The Best Foundations For Every Skin Type, Tried and Tested

• Shades: 16
• Coverage: buildable coverage
• Finish: luminous
• Longevity: long-lasting, but set with a setting powder or spray if you have oily skin

Why it’s Vogue-approved:

Beauty mogul Bobbi Brown is famously not a fan of foundation. Her prescription for flawless skin? A sheer, buildable balm that unifies the skin tone more naturally instead. Applied with the fingers or using a brush, this balm doesn’t require much effort to melt into the complexion, but gives the polish of someone who’s spent an age preening thanks to its skin-perfecting finish. An excellent foundation for mature skin, this cream nourishes the complexion while naturally camouflaging flaws. Its formula is full of skincare heroes, including moisture-attracting sodium hyaluronate and a blend of skin-conditioning oils that dry skin types will love. Smoothed on with the fingers, it blends easily to even out discolouration, but you can also build up coverage by applying it with a dense make-up brush. “Don’t be intimidated by this foundation’s thick appearance – it has a melting formula that blends seamlessly with natural oils on the skin for a flattering, undetectable finish. While it’s definitely more suited to dry complexions, it adds a gorgeous, lasting glow to my oil-prone skin and I love that it builds to conceal dark spots without looking overdone.” – Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer.

More to know: In Brown’s own words, this product is where moisturiser meets foundation, and the jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate in this formula ensure skin is sufficiently nourished. It’s a particularly good pick for those navigating the drier skin that comes with age – jojoba oil closely mimics skin’s own sebum, which decreases as you get older.

• Shades: 35
• Coverage: adjustable
• Finish: radiant
• Longevity: stays in place for up to 12 hours of wear

Why it’s Vogue-approved:

With a blend of blurring pigments, antioxidants, and reflective powders, this cult classic is the foundation to know for skin that looks like yours, but with a tad more polish. It gives the complexion a sun-kissed glow, boasting a formula that mattifies oil without compromising on radiance. Then there is its consistency – a silky, serum-like fluid – that is hydrating, comfortable and weightless on the skin. One to keep stocked for your summer soirees, it keeps you looking fresh-faced for several hours of wear and does not separate even as temperatures rise.

• Shades: 20
• Coverage: buildable
• Finish: luminous
• Longevity: lasts for hours with a good setting powder

Why it’s Vogue-approved:

Stick foundations often get a bad rap for being thick and cakey, but Charlotte Tilbury’s latest launch bucks that trend. Super hydrating, it effortlessly smooths over imperfections to unify the skin while imparting a subtle glow. Its formula includes vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to take care of your skin during wear, and with optical blur technology, it’s like an IRL filter for your face that blurs texture. What’s more, it's easily slotted into a handbag or clutch for touch-ups on the go, and thanks to its stick format, there are no surprise leaks.

• Shades: 18
• Coverage: light, but with buildable coverage that can conceal redness and blemishes
• Finish: luminous
• Longevity: lasts all day

Why it’s Vogue-approved:

If anyone knows what makes a good foundation, it’s Lisa Eldridge – the pro makeup artist behind countless Vogue covers celebrity red carpet looks. Her skin tint brings that expertise into beginner-friendly territory, with a foolproof fluid formula that gets you a great base with very little effort at all. Containing glycerin, squalane and salicylic acid, expect natural, seamless coverage, with the added benefits of refining actives that smooth skin texture over time. “I can’t get enough of this lightweight, beautifully dewy skin tint. Delivering next-level luminosity via the perfect balance of coverage and translucence, skin looks natural and healthy, rather than done. Obsessed doesn’t cut it.” – Hannah Coates, beauty and wellness editor

• Why we love it: Powered by “Precision Blur” technology, this is a foundation you can count on for long-lasting coverage. We love a foundation that’s more than just make-up. This formula features hyaluronic acid, which works to hydrate and maintain the plumpness of the skin. Unlike a number of other long-wearing foundations, the water-based product feels weightless on the skin and begins with medium coverage that can be built up for a full-coverage look. Whether you approach it with a lighter or heavier hand, the non-slip technology has been engineered so that it doesn’t separate or settle into fine lines, instead working beautifully to smooth texture and lessen the appearance of colouration. As for creases and fine lines? They’re impressively concealed thanks to the non-slip formula, which works to decrease the appearance of texture (without clogging) and moisturise the skin. To top it all off, it’s also safe for sensitive skin and comes in 25 shades and undertones. If you can’t tell, we’re fans.
• More to know: This foundation is cruelty-free, vegan, non-comedogenic and suitable for sensitive skin. There are 25 shades and undertones that should last up to 12 hours to create a velvet-matte finish. And if you can’t find a true shade match, the product lends itself well to mixing.
• Shades: 25
• Coverage: medium to full
• Finish: velvet matte
• Longevity: 12 hours

• Shades: 30
• Coverage: medium to full
• Finish: luminous matte
• Longevity: lasts all day

Any foundation that prioritises skin health is a foundation we can get behind. Givenchy’s Prisme Libre does just that, working to correct and protect your complexion with a skincare-based formula. Its hero ingredients are pink clay and and anatto extract, both of which balance oils and refine pores over time, while mother of pearl pigments reflect light to give a healthy glow without unwanted shine. When we tried it, we were most impressed by the coverage achieved with a modest pump, and the airbrushed effect that stayed pristine and in place even on warmer days. “This is my go-to foundation for full coverage in humid weather, because it offers seamless, skinlike coverage of blemishes and has a formula that stays in place. What’s more, it‘s non-comedogenic and skin-caring – it has never caused breakouts on my acne-prone skin, which is no small thing!” – Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer

• Shades: 40
• Coverage: customisable from light to full coverage
• Finish: skin-like, demi-matte finish with subtle radiance
• Longevity: long-lasting

Developed for the fast-paced glam rooms behind the scenes of fashion runway shows, Dior’s fluid foundation is the product of choice for a professional, seamless finish. Lightweight and long-wearing, it gives quick coverage that takes incredibly well to touch-ups, never feeling heavy or appearing cakey even when layered on. That is no doubt down to a formula dosed with hyaluronic acid and squalane, which hydrate and plump the skin for a naturally flawless, photo-ready look. The best part? Designed for quick changes backstage, it won’t separate on you as the day goes on, resisting water and staying put even during sports and summer heat.

• Shades: 32 shades spanning five skin undertones
• Coverage: medium coverage foundation, which can be layered for a full coverage look
• Finish: hydrated, dewy finish
• Longevity: stays all day

Glossier’s long-awaited first foundation has arrived, and trust us when we say it will surpass your expectations. True to the brand’s clean girl style, its gel-cream formula feels weightless and leaves a radiant, skin-like glow. But it also boasts shine control and impressive coverage thanks to amino acid-coated pigments that melt into the skin. As with the stretch concealer, these pigments are designed to flex with skin and not settle into lines, giving make-up that undetectable, natural finish that we love.

• Shades: 14
• Coverage: medium
• Finish: hydrated second-skin finish
• Longevity: long-lasting

A good foundation will cover concerns that you’d rather keep concealed, but the best foundations? They can do that and more. Enter Oxygenetix Blemish Control: a foundation actually approved by dermatologists for use post-clinical procedures, chock full of ingredients that soothe and heal. Made to wear beautifully without compromising the health of your skin, it combines anti-inflammatory aloe vera with Ceravitae Complex and salicylic acid for a calmer, clearer complexion. It may be medicinal, but it is also very good make-up, with a balmy texture that lends an immaculate skin-like glow. We love it for treating a bad breakout – as does Kourtney Kardashian, who revealed it as her go-to foundation on Vogue Beauty Secrets.

• Shades: 18
• Coverage: light to medium
• Finish: fresh-faced, dewy finish
• Longevity: stays in place without fading for up to 24 hours

Maybelline’s latest foundation is made for hot summer days when easy, breezy make-up is all you can bear. A serum formula with vitamin C to brighten skin over time, we love that it evens out redness and blemishes without completely masking the skin. If you like more coverage, you’ll be pleased with how it builds up to provide extra pigment, but we think it is best used as a light enhancement on low-effort days. It’s especially good as an affordable foundation for mature skin, with a hydrating formula that melts into the complexion without accentuating fine lines.

• Shades: infinite
• Coverage: can be tailored to your personal preference
• Finish: can be chosen according to your skin type or preference
• Longevity: long-lasting

No two shades of Dcypher’s foundation are the same, because each bottle is made to measure in a batch mixed for your exact hue. Powered by AI, the brand scans your skin tone via selfies that you provide, then lets you choose your desired coverage and finish to create a formula personalised for you. Sceptical? So were we, until we put it to the test, and got a shade match closer than any (of the many) foundations we’ve tried before. Eliminating waste and mismatched shades with bespoke bottles, this is a foundation we are very much here for.

• Shades: 40
• Coverage: buildable to full coverage
• Finish: luminous matte skin-like finish
• Longevity: lasts up to 24 hours

For a polished look, you can’t go wrong with YSL’s All Hours Foundation. Recently reformulated to a consistency much thinner than the original, it is comfortable, breathable and has a bare-faced feel on the skin. The smallest pump stretches to completely cover redness and dark spots without the need for concealer, yet looks believable because of a recipe rich in hyaluronic acid. A reliable foundation for weddings, graduations, proms – pretty much any big deal occasion – it gets our vote for giving the complexion a silken, lasting glow.

• Shades: 40
• Coverage: customisable from sheer to extra coverage
• Finish: luminous skin-like finish
• Longevity: lasts 24 hours

Loved by pros for its photogenic finish that looks just as flawless up close, this foundation comes name-checked by celebrity and bridal make-up artists alike. It has a luminous formula that pairs well with both cream and powder products, and does not budge once set, guaranteeing a long-wearing base. Glowy without looking greasy, we like this pick for its customisable coverage – it can be mixed with a moisturiser to make a sheer tint or stippled on for completely faultless skin.

• Shades: 30
• Coverage: medium, but buildable
• Finish: radiant and skin-like
• Longevity: you’ll get a full day’s wear (provided you use enough powder)

As the artist behind countless iconic celebrity red carpet moments, Mario Dedivanovic is a make-up master who really needs no introduction. The first foundation from his namesake brand arrived to viral fanfare across the pond – so much so that influencers here have been footing the international shipping bill just to get their hands on it. If, like them, you can’t wait until its official Sephora UK launch this summer, we’ve put it through its paces to tell you all you need to know. Aside from its weightless formula – which we can attest has a finish that is simply surreal – this foundation boasts Moisture Grip^TM technology that seamlessly melts with all your other make-up products. Plus, with a mix of squalene and oils, it keeps skin hydrated around the clock, and is enhanced with microglitters for an instant glassy glow. It requires a little layering if you’re trying to conceal any major marks or blemishes, but thanks to its elevated formula, there’s no danger of coverage appearing caked on.

• Shades: 33
• Coverage: customisable
• Finish: matte
• Longevity: lasts up to 36 hours – or from the office to post-work drinks without creasing or accumulating shine

In many ways, MAC’s latest foundation proves the brand is as much of a make-up authority as it’s ever been. Its wide shade range caters to the palest and darkest complexions with warm, neutral and cool variations. Light and fluid, the formula is also self-setting and dries to a natural matte finish. The real clincher here, though, is a convenient pen tip that dispenses precisely the amount you need; an invaluable feature for make-up artists and the everyman after an application that’s more controlled. Doubling as a concealer, a little of this foundation goes a long way to hide all manner of sins, but it can also be applied for a look as natural as you like. As for its staying power? It’d be nothing short of criminal to wear a foundation for 36 hours in the name of testing – but judging from how well it held up over a long work day, it’s as reliable as they come.

• Shades: 40
• Coverage: full coverage that can be toned down with a beauty sponge or fluffy brush
• Finish: natural-looking, shine-free finish
• Longevity: long-lasting with shine, sweat and humidity control

Think serum foundations are the barely-there reserve of those with blemish-free skin? Think again. KVD Beauty has changed the game with its Good Apple Serum foundation, which nourishes skin and delivers impressive coverage. Infused with antioxidant apple extract and glycerin, it grants a healthy, moisturised base, whilst quince leaf works throughout the day to keep excess oil at bay. Somehow, these ingredients combine to give a glow that endures all day – this one kept our skin in check from the rush hour commute to meetings across town and back. Where other foundations may have succumbed to sweat or, worse, begun to separate, it stayed intact and looked just as smooth as when it was applied.

• Shades: 34
• Coverage: customisable from light up to full coverage
• Finish: soft focus matte finish
• Longevity: lasts for 16 hours of wear and is transfer proof once dry

You’ll be hard pressed finding a foundation that is as chic on your vanity as this one from NARS, and happily, its good looks aren’t limited to the sleek squeeze bottle. Inside is a formula unlike any matte foundation we’ve tried, which suspends finely milled powder in an impossibly thin liquid for the ultimate shine control. On the skin, it feels as though you’re wearing nothing at all, and it seamlessly smooths texture for a flawless complexion. What really sets this one apart though, is its budge-proof dry down. Amazingly, it doesn't smudge even with vigorous blotting, nor did it transfer when we wore it under a mask.

• Shades: 39
• Coverage: buildable from light to full coverage
• Finish: filtered, glowy finish
• Longevity: up to 10 hours of wear

Stick foundations are your ticket to a quick and easy base, and that’s especially true in the case of this one from Huda Beauty. With a bevelled edge that slots neatly under eyes and can be trained on all your facial features, a few shades of this stick will make easy work of your highlight and contour. As for the formula, it melts into skin to give a buttery, natural finish, and is easily diffused with a make-up brush or layered for fuller coverage. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that it has a lightweight feel on the face, as well as a moderate colour payoff that doesn’t mask the complexion.

• Shades: 50
• Coverage: light to full coverage
• Finish: blurred matte finish
• Longevity: stays put until you take it off

Rihanna may have revived the powder foundation in the midst of a global mask mandate, but this is a product with use beyond those dark pandemic days. For starters, it stands up to sweat and humidity with impressive aplomb, plus smooths pores and gives matte coverage on well-primed skin. Pressed in with the accompanying sponge, it’s even capable of concealing blemishes – but if you ask us, it’s best used to set your make-up for a flawless finish. Buff it over high shine areas with a kabuki brush, and trust us when we say your skin will stay airbrushed all day long.