along with a super clean vegan formula, the foundation comes in recyclable packaging, so it’s a win-win between the planet and your skin.

Editor testing and review notes: “My skin often feels congested when I wear foundation, and the wrong product can easily dry me out, but it’s all glow with this foundation. It’s so hydrating (without feeling too wet) that, if I ever forgot my face moisturizer in my makeup bag, I’d use this foundation to quench my skin — kind of like a thin tinted moisturizer with more coverage. It feels super lightweight throughout the day, moreso than other serum foundations I’ve tried, and leaves the skin looking supple and dewy. I love grabbing this when I’m looking to cover breakouts because it gives medium buildable coverage, looks like skin, and I know its clean ingredients will only soothe my problem areas.” — Commerce Writer and Producer Olivia Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $40

Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation not only launched Rihanna’s sensational cosmetics collection back in 2017, but also completely changed the foundation game. It hit Sephora stores like a meteor — with an unprecedented selection of 40 shades that cater to every skin under tone, for the closest, most true-to-skin color match. Believe it or not, it was the only foundation at the time to offer such an extensive selection. It quickly prompted competing brands to expand their range and resulted in a far more inclusive beauty landscape. Since then, Pro Filt’r has expanded with 12 more shades, because there’s always room to grow.

This foundation will go down in makeup history, but for those with oily skin, we recommend it for your future. As the name suggests, it sets to a velvety matte finish, and provides pore-blurring medium to full coverage. The formula also features adaptive technology that fights heat, sweat, and shine, which works to keep oil at bay throughout long hours of wear.

Editor testing and review notes: “As someone with dry skin, I’m always hesitant to try out matte products; however, I heard great things about Fenty’s Matte Foundation, so I was willing to give it a try. First, I applied a little to the palm of my hands to see how my skin would react and noticed that it was drying quickly. So, I decided to take a page from Hailey Bieber’s book and mix it with the Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid to add some hydration to my skin. Let me tell you that when combined, the Fenty Foundation delivered. The formula embedded nicely into my skin, not catching on to dry patches, and was buildable, which I like in foundations because it lets me use the same product whether I want light, medium, or full coverage. Since it’s not ideal to have to blend your foundation with another product to make it work for your skin, I would recommend this one for oily skin girls.” — Nikki Chwatt

Price upon publish date of this article: $40

This foundation from Lady Gaga’s beauty brand has quickly become a block-buster. Not only does it currently sit in the top spot of Sephora’s foundation bestseller list, it’s also racked up millions of views and searches on TikTok. The obsession comes from its incredibly lightweight feel, blurring properties, and exceptional ingredients. Formulated with fermented arnica and herbal extracts, the makeup works to instantly soothe irritation and redness underneath. A healthy dose of BioFerment 7 Complex, a blend of nourishing antioxidants, acts as a barrier to shield the skin from outside stressors, while over 20 skin care ingredients give this serum foundation a flexible, comfortable feel.

Despite it’s ultra-clean ingredients and skin-loving formulation, the Triclone Skin Tech Foundation doesn’t skimp on substantial medium coverage and a flawless finish. “Our products, even though they’re made with amazing skin care, are artistry products,” said Lady Gaga in a Haus Labs’ TikTok video. “So, you’re never sacrificing performance. This is meant to elevate your artistry, and make being an artist something that’s also nourishing for your skin.”

Editor testing and review notes: “Haus Lab’s foundation has quickly become my favorite. It’s lightweight, extremely spreadable, easy to blend, and melts like butter. It delivers a radiant, luminous, hydrating, healthy-looking complexion — what’s better than that? It also claims to be long-lasting, and I can attest that it truly is. The foundation is suitable for all skin types, but I would recommend those with oily skin make sure they set their face. Overall, this product makes my skin look filtered — I’m obsessed. Pro tip: a little goes a long way.“ — Chwatt

Price upon publish date of this article: $45

When it comes to creating a flawless complexion, legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath knows a thing or to. Her products have graced some of the most famous faces in the entire world including Taylor Swift, who was rumored to wear the Sublime Skin Foundation during an Eras Tour performance in a rainstorm. It wouldn’t surprise us if that were true, because it’s specially formulated for over 12-hours of wear. And, according to the brand, Sublime Skin is a “self-setting” foundation, which means it locks in place without the need for setting powder (though, those with very oily skin may want to blot the t-zone, just in case). The formulation pumps out to a lightweight serum consistency, which delivers on buildable medium coverage and sets to a diffused satin finish. For these reasons, coupled with it’s natural filter finish, Sublime Skin ranks as the best long-wear foundation on our list.

Editor testing and review notes: “Flawless and long-wear are the first words that come to mind to describe this foundation. This formula doesn’t budge — it showed no signs of separation, creasing, or transferring throughout long days of testing. I’d recommend this foundation for oily or combination skin, although it’s suitable for dry skin types when layered atop a moisturizing primer or finished with a dewy setting spray. It’s great for glam nights out but also serves as a reliable everyday complexion product with a natural finish that still lets your skin shine through.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $69

“The LYS Beauty Triple Fix Foundation is truly made for everyone,” says Thompson. Designed for every skin type, this foundation acts as a seamless follow-up to any skin care routine. It’s enriched with hylauronic acid, turmeric, avocado oil, and ashwagandha to “brighten the skin, combat the look of skin-aging, and provide added moisture,” explains Thomson, while also smoothing the complexion and reducing the appearance of pores. It provides a radiant natural finish and medium buildable coverage, which makes it “perfect for light day-to-day looks, or full glam,” adds Thompson. “You never have to feel guilty when wearing it because the formula is weightless in feel.”

Editor testing and review notes: “This smooth serum foundation applies like a dream. In just a few passes with a buffing brush, the formula instantly absorbed into my skin, visibly blurred my imperfections, and set to a beautiful second-skin finish. My combination skin soaked up all the hydration from this product and I also felt my irritated spots begin to soothe from the ashwagandha. The formula is very versatile for the range of skin types, especially mature skin, and it can be set with a light dusting of face powder to for a more matte finish.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $24

Dior’s Forever Matte Foundation formulation is a luxe, long-wear option for those with oily or combination skin. It has medium coverage, which can seamlessly build up to full coverage, and sets to a smooth matte finish. Despite its shine-free effect, this foundation won’t leave you looking flat. It’s blended with wild pansy extract, which aids in hydration and supports the look of healthy skin. Other key ingredients, like SPF 30, iris extract, and rose extract, work to protect the skin against sun damage, oxidation, and smooths overall skin texture. Whether you’re heading to the office or stepping out for a night on the town, the Forever Matte Foundation boasts a wear time of 24 hours, along with being heat-, humidity-, and transfer-proof. For those with dry skin, Dior offers a Glow formulation that’s jam-packed with moisturizing ingredients for a radiant finish.

Editor testing and review notes: “The first thing I noticed about this foundation is its gorgeous bottle. The matte formulation comes in frosted glass (which looks stunning on my vanity) and cleanly deposits with a pump. My combination skin doesn’t always work well with matte finishes, as they can often be too drying, but that’s note the case here. It blends super quickly, feels thin on the skin, and wears very comfortably throughout the day. It’s long-wear claims are true — I noticed zero signs of transfer or budging. If you have combo skin too, consider layering this foundation atop a hydrating primer.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $55

Charlotte Tilbury’s complexion products are certified beauty hits on TikTok — from the ever-popular Hollywood Flawless Filter, to the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, and the smoothing Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. The Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation is no exception. It’s a top-seller at Sephora for its perfecting coverage, weightless feel, soft matte finish, and it’s ability to wear well on nearly every skin type. The foundation hybrids as skin care, with hydrating ingredients coupled with antioxidants that protect the skin from common airborne pollutants. Other unique complexion trademarks from the brand are included in the formula to instantly refresh the skin while smoothing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and large pores.

Editor testing and review notes: “Miss Tilbury wasn’t lying when she strung the words ‘Airbrush,’ ‘Flawless,’ and ‘Longwear’ together to name this foundation. Upon initial application, I was so impressed by how far one pump goes across the entire face, and how quick and seamlessly the product blends. While the foundation does set to a matte finish, I don’t find it drying and I can still see my skin’s natural radiance shining through. Bonus points for an extensive shade range of undertones, too.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $49

Looking for a your-skin-but-better foundation finish? We recommend the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation for its buildable coverage and comfortable wear. The medium-to-full coverage makeup is blended with a trio of skin-boosting ingredients: coconut water, Alpine rose, and hyaluronic acid. They each infuse the skin with essential hydration and boost its natural resilience for a smooth, healthy glow. While some foundations may specifically work for casual or formal wear, this one acts as a chameleon, because it looks and feels like skin, and allows you to layer on extra coverage depending on your skin needs. It’s photo-friendly, too, so you won’t get a white cast in flash photography.

Editor testing and review notes: “Too Faced’s Born This Way complexion range never steers me wrong, from the concealer, to the skin tint, but most of all this foundation. Its satin finish plays well with my combination skin because it fights against oily areas in my T-zone without overly drying the rest of my face. Like the name suggests, it also looks incredibly smooth and natural while proving substantial medium to full coverage, so I love to grab this for a special event where I want my makeup to look both flawless and undetectable. It’s a great base layer for cheek products too.”  — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $46

Finding a foundation that plays well with dry skin can be a challenge, but the Nars Sheer Glow foundation is here to answer your woes. While it won’t offer full-glam full coverage, it serves as a reliable, natural-looking complexion enhancer for everyday wear. Aptly named, this foundation provides sheer, light to medium coverage, with a healthy, dewy finish. The formula is infused with vitamin C, which naturally brightens the skin and evens skin tone over time, along with Turmeric for an added drop of radiance. It also includes antioxidants to protect the skin from free radicals and moisture-retaining glycerin. It’s the best foundation for dry skin on our list, but it would also work well on combination skin, especially in dry climates or during cold winter months — it’s a product Alix Earle uses for lightweight coverage over acne.

Editor testing and review notes: “When I’ve stayed up too late or had one too many glasses of wine, my skin is the first thing that suffers — dryness and dullness ensues and in a few days, pimples tend to emerge. Nars’ Sheer Glow foundation does everything short of giving me a few more hours of sleep: It rehydrates my skin for a dewy, radiant finish, and deftly camouflages dark circles and breakouts. Those with oily skin may want to keep setting powder on hand for their T-zone, as this formula gives you major glow.” — Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $47

Glossier’s Stretch Fluid Foundation is the newest release on our list, having only launched in August 2023, but it’s already rose to TikTok prominence with over 5.7 million views. So, we had no choice but to see what all the hype was about. The gel-cream formula is 89 percent skin care-based, with thoughtful inclusions of plant-based squalane and glycerine that maintain moisture in the skin’s barrier. It also blends wild rose berry and plankton extracts to keep shine at bay and enhance moisture retention at the same time. Glossier is recognized as the “clean girl’s” answer to high-quality beauty, with youthful finishes and skin care enhancements, and the brand’s first foray into foundation definitely delivers with a second-skin effect. This is likely attributed to amino acid-coated pigments that become one with your skin for undetectable wear.

Editor testing and review notes: “I wasn’t sure what to expect with this foundation, because Glossier is known for sheer pigmentation. It absolutely falls into the light to medium coverage range, as one pump evened out my skin tone while allowing my freckles to shine through. If you have acne or other notable areas you’d like to cover, this is the type of foundation you’d want to follow up with a spot concealer. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find any foundation that looks and feels so lightweight — as if you’re wearing nothing at all. I can also attest to it’s skin-supporting claims. Admittedly, I accidentally fell asleep wearing this foundation, and, to my surprise, I woke up with zero signs of irritation or breakouts.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $34

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The L’Oréal Paris Infallible foundation is of the best drugstore foundations, particularly for oily skin, as the formula contains three oil absorbers to resist water, sweat, and transferring. If you like to self-tan or stay stocked with several foundation shades throughout the changing seasons, this is a great affordable option. It provides buildable full-coverage and boasts a 24-hour hold. It also includes SPF 25 and comes in 40 shade options, so you’re guaranteed to find your match. The brand’s entire Infallible foundation collection is another TikTok favorite, with over 213 million views and searches on the app. The range offers a wildly popular powder foundation, but we’re most impressed by the liquid formulation.

Editor testing and review notes: “This foundation is the best drugstore matte foundation I tested. At first, I noticed that the product was thinner than I’m used to, but after applying it with a fluffy brush, the foundation blended perfectly and felt lightweight while concealing my blemishes and redness. I love that it has SPF 25, which boosts my daily sun protection. The only caveat is that a little goes a long way, which I learned from experience (the first time I applied too much and my face looked cakey).” — Chwatt

Price upon publish date of this article: $7.59

If you’re in the market for hydrating cream coverup, — or should we say “Uncoverup” — look to the RMS Beauty Foundation. Blended with nourishing organic coconut oil, cocoa seed butter, and jojoba, this foundation is meant to mimic a typical skin care cream, as it evens the skin’s tone and texture over time — a dream for mature skin types. The formula also contains wild-crafted buriti oil and adaptogens for a well-rounded delivery of deep hydration. Its offers silky medium coverage that’s suitable for every skin type, despite its luminous finish. RMS Beauty’s clean list of ingredients also bodes well for those with acne-prone skin or aging skin, and the formula is super user-friendly. You can apply it with just your fingertips, your favorite beauty sponge, or a buffing brush to achieve a fresh, lit-from-within look.

Editor testing and review notes: “This cream foundation is a favorite for days when I don’t have much time to finesse my makeup look. It serves as a hydrating face cream while providing smooth, medium coverage. Some cream foundations feel too rich on my skin, but this one melts right in, delivering a skin-mimicking radiant finish. I’ve found that a little goes a long way; I typically use a pea sized amount to cover pigmentation and redness on my cheeks, around my nose, and on my forehead. It creates a flawless base to wear under cream and liquid blushes and bronzers, too.” — Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $58

Your makeup should never weigh you down. Instead, it should feel light as air and only enhance your natural radiance, which is why we love Bobbi Brown’s Weightless Skin Foundation. It’s available in 26 shades, which is notably more limited than other foundations we recommend on this list, however the brand promises that each option boasts undertone-correct coloring for a “skin-true” match. The formula is designed for a natural matte finish, so it’s best for normal, combination, and oily skin. It offers a winning blend of glycerin and oil controlling actives to hydrate skin while blocking shine, along with the capabilities to conceal redness and discoloration. Plus, this foundation minimizes pores, lasts up to 16 hours, and strengthens the skin’s barrier over time.

Editor testing and review notes: “A few pumps are all you need to reap the benefits of Bobbi Brown’s Weightless Foundation. Right out of the bottle, the consistency felt and looked like a cream, but when I applied, it was surprisingly thin and blended out well. Overall, it feels lightweight, perfect for those who love a little coverage and correction but with a natural sheen.”— Chwatt 

Price upon publish date of this article: $54

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation has been a cult-favorite since its launch in 1997. It still reigns at the top of Ulta and Sephora’s foundation bestseller lists, likely for its unfailing high-coverage buildability. This makes for a heavy-duty, transfer-proof, and photogenic foundation option that you can rely on lasting for up to 24 hours — come heat, humidity, or high water. It effortlessly blends as it covers discoloration, and sets to a soft matte, natural finish. But don’t let its hefty coverage scare you away, because the flexible formulation resists caking, settling into fine lines, or clogging pores. With 56 shades to choose from, across the range of cool, neutral, and warm undertones, you’re bound to find your best base blend.

Editor testing and review notes: “The Double Stay foundation isn’t new to the market, but I recently added it to my makeup routine. I was first introduced to the foundation via TikTok, and after seeing how it transformed a creator’s skin, I had to see the results myself. I’ve been using it for a few weeks and will never quit Estèe Lauder’s foundation. The lightweight liquid formula blends into the skin seamlessly, and conceals any dark spots and uneven skin tone. It also helps to dismiss the appearance of larger pores. Additionally, I appreciate the matte finish and oil control, which keeps my skin looking fresh all day.” — Contributing Commerce Writer Taylor Lane

Price upon publish date of this article: $49