The Best Cream Foundations That Blend Seamlessly Into Skin

Best Overall

Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick

$19 at Amazon $36 at Sephora $92 at Walmart

This earns the top place in our book, thanks in part to its super creamy consistency that glides seamlessly onto the skin. Once on your complexion, it melts beautifully, never caking or creasing (credit the addition of marshmallow root extract). It’s also infused with soothing chamomile and moisturizing blue lotus and touts the perfect level of medium coverage. There’s a nice line-up of 36 shades, which Simpson, who’s a fan, likes to use not only as a base but also for highlighting and contouring. Formula-wise, we also love that it’s vegan and cruelty-free, comes in recycled packaging, and free from lots of common nasties like sulfates and oxybenzone. 

Who It’s For 

This can be used on dry, combination, and oily skin to provide a natural, medium coverage. 

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 34 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Stick

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

$54 at Sephora $40 at Walmart View on Walmart

A true OG, both when it comes to cream foundations and foundations in general, this was designed to truly enhance your skin, rather than cover it up. Powder foundation fans will appreciate that it actually contains light-diffusing powders and oil-controlling ingredients in the creamy base, ensuring the final finish is perfect and indeed, totally skin-like. This is the type of foundation we love: one that is hassle-free, melts into the skin (thanks to olive extract, shea butter, and squalane), has a beautiful finish, and makes our makeup look like we spent a lot of time working on it–even when we haven’t. You can also place more product in the areas you need without your skin looking patchy or thick. During testing, we tried layering concealer on top and underneath it, in addition to using powder and cream highlighters and contouring with powder and cream products without any issues. If you have acne-prone skin, just be mindful that it contains shea butter which can cause breakouts. 

Who It’s For

This works best on dry skin or anyone looking for a hydrating foundation.

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 29 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Read Full Review: I Only Wore Liquid Foundations Until This Stick Formula Won Me Over

Best Drugstore

Honest Beauty Cream Foundation

$13 at Amazon

There aren’t a ton of cream foundations to be found at the drugstore, making this standout from Honest all the more noteworthy. The coverage is buildable, though definitely skews more towards the medium-to-full end of the spectrum; the finish is satiny, a demi-matte texture that tamps down unwanted shine but doesn’t mask your skin’s natural radiance. Its natural, hydrating finish is also owed to added jojoba oil that’s rich in fatty acids. 

Who It’s For

This can be used on all skin types but is well suited to sensitive skin due to the added fatty acids in the formula. 

Coverage: Medium to full | Shade Range: 4 | Finish: Demi-matte | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Radiant Finish

Chanel Sublimage Le Tint

$155 at Nordstrom $155 at Bloomingdales View on Chanel.com

On days when you want to ever so slightly enhance your complexion and simply make it look crazy healthy and glowy, reach for this splurge-worthy pick. “I love that this super luxurious foundation feels like a rich moisturizer, yet still evens out skin tone and creates a perfectly radiant finish,” says Simpson. Despite how thick it looks in the jar, it feels completely featherweight and also comes with a brush included. It’s also super hydrating so a good pick for the winter months when the elements dry out the skin more easily. 

Who It’s For

This is a very hydrating formula so is specifically ideal for drier skin types. 

Coverage: Light to medium | Shade Range: 10 | Finish: Luminous | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Matte Finish

Tarte Clay Stick Foundation

$10 at Amazon

While cream foundations may be more often appropriate for those with drier skin, this particular one can work even for those with more oily to combination complexions. The unique formula works to either hydrate or mattify, depending on your skin’s needs, though always leaves behind a beautiful matte finish. Plus, it also has a long-lasting wear time, points out Simpson, who is a fan. If you travel often, this is a great option for slipping in your suitcase, too. Flawless skin with zero mess? Yes, please.  

Who It’s For

This formula is suitable for all skin types, especially oily and combination. 

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 7 | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Multi-Tasker

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer

View on Kevynaucoinbeauty.com $37 at Bluemercury.com $37 at Neiman Marcus

There’s really no shortage of ways to use this highly versatile formula. A tiny dab straight out of the jar works as a concealer since the pigments are super opaque and pack a lot of coverage. Similarly use a lighter shade as a highlighter, or, for foundation purposes, apply it on its own or even mix it with a touch of moisturizer to create a gorgeously dewy effect. Its waterproof formula is adept at covering blemishes, redness, and dark circles with ease, and, during testing, we rated it highly for its radiant finish, lightweight feel, and smooth texture that creates a natural look without compromising the coverage. Just keep in mind that it’s very concentrated, so a little goes a long way. 

Who It’s For

This can be used by all skin types including dry, combination, and sensitive.

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 2 | Finish: Dewy | Size: 0.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Read Full Review: The Tiniest Drop of This Concealer Is Like "Sensual Skin" on Tap 

Best Full-Coverage

Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Foundation Stick

$49 at Amazon $49 at Sephora $49 at Ulta

We try new foundations on the regular, but this staple holds a permanent spot in our makeup bag. It packs long-wearing, concentrated coverage with just one swipe—so much so that we often use it instead of concealer. Still, if you need a little less pigment, it can be sheered out with a damp beauty blender sponge. This impressive formula also contains double the amount of pigment versus traditional foundations which is how it covers imperfections so effortlessly while still leaving your skin looking like skin. Bonus points for the unique triangular tip, that makes application in even hard-to-reach spots a breeze. You may find, like us, that it negates the need for a separate concealer, too. 

Who It’s For

This option is safe to use on normal, combination, oily, and sensitive skin.

Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 32 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Clean

Kjaer Weis Cream Foundation

View on Kjaerweis.com $35 at Bluemercury.com View on Credo Beauty

This is an amazing formula, even more so given that it’s coming from a clean beauty brand, says Simpson. “It has natural coverage with a semi-matte finish, and is easily applied and blended with either your hands or a foundation brush,” she adds. The brand recommends always applying it over a moisturizer as it’s free from synthetic ingredients. And, to the point of clean, it’s free from over 2,700 potentially questionable ingredients, and loaded with natural goodies instead, like the coconut, sweet almond, and jojoba oils that make up the formula’s base.  If you’re trying to be more sustainable in your shopping habits, you’ll be pleased to know that the palettes are refillable, too. They also plant a tree for every purchase made. 

Who It’s For

This can be used on all skin types but a moisturizer is recommended underneath, even oily skin. 

Coverage: Medium | Shade Range: 16 | Finish: Semi-matte | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Dark Skin Tones

Blk/Opl True Color Stick Foundation

$15 at Ulta $11 at Target $11 at Walmart

The 21 shades of this creamy stick are all geared towards darker and deeper skin tones, and tout a unique Shade ID technology that helps the pigments perfectly adjust to your particular complexion, further upping the imperfection-hiding abilities. It’s also a great multi-tasker and can be used for creating a full-coverage look as well as highlighting, contouring, and touch-ups. We appreciate the velvety finish and the fact that there’s not only sunscreen in the mix but also protective antioxidants as well. 

Who It’s For

This is perfect for all skin types in darker and deeper skin tones. 

Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 21 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Light Skin Tones

Cle de Peau Cream Foundation SPF 24

$138 at Nordstrom View on Nordstrom View on Cledepeaubeaute.com

"Full coverage" and "radiance" don’t always go hand-in-hand when you’re talking about foundations, but this does in fact check both boxes. It covers any and every imperfection, without ever looking cakey or flat, instead of leaving your complexion with that coveted, lit-from-within effect. There are only 12 shades available, though they’re great for those with paler skin, as the lighter hues have a variety of undertones.

Who It’s For

This is ideal for all skin types, especially those lacking in radiance and hydration. 

Coverage: Medium to full | Shade Range: 4 | Finish: Luminous | Size: 0.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Dry Skin

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Foundation Balm

$26 at Amazon $52 at Dermstore $52 at Skinstore.com

Byrdie Editor Holly Rhue is just one of many devoted users of this ultra-hydrating pick, packed with moisturizing ingredients you’re more likely to find in skincare than in makeup, think hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and avocado oil. Still, despite the creaminess, it feels surprisingly silky and light when applied. (To that point, it’s best applied using a foundation brush.) Other bonus points were awarded for its extensive shade range and suitability for use on the body as well as the face.

Who It’s For

While this formula is suitable for all skin types, those with drier skin will benefit the most from its very moisturizing formula.

Coverage: Full | Shade Range: 20 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.6 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No