Best Foundation

My 18 Top Picks for Every Skin Type

Finding the best foundation for your complexion can be tricky. Your best bet is to go to a store like Sephora and try out a variety of products in your shade range. In the meantime, here's a rundown of my 13 favorite tried-and-true foundations.

Best Tinted Moisturizer for All Skin Types: Laura Mercier

I have used Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer for years and it's a beauty editor and beauty artist all-time favorite. It's lighter than foundation which makes it perfect for warmer days or for women who don't like heavy product on their faces. There are a bunch of shades to choose from, so I suggest heading to a department store and trying them out. You can use oil-free if you have oily skin or regular if you have dry or mature skin. Makeup artist Genevieve Herr explains on the awesome Website, xojane, how she uses it, "I usually apply with a wedge sponge that has been wet. I squeeze the water out so the sponge is damp -- so it goes on to the skin smoothly."

Best Foundation for Oily Skin: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation Liquid

Hands down one of the best foundations for oily skin. Laura Mercier's foundation gets high praise from beauty editors (myself included) and the reviewers on Makeupalley.com.

Best Pricey Foundation: Chanel Teint Innocence Foundation

Flawless. Chanel products go on smooth and aren't drying (but they also don't add oil to your already oily skin). A plus is most come with an SPF of at least 15 -- a big bonus in moisturizers. We suggest trying out the different versions at the Chanel counter.

A Great Drugstore Buy: L'Oréal Paris True Match

True Match has made it on Allure's "Best Beauty Buys" list for the category "inexpensive foundation" a whopping 8 years in a row. This foundation comes in a 33 colors and has "microfine pearls to diffuse imperfections," according to Allure.

Best Inexpensive Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Foundation

If you're going to spend money on beauty products, we usually suggest saving it up for a good foundation. But this inexpensive product is worth a try. If you have oily skin, you might want to skip this product, however. Best for women with dry skin.

Best Drugstore Foundation: CoverGirl NatureLuxe Foundation

 When the hottest makeup artist in the world (Pat McGrath) carts a drugstore foundation around to all the Fashion Week shows in New York leaving a host of perfect dewy faces in her wake, you know the beauty world will take notice. This is exactly what happened in February 2011 and that drugstore foundation McGrath went ga-ga for (as did the blogosphere) is CoverGirl NatureLuxe Foundation. <p>
Available in 14 shades, this light foundation provides full coverage with a perfect dewy finish. What's more, it is made of a slew of botanical ingredients including jojoba, rose hip extracts and cucumber water.

Best Foundation Stick: Bobbi Brown

Foundation sticks are great for covering blotchy skin and were made for women on the run who need a quick fix. They provide on-the-spot coverage in a flash and there's no better product than Bobbi Brown. Make sure you blend in product after applying.

Best Mineral Foundation: BareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation

Personally, I am not a fan of mineral makeup. I find it settles into my fine lines and looks weird with my large pores. But what doesn't work for me, works for thousands of women since Bare Minerals is a cult classic and Sephora favorite. It's also a 5-time Glamour Magazine "best foundation" winner and an Allure Magazine 2010 Readers Choice Award winner. Users love "BareMins" because it goes on featherlight and it won't budge, smudge or melt away. Women also love the way it looks on their skin. Because mineral makeup is a love or hate thing, I strongly suggest you try it out first and if you hate it, return it.

Best Inexpensive Foundation: e.l.f. Minerals Starter Kit

You can't find a better makeup deal than e.l.f. Not only do you get mineral concealer, you get foundation, blush, an all-over brush and a blush brush, all in a canvas tote. Price: Just $20 for all of it. There are several shades. Pick the one that best fits the color of your skin:

• light starter kit (for light skin and golden undertones)
• warm starter kit (for medium skin and neutral undertones)
• dark starter kit (for tan skin and golden undertones)
• fair starter kit (for porcelain skin and neutral undertones)
• deep starter kit (for dark skin and neutral undertones)

Best Pricey Foundation Powder: Laura Mercier

Powder foundation tends to be more matte than sheer or satin, so it's great for women with oily skin. This product blends well & has great staying power throughout the day mainly because it comes in powder form, which is great for bringing along in your purse.

 

Best Affordable Foundation Powder: MAC Studio Fix

We've used this powder foundation for years. The trick is to find the right shade. MAC Studio Fix is perfect for women with oily skin who want to minimize the appearance of large pores. Keep in mind you might need different shades for the different seasons of the year -- you're usually a bit darker in summer.

Best Foundation With SPF: Philosophy "The Supernatural"

This foundation is one of the best rated and most popular on Drugstore.com. We gave it a whirl and loved how light it went on without being greasy in our t-zone spots. No wonder this foundation is much-beloved. Plus, we love that it is SPF 15.

Another Great Tinted Moisturizer: Clarins Hydra-Care

Clarins consistently impresses. You'll find these light, tinted moisturizers offer great coverage without feeling heavy. And there's no better tanning product out there than Clarins. Here, you'll get the moisturizer and the tan without the need for a heavy foundation.

Best Cream Foundation: Cover Girl Aquasmooth

Cream foundations offer the best of both worlds to women with dry, flaky skin: Total coverage and rich moisturizers.

Best Liquid Foundation for Dark Skin: Iman Second To None Oil-Free Makeup, SPF 8

Iman is not only a famous model, she's also the creator of some of the best makeup for dark-skinned women. Her foundation comes in a variety of shades, contains 8 SPF, and it goes on with a semi-matte finish.

Best Cream-to-Powder Foundations: Vincent Longo Water Canvas

This base delivers a great matte, even finish. You'll find it lighter than the creams so it's perfect for women with normal to oily skin. But a warning: This foundation can show off your dry skin and blemishes. You'll want to apply it with a sponge.

Best "Green" Foundation: Korres Wild Rose Foundation

So many of my friends want natural, organic products in their makeup cabinets and this is the foundation I direct them to. The coverage is excellent, it provides 20 SPF and it's made of ingredients that won't break you out. It does have Wild Rose extract, which is a potent source of Vitamin C, so there are some anti-aging benefits. Users report the coverage lasts a long time, but might not be thick enough for those with blemishes or acne. You might need a thicker formula. Paraben- and sulfate-free. Also an Allure Magazine "best buy" for 2010.
 

Best Foundation for African-American Skin: Iman Second to None Cream to Powder

Gives the flawless look you want, with a truly natural appearance yet covers imperfections perfectly. Reviewers love it's velvety creamy consistency. This foundation works on all skin types and comes in 8 shades: Clay 1, 2, 5 for medium skin tones and Earth 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 for dark to deep skin tones.

Best Illuminating Foundation: Joe Blasco Creme Foundation

When gorgeous women share their beauty secrets, I take note. French performer Arielle Dombasle is married to philosopher Henri-Bernard Levi and is absolutely gorgeous. She says the secret to her beauty is being in love (oh, gag) and she notes in Marie Claire magazine a few of her other helpers, including this foundation which she says she was turned on to by a movie makeup artist. "It's incredible," says Dombasle, "it literally brings the light to your whole face."