The 18 Best Foundations for All Skin Tones, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall Foundation

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation

$48 at Sephora $58 at Walmart $48 at Nordstrom

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural/radiant | Shades: 40 | Cruelty-Free: No

This is a tried and true editor favorite—and for good reason. It has an incredibly lightweight liquid consistency that glides on and blends into the skin seamlessly. It offers medium coverage that beautifully camouflages redness and blemishes while still letting a bit of your skin peek through to create a natural look. The formula is pretty buildable if you add a second layer, though you’re not going to be able to build it up for super full coverage. What really makes it stand out from others is the finish. It replicates what your natural skin would look like on an amazing skin day—even with a hint of radiance. It also looks seamless underneath cream, powder, or liquid makeup that you apply on top. 

Jordan Julian, news & deals editor with combination skin: "When I first tried the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation almost two years ago, I was an immediate convert. The natural, glowy finish and hydrating feel are reminiscent of a tinted moisturizer, with slightly more coverage. I have combination skin prone to concentrated dry patches, and I especially appreciate that this foundation never accentuates flakiness."

Best Drugstore Foundation

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation

$14 at Amazon $17 at Ulta $14 at Target

Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Natural | Shades: 40 | Cruelty-Free: No

This drugstore formula’s performance rivals high-end options. Available in 40 shades—a huge range compared to most drugstore picks—there’s an option for pretty much everyone. Our tester loved that it felt lightweight on the skin and was buildable and budge-proof. One light layer offers smooth, medium coverage, while an additional layer can be applied to achieve a more full-coverage look without leading to a cakey mess. The formula is resistant to sweat, water, and transfer, and it also contains SPF 25. During testing, it successfully passed the transfer test—no oil or foundation came off when an oil-blotting sheet was patted on the skin—making it perfect for those whose skin gets shiny throughout the day.

Michelle, tester with dry skin: "This foundation melted into my skin and provided a wonderful dewy glow. My skin appeared more hydrated after applying, and it gave the most beautiful blurring effect that made my complexion look even, soft, and smooth."

Best Splurge Foundation

N°1 De Chanel Revitalizing Foundation

View On Chanel $78 at Ulta $61 at Harrods.com

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural/radiant | Shades: 29 | Cruelty-Free: No

There’s no denying that this liquid foundation comes with a pretty steep price tag, but if it aligns with your preferences and is within your budget, it's worth the money. The best thing about this foundation is the consistency. It’s just right—not too thick or runny—making it easy to blend with a damp makeup sponge or a foundation brush. One layer offers lightweight coverage, while a second layer yields medium coverage that blurs redness and imperfections. Once blended out, it feels lightweight and moisturizing, and it sets to a natural radiant finish. Our tester was also impressed that it wore all day with minimal creasing or fading. It's a great pick since it's neither overly matte nor dewy, so it looks natural and gorgeous on all skin types.

Editor-Favorite Foundation

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Serum Foundation

$24 at Sephora View on Danessamyricksbeauty.com

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 26 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"While I often test different foundations, none of them have dethroned Danessa Myricks' Yummy Skin Serum Foundation from being my number one," notes Byrdie editor Olivia Hancock. "As someone with dry skin, this formula is a dream because it's loaded with moisturizing ingredients (think: hyaluronic acid, squalane, and jojoba oil). I also appreciate this foundation because it delivers such a radiant, natural-looking finish. My skin looks incredibly even, dewy, and glowy whenever I wear it." Not only is it packed with hydrating ingredients and gives the skin a healthy-looking luminosity, but it also offers buildable coverage and comes in refillable packaging.

Best Full-Coverage Foundation

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation

$49 at Sephora $49 at Nordstrom $49 at Bloomingdales

Coverage: Full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 40 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This formula from Charlotte Tilbury is one of the most popular matte, full-coverage foundations on the market, and it's understandable why. Despite having a pretty thick texture which can sometimes make for a cakey finish, it blends out easily on the skin to create a natural-looking base if used properly. It does cling to dry patches, which isn’t uncommon for full-coverage foundations—but if you exfoliate and moisturize before using it, you’ll be able to achieve a smooth result that appears skin-like and most importantly, lasts. This formula passed the transfer test with perfect scores—this is especially important if you have oily skin and struggle with your foundation migrating or breaking apart. It also comes in an extensive shade range that's well dispersed across skin tones, so it should be easy to find a perfect match.

Joyce, tester with dry skin: "The finish of this foundation was very natural and seamless on my skin, and the texture was smooth while applying. With two pumps, it covered almost all imperfections, and my skin looked even without creasing."

Best Dewy Finish Foundation

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint

$48 at Amazon $48 at Sephora $48 at Nordstrom

Coverage: Light | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 30 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Ilia's super-popular Super Serum truly does have a lightweight, serum-like consistency. The slightly runny liquid blends into the skin effortlessly with your fingertips, a damp sponge, or a brush, delivering semi-sheer coverage with a healthy-looking, dewy finish. It didn't settle into creases or fine lines when testing, rather it gave the skin a smooth finish. In addition to how beautiful it looks on the skin, it also contains SPF 40 and is formulated with hydrating ingredients such as squalane and hyaluronic acid. Keep in mind that the dropper bottle can get messy, so apply carefully. It's a great option for a dewy, no-makeup makeup look that won't crease on dry skin types.

Tanya Akim, tester with sensitive/acne-prone skin: "If you hate looking cakey and want effortlessly fresh day-to-nighttime makeup with an added boost, ILIA's Super Serum Skin Tint is the only product you’ll need. I love the way it gives my skin a healthy glow while providing superior sun protection."

Best Longest-Lasting Foundation

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Matte Foundation

$46 at Amazon $57 at Sephora $57 at Ulta

Coverage: Full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 50 | Cruelty-Free: No

Lancôme has been creating beautiful complexion products for decades, and this formula is one of their best. Despite being full coverage, it has a lightweight, fluid texture that's still able to shield imperfections. Although it can cover up pretty much anything, it manages to maintain a true skin-like appearance. Our tester also loved that it had a matte-but-not-flat finish and layered beautifully with whatever makeup was applied on top. Once applied to the skin, it’s not going anywhere: it performed nicely during the transfer test and resisted creasing and fading. Just a bit of the foundation came off on the blotting paper, but it was pretty insignificant and could likely be prevented by setting it with translucent powder. 

Michelle, tester with acne-prone skin: "This product felt very lightweight and comfortable on my skin, and it blended beautifully. I would recommend it for everyone, but especially those who don't enjoy wearing foundation often."

Best Shade Range

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation

$18 at Sephora $40 at Ulta View on Fentybeauty.com

Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Soft matte | Shades: 58 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Chances are, you’re already familiar with this game-changing foundation from Fenty Beauty. Aside from helping to set the industry standard for shade range inclusivity, it also has a loyal fan base who adore the formula. We get why it’s so well-loved, thanks to how blendable it is, how lightweight and comfortable it feels on the skin, and how transfer-resistant it is. Throughout testing, it didn’t crease, fade, or transfer. The soft matte finish is also beautiful—it's not so matte that it looks flat or chalky on the skin. It can cling to texture and dry patches, so it's best to moisturize your skin before application. When it comes to the shade range, it’s not just the amount of shades offered that were impressive, but it’s how evenly distributed the shades are across skin tones and undertones. There are colors for very fair skin, very dark skin, and pretty much everything in between.

Bianca Lambert, tester with combination skin: "Not only did the oil-free formula keep my T-zone matte without any powder or touch-ups, but it also evened my skin tone with just two pumps of product and matched my skin seamlessly. The foundation also never felt tacky or sticky, which was a plus."

Best SPF Foundation

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream With SPF 50+

$47 at Amazon $22 at Sephora $33 at Ulta

Coverage: Full | Finish: Natural | Shades: 22 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While applying a separate SPF before foundation is important in order to get adequate sun protection, opting for a foundation that contains SPF is great for additional protection. This CC cream offers full coverage with a natural finish that blurs imperfections while also boasting impressive SPF 50+ sun protection. It’s buildable, easy to layer, and doesn’t clog pores or emphasize their appearance. It also contains hydrating and smoothing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin E to keep the complexion soft and smooth. Although it has a creamy, relatively rich texture, it settles beautifully into the skin without creating a cakey appearance. Our tester was impressed by how well it wore throughout the day, and although it can transfer a bit, it resets nicely if you apply a light layer of powder on top. 

Mandy, tester with acne-prone/combination skin: "The foundation felt lightweight, not watery, and gave me a healthy, radiant glow. I did not need to apply multiple layers to get the look I wanted, and I just needed to blend for it to look seamless."

Best Powder Foundation

bareMinerals Loose Powder

$39 at Amazon $39 at Sephora $39 at Ulta

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 30 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This loose powder foundation has been beloved by customers for decades—and it’s no secret why. The weightless formula contains SPF 15 and sheer-to-medium coverage depending on how much you build it up. It has a natural finish with the most subtle hint of luminosity, yet the powder formula helps to mattify shine on the skin. With just a few swipes, it helps blur the appearance of pores and imperfections, creating an even-looking complexion with no cakiness in sight. It can also be applied on bare skin or layered on top of a liquid or cream foundation for additional coverage and smoothing. Our tester was not only impressed by how it wore, but they also appreciated that the packaging has a handy locking mechanism that prevents the powder from spilling everywhere. The only downside is that the plastic wrap with a pull tab in the jar is tricky to open upon arrival. 

Best Buildable Coverage Foundation

Nars Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation

$52 at Sephora $52 at Ulta $37 at Walmart

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural/radiant | Shades: 36 | Cruelty-Free: No

Nars makes some of the best complexion products around—their foundations and concealers have been MUA and editor favorites for years. This one quickly became a favorite during testing thanks to the lightweight formula, buildable coverage, and natural finish that offers just a hint of healthy-looking radiance. Available in 36 shades that range from fair to dark with varying undertones, this formula looks smooth and beautiful on the skin. The consistency is creamy, super blendable, and weightless on the skin. Once it sets, it looks like skin that’s been properly moisturized: i.e. natural and glowing without being greasy. It wears well throughout the day, though it can break slightly in the T-zone if you have very oily skin. Set it with a light layer of translucent powder if you deal with oiliness throughout the day.

Alyssa Kaplan, commerce writer with oily skin: "I love reaching for this foundation when I want to really even out my skin tone without creating a mask-like effect. It does a great job of blurring redness and discoloration and giving my complexion a natural-looking radiance. I also find that it wears well on my oily skin and layers nicely with other products I apply on top."

Best Foundation for Mature Skin

Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation

$43 at Sephora View on Dior.com

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 43 | Cruelty-Free: No

When we tested foundations for mature skin, this was the one that impressed our testers the most. It offers a super-lightweight, liquid consistency, seamless ability to blend, and a beautiful, natural-looking finish. It blended into the skin easily without creating streaks, and while it only has medium coverage, it covered redness and dark spots quite well. The formula is slightly buildable, so you can layer it up to achieve a bit more coverage, and it also does a nice job of blurring the appearance of fine lines and skin texture. Once applied, it appears fresh and natural—not dry and cakey. This foundation is formulated with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, which is nice for people with mature skin who might be experiencing moisture loss. It’s a fantastic choice for everyday wear since it has a weightless liquid texture and a natural finish that lets your skin peek through just a bit.

Eli, tester with mature/acne-prone skin: "This was, in all honesty, I think the best foundation I have used in my life. It immediately made an impressive change on my face. All I had to do was apply one layer, and my face looked as if I had it done professionally. Every person in the room also noticed the quick change. It covered my acne with such ease and smoothed out the skin texture."

Best Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin

Oxygenetix Oxygenating Acne Control Foundation

$66 at Amazon $76 at Dermstore View on Oxygenetix.com

Coverage: Full | Finish: Natural/radiant | Shades: 13 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those with acne-prone skin know that finding a foundation that covers breakouts without exacerbating them or clogging pores can be tricky. Off the bat, it's great that this formula contains salicylic acid, an acne-fighting ingredient that also exfoliates and removes excess oil. But in addition to the formula, it was impressive how well it performed during our test. It has a creamy, lightweight texture that blends out well with a brush and a sponge, and it provides full coverage in just one layer. It completely camouflages redness and dark spots without looking like heavy makeup on the skin. It didn’t emphasize texture or settle into fine lines, and it did a nice job of smoothing the appearance of blemishes. Everything about this foundation is top-tier except for the shade range which lacks options for deep and dark tones, and it could use more options generally across the spectrum of skin tones.  

Mandy, tester with acne-prone skin: "This foundation felt hydrating and lightweight on my skin, and didn't emphasize the acne scars on my nose. It left a dewy, healthy finish while providing complete coverage."

Best Lightweight Foundation

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation

$69 at Sephora $69 at Ulta $69 at Nordstrom

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 36 | Cruelty-Free: No

Today’s foundations are generally much more lightweight and comfortable to wear than those of the past, but some still do feel like heavy makeup. This one from Pat McGrath Labs takes lightweight to the next level—the consistency is just a bit thicker than water, almost like a serum. The weightless texture blends out fast and evenly with a sponge and a brush, and it provides medium coverage with a natural satin finish. It’s not as buildable as other options on this list, but you can add an additional layer for a bit more coverage without it looking or feeling heavy. It didn’t settle into creases, though it settled a bit into enlarged pores while testing. But, this can be avoided by applying a face primer before the foundation and then setting it with a light layer of powder. Despite these small cons, this formula was truly impressive. 

Nikki, tester with oily/mature skin: "This product blended seamlessly into my skin and was not at all patchy.  It did not sit on my skin or feel heavy at all; the liquid formula is literally weightless."

Best Viral TikTok Foundation

Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation

$15 at Amazon

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 19 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There's a good chance you've seen this product on your social media feed— influencers and Amazon shoppers alike are obsessed with this cushion foundation from Korean brand Tirtir. Coming in 19 shades, it's able to provide buildable coverage that can last up to 72 hours without creasing or slipping. It feels lightweight on the skin while still being able to cover dark circles and blemishes, and looks natural but dewy on the complexion. This is an especially great pick for oily skin types who want to look glowy without getting greasy—which can be a difficult feat. Because it's so long-lasting, it won't slip or make the skin too shiny as the day goes on.

Best Photo-Ready Foundation

Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Foundation

$36 at Amazon $34 at Walmart View on Laurageller.com

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural/matte | Shades: 9 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While this Laura Geller foundation is primarily promoted for mature skin types, it's a great pick for everyone who hasn't been able to find a foundation that doesn't accentuate fine lines or texture. This one will give you that smooth, flawless finish that you've been looking for in your base coverage. It has a creamy powder formula that self-adjusts to match your skin tone perfectly, and has ingredients to hydrate and protect the skin (specifically centella asiatica and white tea extract)—so it's also great for those with sensitive skin. When using it, our tester loved that it blended seamlessly into her skin, and it didn't take too many layers to build up to full coverage. It didn't feel heavy on the skin, and the smooth, blurred finish didn't become shiny or slip throughout the day.

Shannon Stubbs, commerce writer with combination skin: "This foundation has a creamy consistency that dries down matte on the skin—but didn't emphasize my dry patches or look flat on my complexion. While it was completely full coverage, it didn't feel like I had on anything at all, and it stayed in place all day.

Most Comfortable Foundation

Jones Road Beauty What the Foundation

View on Jonesroadbeauty.com

Coverage: Light/medium | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 16 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This tinted balm foundation definitely looks very different from your standard formula—having a whipped, pudding-like texture. Aptly called What The Foundation, it provides lightweight (but buildable) coverage to give your skin a smooth, fresh appearance. To use, apply a pea-sized amount to the face blend with a buffing brush or your fingers. They also have a great shade range and the color is pretty flexible, so you should be able to find one that works the best for you. When applied, it settles into the skin similar to a tinted moisturizer—with a tad more coverage. It leaves a dewy finish—meaning oily skin types might want to finish off with a setting powder—so the skin looks fresh, healthy, and luminous. Another plus is that you only need a small amount per application, so each pot will last for a while.

Best Foundation for Dark Skin Tones

Ami Colé Skin-Enhancing Foundation Stick

$29 at Amazon $29 at Sephora View on Amicole.com

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 16 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have a deep skin tone and have trouble finding a foundation that's an exact match to your tone and undertones, this foundation is the solution. Offering 16 shades (with the majority of them being darker shades), Ami Colé is a brand that caters specifically to melanin-rich skin. The foundation has five to six shades for the categories rich, deep, and medium—so you can easily choose based on whatever your undertones are. The best thing about this formula is that it's creamy and hydrating (thanks to the shea butter and baobab seed oil in the formula), meaning it doesn't cling to dry patches or emphasize skin texture. The finish feels lightweight on the skin, and it has a slight blurring effect to make the skin look airbrushed and smooth.