What's the best full-coverage foundation for my skin type?
Party season and heavy-duty, long-wearing makeup are a match made in heaven – and the foundation of that heaven is… uh… foundation. There’s a lot to factor into finding the perfect full-coverage formula – from skin type and texture to finish and format – making it that much harder to find the one that's right for you. But let us remove all the guesswork, as we’ve rounded up the best full-coverage foundation for every skin type, whether you’re oily, dry, mature, or somewhere in-between.
What are the different skin types?
Normal Skin typically doesn’t feel dry, tight or oily throughout the day – it’ll be pretty balanced overall, and you may not have too many complexion concerns to complain about.
Oily Skin is named in line with our bodies’ excess sebum production, which comes from our pores and causes a shiny layer to form on complexions. Oily skin types often prefer a mattifying foundation that works round the clock to keep unwanted shine at bay.
Dry Skin types are prone to coarse texture, flaking, and sometimes soreness and itching. Dry skin can benefit from hydrating or moisture-rich ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, ceramides and squalane.
Combination Skin falls somewhere between oily and dry. The most common concerns are an oily T-zone (that’s your forehead, nose, and chin), coupled with drier cheeks, jawlines and hairlines – although in some cases, you may experience the opposite.
Sensitive Skin is known for being reactive to certain ingredients. You may experience redness and rosacea, rashes or hives, and dry, hard or leathery patches of skin. Sensitive skin types should be extra cautious when choosing a new foundation – and always check the ingredients list for potential irritants!
Although not technically a skin type, Mature Skin may have different concerns that develop as we age – including fine lines, dullness, dryness and dark spots. It’s important to remember that mature skin may also be dry, oily, combination or sensitive too!
Best for normal skin
Searching for superior coverage? KIKO Milano’s 2-in-1 Foundation and Concealer does it all, and then some! Perfect for disguising the look of blemishes, under-eye circles, discolouration and fine lines, the clever formula gives a second-skin effect with a matte-satin finish – plus optimum blendability that'll keep you looking flawless all day long.
Best for mature skin
A crease-resistant, medium-to-full coverage formula that avoids settling into fine lines? Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation is your new base BFF! It features innovative Light-Adjusting Technology to address 3 major concerns that limit your lit-from-within radiance (including wrinkles, uneven tone, and lack of hydration), combining transparent pearls, radiant microcrystals and advanced optical filters to deliver a weightless, even-toned glow while binding moisture to the skin for 24-hour hydration. Plus, it’s complete with SPF30!
Best for oily skin
If your complexion is known to produce excess oil throughout the day, you need a mattifying, waterproof foundation that stands the test of time. L'Oréal Paris Infallible 32H Matte Cover Foundation is equipped with innovative oxygen technology for a weightless feel (despite its full coverage!), and vitamin C to help combat the look of shine on the skin. What’s more? The full-coverage formula lasts on the complexion for up to 32 hours!
Best for Dry Skin
Delivering medium-to-full coverage, MAC Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation is a great addition to dry skin routines. Upgraded with an 80% skincare base, the unique formula features 33 complexion-perfecting ingredients, including a 10% hyaluronic acid solution to lock in moisture beneath the skin’s surface. It even features skin-loving superfoods like olive and jojoba oil to help nourish, condition and illuminate dry complexions, leaving behind a uniform canvas with a next-level glow.
Best for combination skin
Full coverage? Check. Hydration? Check. Long-wearing? Check! YSL All Hours Luminous Matte Foundation offers the best of both worlds for combination skin, featuring a comfortable matte finish that won’t compromise your glow. The skincare-powered formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid for an all-day hydration boost, while the brand’s first Skin-Fusing™ technology mimics the appearance of skin for an ultra-natural, luminous finish.
Best for sensitive skin
Hailed by beauty pros and editors alike, the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF50 is a crowd pleaser for a reason. The formula is enriched with hydrolysed collagen, peptides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid – ingredients that are designed to be kind to sensitive skin – helping to improve the appearance of redness and dark circles while laying down a flawless, full-coverage canvas that resists creases or cracks. Plus, it’s finished with SPF50 for increased protection.