best foundations

Astrid Stawiarz

An essential element of any makeup look is the foundation. Foundation serves as a baseline for makeup pros and amateurs alike to create their own art by providing an even canvas for all of the other components of a look—concealer, contour, blush, brows, and so on—to shine. Consider foundation to be the quarterback of your cosmetic bag; you can probably get by without it (try a tinted moisturizer or BB cream instead), but everything goes (err, blends) a lot better when foundation is added to the mix.

Ask ELLE editors what their top foundation picks are. They’ll spend a lifetime explaining why they prefer skin tints over full-coverage formulas, which base blurs their most stubborn skin concerns, or which formula provides the best long-lasting coverage for jam-packed vacations. Simply put: ELLE editors keep the foundation market running; “no-makeup” makeup trends be damned.

However, we know you are busy and don’t have time to go on an endless hunt for the best foundations on the market, so we narrowed it down to 20. Whether you want a filter-like finish or a no-blemishes-left-behind full coverage option, shop ELLE’s favorite foundations below. Thank us later!



Best Hybrid

Turn Up the Base Beauty Blur Balm Hybrid Foundation
ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr

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Best For Skin-Like Finish

SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation
Tower 28 Beauty

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Best For Color-Correcting

Backstage Face & Body Foundation
Dior

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Best Undertone Match

Skin by Mented Foundation
mented cosmetics

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Best For Radiance

Beautiful Skin Foundation
Charlotte Tilbury

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Best Hybrid

Turn Up the Base Beauty Blur Balm Hybrid Foundation

ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr

“Would die for this beauty balm. No, I’m not being dramatic, and yes, it’s that good. I’ve never been a fan of BB creams because my acne-prone skin needs a bit more coverage than those lightweight formulas can provide. One/Size created the perfect happy medium: a balm with the coverage of a foundation and weightless finish of a skin tint.” — Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

Best For Skin-Like Finish

SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation

“On days when I don’t want to feel too made up, this tinted SPF/BB cream makes it look like I just woke up with perfect skin. It’s super lightweight and moisturizing and makes my skin look radiant. Plus, extra sun protection is never a bad thing.” — Tatjana Freund, Beauty E-Commerce Writer

Best For Color-Correcting

Backstage Face & Body Foundation

“Finding Dior’s Backstage was a godsend. My skin tone’s a neutral, without pink or yellow tones, which, lol, but Dior delivers my holy grail: a perfect shade that goes on silky-smooth for top-flight medium coverage.” — Katherine Krueger, Features Editor

Best Undertone Match

Skin by Mented Foundation

“I love this Black-owned brand because their foundation matches my skin so well. The shades are formulated not just by color but also by undertones, making it much easier to match your exact skin tone. Because it’s a foundation stick, it’s travel friendly and a must-have in my carry-on. I don’t have to worry about product spillage and can focus on getting to my destination.”— Danielle James, Interim Beauty Director

Best For Radiance

Beautiful Skin Foundation

  • Not suitable for oily skin

“My skin goal is to look so glowy that I glisten so hard in the sun and all my friends need sunglasses to look at me. This new foundation from Charlotte Tilbury does the trick. It’s blendable, dewy, and looks just like my skin—only better.”— Tatjana Freund, Beauty E-Commerce Writer

Best For Longwear

Soft Matte Complete Foundation

  • Needs more in-between shades

“You know what they say: It’s always the one you least expect that swoops you off your feet. Nars’ Soft Matte Foundation has been pushed around my foundation draw for quite some time, so I decided to bring it along during my summer vacations to see what the hype was about. Every makeup look with this foundation is a hit because not only is she a team player, but she can withstand any weather, any work shift, and any naps (shhh, we’ve all been there).”— Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

Best For Skin-Loving Ingredients

Even Better™ Makeup Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15

  • Needs layering for coverage

“I’m not big on makeup, but skincare is paramount. Clinique remains the only foundation that gives ample coverage and doesn’t cause breakouts. I’ve been using it since I was a teenager and it never disappoints.”— Claire Stern, Digital Deputy Editor

Best For Sun Protection

Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35

“During the winter months, staying hydrated is key, and the Saie Slip Tint stands up to the task. The hyaluronic acid leaves my skin feeling moisturized, while the light but buildable coverage provides a natural, dewy finish. Plus, it has SPF 35 to keep you protected all day.”— Emily Burns, Assistant Beauty Editor

Best For Multi-Tasking

Intensive Serum Foundation SPF 40

“I don’t like to keep a million products around, which means I love anything that can pull double duty. This foundation gives the light to medium coverage I’m looking for [and contains] SPF 40, meaning I can feel extra protected throughout the day. Plus, this sleek packaging makes me feel fancy every time I pull it out.” — Madison Feller, Senior Staff Writer

Best Natural Finish

Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF 15

  • Great for photo filter-like finish

“My criteria for a great foundation are as follows: It doesn’t cake or flake, it looks natural enough to trick my Instagram followers, and it plays nicely with my other products. Bobbi Brown hasn’t been a go-to brand for me since I stole my mom’s eyeshadow as a kid, but this product changed that instantly. It blends like nothing else, makes me look super glowy, and looks great in photos, which is all I ever want. I keep gifting bottles to my friends, and now we’re like a perfectly-blended, blemish-free squad.” — Tatjana Freund, Beauty E-Commerce Writer

Best For Weightlessness

Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez

“This foundation takes the cake (while not feeling cakey)! I wear this foundation nearly every day, so if you’re looking for lightweight and consistent color, then this base is for you. It comes in a variety of shades [48 to be exact] and pairs nicely with your everyday serum or cream. The applicator wand glides on effortlessly but I’d recommend applying with a beauty sponge if you want that dewy look.”— Leah Romero, Senior Digital Designer

Best Affordable Foundation

Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation

“I absolutely love this Maybelline New York poreless foundation. I have sensitive skin, and this drug store reliable has never given me any trouble. For anyone looking for that perfect matte finish, this is it. Bonus: It stays on all day.” — Rose Minutaglio, Staff Writer

Best For No Makeup-Makeup Look

Sunshine Skin Tint Clean SPF 30 Foundation

“My skin is not a fan of full coverage foundation. The finish is always dry and flaky…not a good look! So I will always gravitate towards a tint or CC cream. This foundation from Milk Makeup is perfect because it adds a decent amount of coverage, isn’t drying, and has SPF! The product also includes plant-derived squalane that will leave your skin looking plump and moisturized.” — Emily Burns, Assistant Beauty Editor

Best For Blurring

Say What?! Foundation

Say what? is exactly what you’ll say in your head when you witness the magic of this foundation. This deceitful little gem startled me when I first pumped the product onto my face. But once I blended everything out, I looked like a more poreless, smooth, radiant version of myself.” — Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

Best For Hydration

Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30

  • Blends well with other products

“I’ve been using BareMinerals Complexion Rescue for almost my entire adult life. Sometimes I’ll try to switch to other brands for fuller coverage, or because they get great reviews, but I always end up coming back to my tried and true fave. It’s the only foundation that covers up my rosacea, doesn’t cake or dry, and leaves my skin looking glowy. I layer it on top of the Becca Backlight Primer and voila! It’s the epitome of effortless no-makeup makeup.”— Jessica Roy, Digital Director

Best For Warm Weather

BarePro Longwear Powder Foundation

  • Needs more in-between shades

“I’ve used BareMinerals’ powder foundation since high school, but what I love about its newer performance-wear foundation is that it really evens my skin tone and covers all my blemishes without feeling heavy—and the color lasts. I have oily skin too, so having a good matte foundation helps keep my skin’s sheen in check in the summer. BareMineral’s powder foundations generally feel ‘barely there’ for me but still work miracles on my skin. And it never breaks me out: a major plus!” — Alyssa Bailey, News and Strategy Editor

Best Shade Range

Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

  • Needs more in-between undertones

“I love the coverage, the extensive shade range, the feel of the creamy formula on my skin, and the fact that this foundation can last all day and all night. To brag for one second, I’ve also been told by Rihanna’s makeup artist Priscilla Ono that the Bad Gal and I share the same foundation shades. It’s just pure love!” — Chloe Hall, Beauty Director

Best Glow

Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation SPF 35

“A friend needed a recommendation for the foundation to wear on her wedding day and I had only one suggestion: Dior Forever Glow. It’s totally foolproof and lasts through morning Zoom calls and (multiple) masked coffee runs. I prefer to put it on with a fluffy foundation brush, and it instantly gives you smooth, even skin without covering your glow.” — Margaux Anbouba, Beauty Editor

Best Silky Finish

Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

“You know it’s true love when you own the same foundation in multiple shades. I tan easily and my complexion changes drastically depending on the hour, so I keep a few Nars bottles on my counter to match myself on the day. The formula is lightweight and gives you a silky, barely-there finish, which works well with my sensitive skin.”—Justine Carreon, Senior Market Editor

Best Splurge

Luminous Silk Foundation

“I’ve been in an entanglement with Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Foundation for two years now. This foundation isn’t stuck up; she gets along well with every product in my routine and still finds a way to stand out on her own. We’ve had our ups—eight-hour-plus workdays of non-stop radiant skin—and our downs—scraping the bottom of the bottle to get the last drop. But this is the best $65 I’ve ever spent in my life.” — Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

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