The best foundation you can buy for beautiful skin
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Picking the right foundation makeup for your skin type and skin tone can be a real hassle, but once you find the best one for you, you've got it made. We've done the research to find some of the highest-rated foundations you can buy, and the NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation is a real winner.
We all want an even, healthy, and glowing complexion. Unfortunately, Mother Nature or your own genes sometimes have other plans. We all suffer from different skin problems, including dullness, dryness, oily shine, acne, red spots, brown blotches, oversize pores, and fine lines every now and then. Luckily, there’s an easy solution to the my-skin-needs-a-little-help scenario: foundation makeup.
A good foundation in the right color and formulation for your skin type makes it look like you have no makeup on your face, just a naturally beautiful complexion. The challenge is finding that perfect foundation. There are so many makeup bases on the market, with a bewildering array of claims, promises, and hype. More than any other cosmetic, picking the right foundation is important for an attractive look, but it can be confusing.
We’re here to help. We did the research to help narrow down the many options, checking out top beauty websites, buyer comments both good and bad, and even our own experiences to bring you five great foundations that will give you the perfect skin you crave. We’ve also included tips on choosing the right color of foundation, and the different types of makeup base you’ll encounter in the beauty aisles of your favorite shop.
We will add more types of foundation makeup to this piece in future updates, so stay tuned!
Although NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the L'Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation, the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup, the Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder Foundation, and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint.
The best foundation overall
Why you'll love it: NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation truly lives up to its name, hiding all types of skin imperfections to make it look like you're not even wearing makeup.
If your skin has a little something to hide, but you hate the look of heavy foundation, you’re going to love NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation. This oh-so-light and yet high-performance makeup base makes you feel like you're wearing close to no makeup on your face, and yet, almost like magic, it hides all manner of skin imperfections, including red areas around your nose or mouth, uneven skin tone, blemishes, or general dullness.
Suitable for all skin types, including oily, dry, sensitive, and normal, the foundation contains no oil, no parabens, no fragrances, and no alcohols. It provides full coverage and yet feels and looks light and natural on your skin. There's no creasing, no heavy “caked on” appearance, no highlighting your pores, and best of all, no more complexion imperfections with this makeup.
We aren’t the only ones impressed with NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation. It’s a favorite of many top women’s websites, including Total Beauty. The reviewer gushed, “True to its name, the consistency is lighter than air, but it doesn't feel greasy like some serum foundations, nor does it suffocate my pores. It offers complete, buildable coverage, yet my skin still looks natural and radiant. It's the closest thing to sorcery I've seen in my life.”
Harper’s Bazaar also praised the NARS foundation for its staying power and ability to conceal redness, dark spots, and other imperfections all day long. Elle’s pleased editor noted that she received compliments on her skin every time she used the NARS foundation.
With 20 shades to choose from, you’ll find a perfect match, whether your complexion is dark, light, or somewhere in the middle. The finish is natural — not matte, not glowing, but just the way healthy skin should look.
Pros: Great selection of colors, including dark tones for women of color, suitable for all skin types, very natural appearance without a heavy look or feel
Cons: It’s expensive, and a few users felt it did dry their skin
Buy NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation on Sephora for $49
The best foundation for oily skin
Why you'll love it: If you battle oily shine on a daily basis, you’ll win the war with L'Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation.
While it’s true that oily skin tends to age well and wrinkle less than dry skin, that’s of little comfort when your complexion is shiny enough to reflect a camera flash in photographs. Plus, acne breakouts often go hand-in-hand with greasy skin. If you’ve been looking for a foundation that’s up to the challenge, you’ve found your match in L'Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation.
Although the foundation’s finish is matte, it isn’t dull, heavy, or fake looking. In fact, this makeup base glides on with a rather light feel and then dries to a just-matte-enough texture to keep oily shine at bay for hours. Yes, you might have to reach for a blotting paper by afternoon, but you’ll have hours of healthy, fresh looking skin before and after that.
Total Beauty considers this foundation a great option for anyone with oily skin. The site's beauty editor calls it “surprisingly lightweight and breathable," adding that you'll get matte coverage that will "airbrush blemishes and redness" without caking.
Allure appreciates the makeup’s tiny, oil-absorbing spheres, which soak up oil without making your skin look dry, flat, or dull. Cosmopolitan calls L'Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation a treat for oily skin that lasts all day without looking heavy or cakey.
There are a dozen shades to choose from, so most complexions should find a match. The finish is demi-matte, and most suitable for oily or combination skin.
Pros: Helps control oily shine for many hours, a good range of colors from light to dark, inexpensive
Cons: Matte, full coverage might be too heavy for mature or dry skin.
Buy L'Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation from Target for $10.99
The best foundation for mature skin
Why you'll love it: If you’re of a certain age, or even if you’re younger, you’ll appreciate the way Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup gives your skin a youthful, natural glow.
Getting older is inevitable for all of us, but looking older doesn’t necessarily have to be part of the package. While it’s true that makeup isn’t magic, it’s also true that a good foundation can go far in bringing back a youthful appearance to your complexion. If that’s what you are in search of, you’ll like Urban Decay's Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup.
Urban Decay’s foundation is loaded with skin-boosting ingredients, including peptides to smooth away fine lines, antioxidant green tea, hyaluronic acid to replenish skin moisture, and gentle brighteners to bring back a healthy glow. The oil-free makeup goes on with a very light, natural feel, and then dries to a demi-matte finish that never looks too heavy or fake.
Redbook chose this as one of its favorite anti-aging foundations, praising its lightweight texture, natural appearance, and skin-improving ingredients. Marie Claire loves it as well, saying it’s great for those who don’t like the feel or look of foundation but need a little help evening out their complexion.
Total Beauty’s editor says it's “a barely-there formula" that "magically makes every flaw disappear, blurs my freckles, and disguises fine lines." She also says that the makeup is "matte in the best way: without being drying or flat-looking.”
Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup comes in 26 shades, so everyone can find a shade that works for them. It’s suitable for all skin types and has a lightweight, slightly matte finish.
Pros: Great for maturing skin, huge range of shades, very lightweight and natural
Cons: Expensive
Buy Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup on Sephora for $40.00
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