Choosing the best foundation can be tricky, it's important to find the right formula for your skin, whether it's oily, dry, or acne-prone, but it's not always easy. There's a lot of makeup out there, from sheer to full coverage foundations, high end to drugstore, matte to dewy-finish... It's a beauty minefield.
Well, we're determined to make things easier by bringing you an edit of the very best foundations according to our Beauty Editors. Finally, the struggle to find a long-lasting formula (yes, one that won't disappear come 3pm) with beautiful coverage is over.
We've reviewed the crème de la crème of the makeup world, from the famous MAC Face & Body Foundation, which offers a lightweight, glowy finish that's perfect if you want to steer clear of heavy formulas (but don't want to sacrifice on coverage). To Estée Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, which remains one of the most popular foundations in the UK, thanks to it's unbeatable coverage.
Oh and if you're looking for a drugstore option, we've got you covered (literally), with Maybelline's Fit Me Foundation, that offers velvety matte coverage for only £7.99.
Yep, from NYX Cosmetics to Fenty Beauty and NARS to Giorgio Armani, we can safely say these are the best foundations in the UK (maybe even the world 🌍 ).
Side note: if you prefer to take a lighter approach to your base, head over to our best tinted moisturiser edit next...
Keeks Reid, contributing beauty editor: This all-in-one foundation is an absolute steal. For it's budget price, the water-based foundation gives you just enough coverage to wear daily, and it has SPF in it, so it'll protect your skin from the sun's harsh rays.
If you're acne-prone this light-weight formula is the perfect option, as it doesn't contain pore-clogging ingredients.
Finish: Smooth, mattifying and pore-blurring.
Coverage: Medium, but can be sheered out if you want a lighter finish.
Shade range: 35 shades, which is impressive for a drugstore brand.
Lasting power: I had a small amount of patching around my nose by the end of the day, but other than that it stayed flawless.
Final thoughts: I love this. The pore-blurring finish applied easily and gave my skin a smooth finish. For under a tenner, I'm sold.
7
MAC
MAC Studio Radiance Face & Body Radiant Sheer Foundation
Keeks Reid, contributing beauty editor: This foundation was the biggest talking point when Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty collection launched, and with its extensive shade range and lightweight formula, what’s not to love? The consistency is runny, but don’t let that deceive you, once it’s buffed in this base isn’t budging.
Finish: Ultra-matte. If you have super-oily skin this is the one for you.
Coverage: Medium-to-full coverage and it’s really easy to build up layers.
Shade range: 50 shades from very light to very deep.
Lasting power: Impressive. It’s the type of foundation you could wear to work and then just blot down the T-Zone to extend the lasting power through evening.
Final thoughts: What did I do before this foundation? It’s my new go-to on a long day.
9
Sculpted by Aimee Connolly
Sculpted by Aimee Connolly Second Skin Dewy Finish Foundation
Keeks Reid, contributing beauty editor: This stick is a foundation and concealer in one, making it perfect for those of us with oily skin that need to touch up post-work or gym. Also, the formula delivers twice as much pigment as traditional foundations, giving high coverage without the cake.
Finish: Satin, with a slight dewiness.
Coverage: Full, without question. But doesn’t feel heavy in the slightest.
Shade range: 32 shades divided up by colour as well as undertone
Lasting power: This foundation honestly lasts all day without me shining like a headlight in the night.
Final thoughts: This is a great choice if you don’t want a full on matte look. Plus, it doubles up as a concealer, I used it on blemishes and dark areas (chin, upper lip and under-eye) to even out my skin tone.
Victoria Jowett, beauty director: Feel like your foundation can get a bit blotchy? To avoid this issue, invest in a formula that blends flawlessly into the skin. Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation is the perfect option for makeup minimalists that want a flawless application without any cakey-ness.
Finish: Satin, with a slight glow.
Coverage: Medium-to-full coverage, whilst still being light and non-cakey.
Shade range: 24 shades
Lasting power: All day long.
Final thoughts: This is the ultimate people pleaser, a winner for most skin types, whether you're dry or oily, the formula applies beautifully leaving skin looking perfected, but not overdone.
