The 9 Best Drugstore Foundations, Tested and Reviewed by Editors

• L’Oréal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear 24HR Foundation: This drugstore foundation stands out against other drugstore foundation options for its high level of coverage, staying power, and oil-absorbing properties. We love that it cleanly dispenses with a pump and is available in large range of shade options.
• Colourpop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Hydrating Foundation: Colourpop’s hydrating foundation is one of the best skin care-infused foundations for its price point, and the best drugstore foundation for dry skin that we tested. We were impressed by its super natural, skin-like finish and its easy blendability. It offers buildable medium coverage, nourishes the skin with clean ingredients, and results in a healthy glow finish.
• E.l.f. Flawless Satin Foundation: A drugstore foundation that boasts a high-quality formulation at an affordable point is practically unheard of — but E.l.f.’s foundation fits the bill. This formula won over our testers with its extensive shade range, thoughtful ingredients, comfortable wear, and semi-matte finish that’s suitable for the range of skin types.

L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum Foundation

Best Drugstore Foundation for Combination Skin

If you’re looking for a medium coverage foundation that gives a healthy radiance finish, go with L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Tinted Serum Foundation. The difference between a traditional foundation and a serum foundation is the skin care-infused benefits of active ingredients, along with a much lighter feel. This product’s natural glow isn’t just for show, because it contains 1 percent hyaluronic acid, which aids in hydration and supple skin elasticity over time. It’s also blended with luminous mineral pigments that brighten the complexion and seamlessly melt into the skin.

Editor testing and review notes: “Serum foundations always excite me because they nourish the skin while providing coverage at the same time, and I was especially interested in this one for its inclusion of hyaluronic acid. I’ve always been a fan of the L’Oréal Paris True Match complexion line and this is officially my top dog. I love how easily it blends into the skin with a buffing brush and provides natural, buildable, and effective coverage. The formula is not runny like other serum foundations — it has a typical foundation consistency, and the dropper applicator makes dispensing product simple and sanitary (and a little fun). The hyaluronic acid in this foundation does not go unnoticed, as it feels hydrating without overdoing it on the dew-factor, and results in an ideal skin-like sheen.” — Commerce Writer & Producer Olivia Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $14.62

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Instant Perfector 4-In-1 Glow Makeup

Best Drugstore Foundation for Aging Skin

Maybelline New York’s Instant Age Rewind Instant Perfector 4-In-1 Glow Makeup is one of the most unique drugstore foundations. It’s a TikTok-favorite beauty product for its plush sponge applicator that allows for speedy swipe-on application and wins with its jack-of-all-trades formulation. Similar to pricey filter foundation products on the market, it works to blur and prime the skin, while going a step further by delivering on concealer-level coverage. Don’t let the limited shade range scare you, because it’s formulated as a self-adjusting foundation that seamlessly blends into your skin tone.

Editor testing and review notes: “Consider Maybelline’s 4-in-1 Perfector the polar opposite of a matte foundation. This fluffy cream foundation goes big on dewiness and shine, but in a flattering way (particularly for those dealing with dullness or dry patches). I’d liken it to a BB cream in color payoff and hydration, but with the sheen of a lightweight liquid highlighter. This combination lends a really nice brightening, blurring effect that I didn’t experience with other foundations I tested. Best of all, it’s easy to layer other products on top — the formula features some ingredients you’d find in a great makeup primer.”   — Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Editor Claire Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $7.71

Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation

Best Drugstore Foundation for Sensitive Skin

For those with sensitive skin types, finding a foundation that’s not loaded with irritating ingredients can be a challenge. Consider this clean and vegan foundation from Covergirl your next holy grail. Its formulation is free of formaldehydes, sulfates, and talc, while packing a healthy punch of hydrating coconut milk and soothing aloe vera. It has a lightweight feel that won’t clog your pores and creates a healthy, dewy glow that’s great for daily wear.

Editor testing and review notes: “As someone with sensitive, dry skin, I’m always looking for clean foundations that go big on moisturizing ingredients, so I was excited to try Covergirl’s Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation. The formula is packaged similar to a tinted moisturizer — and applies just like one, as well, as this creamy liquid has light but buildable coverage. There’s a slight smell to the formula, but the cushiony, cooling effect on my skin makes it well worth it. During my 8-hour testing period, I didn’t experience any smearing, smudging, or streakiness.” — Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $7.57

Colourpop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Hydrating Foundation

Best Drugstore Foundation for Acne

Colourpop’s Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Hydrating Foundation is similar to a serum foundation but boasts a higher color payoff. It has a hydrating formula base of coconut water that’s doubled-down with hyaluronic acid and a fruit complex that works to quench the skin and blur fine lines. Those with acne-prone skin get the green light with this product, not only for its buildable, natural-looking coverage that’ll camouflage blemishes, but also because it’s dermatologist-tested and contains 100 percent vegan and clean ingredients.

Editor testing and review notes: “This is the first complexion product I’ve tried from Colourpop and it’s an instant winner in my book. The Pretty Fresh foundation feels incredibly hydrating on the skin and has a wet, thin formula that blends effortlessly atop moisturizer and primer. It provides a satin to dewy finish (depending on my moisturizer base) that’s super lightweight — it feels better than a tinted moisturizer. The coverage of this foundation is light to medium, which allows for plenty of layering control without the risk of getting cakey. The brand was smart to add a pump to its packaging, since the foundation has a runny consistency.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $16

E.l.f. Flawless Satin Foundation

Best Drugstore Liquid Foundation

Over the years, E.l.f. has become a powerhouse drugstore brand that offers affordable options for everything from makeup brushes to lip gloss and face primer. E.l.f. is no stranger to high-quality complexion products, with viral hits like the Halo Glow Liquid filter and Hydrating Camo Concealer, and this foundation is no exception. The E.l.f. Flawless Satin Foundation is outstanding, not only for its buildable medium coverage and versatile semi-matte finish, but also for its extensive shade range that allows you plenty of options to find your perfect match. The formula is suitable for all skin types, with hydrating glycerin and clean, vegan ingredients, but it stood out to us as one of the best drugstore foundations for oily skin in particular.

Editor testing and review notes: “I was floored by the E.l.f. Flawless Satin Foundation, considering its unbeatable price point. It pumps out to a thicker consistency, which feels creamy, hydrating, and cooling as you blend it out. I applied the foundation with clean fingertips as well as a buffing brush during testing, and both techniques resulted in a very natural, non-streaky, and comfortable semi-matte finish. This foundation provides a nice medium coverage that’s buildable and doesn’t leave the skin dry and cakey throughout the day. This formula would likely suit the range of skin types, though I’d recommend that those with combination and oily skin powder their T zone or use a mattifying primer to ward off unwanted shine. Capping at just $6, this is a hidden gem at the drugstore and worth the try — regardless if you’re on a tight beauty budget.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $3.30

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector

Best Drugstore Foundation for Mature Skin

This all-in-on foundation is great for mature skin or those who prefer their foundation to knock off steps in their skin care routine. The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector performs similarly to a tinted moisturizer, with sheer coverage, SPF 20, and a lightweight feel. Its star feature is retinol, which is a tried-and-true skin care ingredient that increases skin elasticity, reduces the appearance of dark spots, calms inflammation, and prevents clogged pores. The formula also includes nourishing antioxidants, vitamins, and titanium dioxide to revitalize the skin under the makeup and provide a radiant, natural finish.

Editor testing and review notes: “Of all the foundations I tested, this Neutrogena option had the richest texture. Those with oily skin types may not love this factor, but anyone who’s trying to ward off wrinkles and fine lines (or just plain old dry skin) know that the more moisture, the better. Unlike other liquid and cream foundations I tried, this balmy cream blended into my skin like an expensive face moisturizer — that just so happens to provide medium coverage and SPF 20. It has a tendency to transfer, so I’d suggest a light dust of setting powder or a spritz of setting spray after you apply it.” — Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $14

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear 24HR Foundation

Best Full-Coverage Drugstore Foundation

The L’Oréal Paris Infallible foundation collection is a TikTok favorite, with over 209 million views and searches on the app. The range offers a wildly popular powder foundation, but we’re most impressed by the liquid formulation. The Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation provides reliable and buildable full-coverage with impressive longwear power that lasts up to 24 hours. It’s one of the best drugstore foundations for oily skin, as the formula contains three oil absorbers to resist water, sweat, and transferring. It also includes SPF 25 and comes in 40 shade options, so you’re guaranteed to find your match.

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).” — Style Commerce Editor Nikki Chwatt

Price upon publish date of this article: $7.60

Covergirl + Olay Simply Ageless Wrinkle Defying Foundation

Best Cream Drugstore Foundation

Covergirl + Olay’s Simply Ageless Wrinkle Defying Foundation has been on drugstore shelves for over a decade. Cream foundations have a tendency to apply thick and cakey, with little return on moisture, color match, and blendability. This one gets it right, because the formula is swirled with a silky and moisturizing hyaluronic complex, along with vitamin C to improve skin brightness, texture, and overall hydration. The “Ageless” component comes from its blurring finish that doesn’t settle into fine lines, along with a healthy dose of SPF 28 to protect the skin from sun damage.

Editor testing and review notes: “Skin care-infused foundations typically come with $50-plus price tags, so I’ll admit that I approached this under $20 foundation thinking it could fall short on the nourishment department. But the cream texture and even coverage of this formula left me impressed — it’s dense, but easy to blend and work into my complexion. What starts out as a dewy feel dries down to a skin-mimicking texture I full-on forgot I was wearing during the day. The only con to this compact has to do with shade matching; it took me three different options to find one that aligned with my skin tone. (Pro tip for those with fair skin: Order an extra shade in a warm, deep tone, and this also makes a fabulous cream bronzer).” — Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $13.15

Maybelline New York Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation

Best Dewy Drugstore Foundation

The glass skin TikTok trend has attracted over 2.8 billion beauty lovers looking for a super smooth complexion that practically gleams, and Maybelline New York’s Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation is your best drugstore bet for achieving the blurred and glossy effect. Dry skin types will love how it marries lightweight coverage, SPF, and lasting skin quenching in one step. This foundation’s comfortable feel — attributed to added benefits of vitamin E, which soothes skin irritation like psoriasis, eczema, and general dehydration — will leave you looking fresh and dewy on the daily.

Editor testing and review notes: “This foundation is aptly named, because dewy, smooth skin is exactly what you’ll get. Maybelline’s Dewy + Smooth formulation of the Fit Me foundation range is great for those with dry skin because it immediately feels hydrating upon application. It has a natural finish and light coverage, which I enjoy since it allows my freckles to shine through while still evening out my complexion. It’s very thin on the skin, so it feels lightweight all day. It’s important to note that it does leave a wet-to-the-touch feeling upon initial application, so make sure to wait for it to fully set before applying products on top (otherwise brushes or sponges may displace the product). Those with oily skin should definitely skip this product, but if your skin type is combination or dry and you’re looking for a your-skin-but-better foundation, give this a try.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $6.84

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• Shade range: Many brands have expanded their shade ranges to offer more inclusive options, but it can still be tricky to find your perfect match, regardless of a foundation’s price point or your skin tone. The larger a foundation’s shade selection, the more likely you’ll find your color. Some brands drugstore brands offer shades with different undertones, such as cool, warm, or neutral (often labeled as C, W, or N in the shade number), which is ideal for marrying your face makeup to your neck, chest, and the rest of your body. An easy trick to identifying your undertone is by looking at the veins through your skin. If they look blue, you have cool undertones, and if they’re green or olive, you’re warm. If the color is somewhere in the middle, you pull neutral. This is especially key when you order a drugstore foundation online, as product imagery isn’t always accurate.
• Finish: Drugstore foundations come in myriad finishes, but they do not perform the same on different skin types. For example, dewy drugstore foundations may overwhelm oily skin with too much shine, while matte foundations will exacerbate dry skin. It’s important to select a foundation that supplements your skin type to ensure the most flattering appearance and lasting wear. Those with dry skin should lean into hydrating foundations with luminous or serum formulas, while those with oily skin will most benefit from anti-shine matte finishes. While those with combination skin have a bit more flexibility in their selection, satin or semi-matte finishes with hydrating ingredients will best suit your complexion.
• Coverage level: Foundation coverage is a personal preference that depends on your skin concerns and comfortability. Full-coverage coverage foundation can often sit heavier on the skin, however it will create the most flawless finish by concealing all signs of blemishes and redness. Medium coverage is the most flexible option, as it’s buildable enough to achieve full coverage in layers. Medium coverage foundations will even out the skin tone and blur imperfections, while light coverage will create the most skin-like finish and allow natural features like freckles to shine through.
• Key ingredients: Ingredients in drugstore foundations have evolved in recent years thanks to skin care-infused formulas and innovations. However, foundations are almost always formulated with a base of water, oil, or wax that’s blended with iron oxide or titanium dioxide pigments to mimic natural skin tones. Water-based drugstore foundations are best for sensitive skin types. Oil-based foundations are thin and hydrating, similar to any facial or body oil, while wax foundations are thick, oil-absorbing, and reliable for long-wear. Other common ingredients in modern formulations include SPF, brightening vitamin C, smoothing vitamin E, and hydrating hyaluronic acid.

• Flower Get Real Serum Foundation: While our testers love Flower Beauty’s blushes and lip liners, we weren’t as impressed with this foundation. Unfortunately, this serum foundation is more serum than foundation, leaving more to be desired in terms of coverage and formula consistency. Only those with very dry skin may appreciate the hydration of this foundation, however we found it to be far too slippery on other skin types.
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup: Unfortunately, the Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation had an off-putting fragrance that our testers didn’t find in other foundations on our list. While it has nice coverage and blends well using fingertips or a sponge, we noticed the color oxidizing to a darker tone after a few minutes of wear.
• Maybelline Fit Me Matte Poreless Foundation: At first test, our reviewers loved the consistency, feel, and coverage of the formula. However after hours of wear time, we noticed the formula settling into fine lines and pores, rather than gliding on top to conceal them. The product doesn’t come with a pump or doe foot wand applicator, so it’s also tricky to dispense.
• NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Full Coverage Foundation: While our testers found the shade range impressive and the price point affordable, this formula was too dry for all members of our testing panel (oily skin types included). The texture dried down quickly upon application, which limited the product’s ability to blend.

• Packaging: Foundation packaging does not only impact its aesthetic appeal — it’s also incredibly important to its overall usability and application. We evaluated each foundation’s packaging in terms of weight, durability, accessibility, and whether the foundation leaked or clogged in its dispense mechanism. It’s important to note that a foundation’s packaging should go hand in hand with its formula. For example, thick foundations are most easily and cleanly dispensed with a pump, while thin or runny foundations benefit from a dropper applicator to direct product in controlled areas. Liquid formulas that mimic a moisturizer texture are most easily accessed with a squeeze tube bottle, while thick creams are convenient to apply from pot compacts.
• Coverage: We assessed foundation coverage based on the formula’s claims. For instance, if a foundation promised full-coverage, we tested whether it could double as a concealer for blemishes or dark under eye circles. We also paid attention to each foundation’s buildability and whether it could be layered for added coverage without appearing thick or cakey.
• Wear time: A foundation’s staying power refers to whether it can maintain its initial finish and coverage after long hours of wear. We tested each foundation from eight to 18 hours to determine whether they left our skin feeling dry, looking shiny, dissolved atop face serums and moisturizers, or transferred. We also considered how well they played with different types of primers, concealers, and setting powders throughout the day and whether the formula broke down in conjunction with other products.
• Ease of application: We judged the application of each foundation based on how it blended and set on the skin. We utilized several application methods during our testing, including beauty sponges, different makeup brushes, and our own freshly-washed fingertips. Any formulas that took too much time and effort to blend, oxidized to a darker finish, or failed to fully dry on the skin were removed from our list.