If flawless, hydrated skin is your goal, here are the foundations that nourish dry patches, won’t crease, and deliver a sheer coverage that stays true to shade. Editor Trudi Brewer shares the makeup she has on rotation.
If you, like me, are dealing with dry skin and finding a foundation that won’t spotlight every flake and patch, or you hesitate to use setting powder for fear your complexion will look cakey, you are not alone. My goal with makeup is always getting that dewy glow that seems so effortless for everyone else. Hunting for makeup that actually looks like skin has been my life’s work, especially looking for a product that doesn’t look like it’s sitting on top of your complexion, rather than blending in. It’s common to find a formula that matches your skintone, but ends up settling into under-eye lines or clinging to dry patches by the end of the day. Here’s a low-down on which formulations work best, how to apply them for a smooth, airbrushed result, and what kind of accessories make the biggest difference. Read on to learn more.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Longwear Matte Foundation, $93
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it, right? There was a bit of a beauty uproar when rumours surfaced that Double Wear, which launched in 1997 and set the standard for long-wear foundation, was set for a glow-up. I adore the Double Wear Light formula and have worn it for years. But in the end, Estée Lauder didn’t budge from its matte legacy, and the updated formula still serves the loyal person who wants long-lasting makeup, while also appealing to a broader, multi-generational consumer. For me, the new formula feels lighter, more fluid, and easier to blend. It’s still matte, which I generally steer clear of, but the texture works for dry skin when layered with a hydrating primer. I use a medium-sized brush to buff it into the skin so it doesn’t look cakey. So what’s in the new Double Wear formula? Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and brown algae, an ingredient the brand uses across its skincare collection, too. Along with “polymer mesh matrix technology,” which Estée Lauder describes as a “breathable polymer system that acts like an invisible net,” allowing the foundation to move with the skin. The shade range was expanded, too, with 66 diverse shades.
This hybrid water-based foundation not only offers botanical skincare benefits, such as citrus peel extract, wild thyme, hydrating and firming beech tree extract, and hydrolysed protein, but also firms and lifts the skin while you wear it. Now, if that didn’t get your attention, the light-adjusting technology, thanks to micro-crystals that blur the look of shadows and fine lines, will. It has a pearly lustre that erases dullness and covers brown spots, creating an even complexion. I use a fluffy brush to buff this foundation into my skin for a seamless look, it’s gorgeous for day. There are 16 shades.
First up, the finish of this foundation is super glowy. Why? It’s a four-in-1 boosting formula designed to blur and smooth the skin, leaving a hydrated finish. The lightweight formula delivers sheer or buildable coverage thanks to the skin-quenching ingredients. Hyaluronic acid, the heavyweight hydrator, and nourishing squalane. It never fails to leave my skin looking brighter, thanks to the light-reflecting ingredients. Also, it comes with a built-in sponge top to help you dab it on spots that need extra coverage. It blends easily with fingers or a brush. Made to wear alone or mixed with your favourite foundation to add a light, reflective, dewy glow. There are four blendable shades.
This clean beauty buy is a foundation free from harmful toxins but packed with skin-caring botanicals. It was made to boost skin radiance, which is why it’s in my makeup repertoire. My dry skin loves it. The formula is so silky thanks to the hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. In addition, it has a superfood blend of ingredients, including apple fruit extract, sunflower, and jojoba seed oils, which together help plump fine lines. Finally, it features an essential SPF 30, a physical sunscreen made with zinc oxide. This foundation can be applied with fingers, a sponge, or a foundation brush. It is pricey, but it makes skin look youthful, almost makeup-free, yet flawless.
Lovers of this foundation would have been concerned by its recent facelift; I was, too. But as a user of the old formula, and now this newbie, its reinterpretation has made it even better. Both the formula and the bottle have been modernised. The formula was recreated to feel even more second-skin than the original. It’s more gel-like in texture, with a base of skin-loving ingredients like nourishing glycerin and skin-brightening niacinamide. For me, it feels noticeably more moisturising and matches my complexion more seamlessly than ever before. You can get an ultra sheer finish with your fingers, and it’s buildable with a brush. More good news: there are now 48 diverse shades.
My go-to foundation accessories
MECCA COSMETICA In A Good Light Illuminating Drops SPF30, in Sunlight, $50. MAC Cosmetics Strobe Cream in Pinklite,$82. MECCA MAX Complexion Buffing Brush, $25. Morphe M161 Large Rounded Powder Brush, $32.
That cover all the bases.