We all want flawless skin, but only a few of us are lucky enough to have it. While having a dedicated skin care routine helps, sometimes we just need a little help from foundation to achieve that smooth, perfected look. These days, there are so many kinds of foundations: liquid, cream, powder — even sticks! — it’s hard to know which formula to choose.
Foundation also comes in various finishes, depending on the type of coverage you’re looking for. A sheer foundation is great for those looking for minimal coverage yet want to correct spots and redness. Dewy foundations can give low to medium coverage and are perfect for those with dry skin. Satin-finish foundations are between dewy and matte and the standard finish for most foundations. Finally, matte foundations are go-tos among women with oily skin types, for obvious reasons.
With so many options to choose from, it all boils down to preference and what you think your skin really needs at the moment. To make things easier for you, we rounded up the best foundations in every finish. Check out our recommendations above.
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These are the Best Foundations in Every Finish
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Sheer
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfector Skin Tint Foundation SPF 25, $36 at Sephora
This lightweight foundation enhances your skin to give a your-skin-but-better look. It has sheer to medium coverage you can easily apply with your fingers or a makeup sponge. Formulated with ingredients that nourish skin, it comes in 10 shades that adjust to any skin tone.
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Sheer
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, $26 at Glossier
When it comes to light and barely-there makeup, this foundation means business. It won’t cover your pores or freckles, but it will even out your skin tone and reduce redness. Its super light coverage lets your skin breathe and feels like you’re wearing no makeup at all.
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Sheer
Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15, $47 at Bobbi Brown
This creamy tinted moisturizer is just what you need to soothe redness on your skin without looking like a cakey mess. Its lightweight texture feels comfortable to wear and lets your beautiful skin show through. It comes in nine shades fit for all skin tones.
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Dewy
L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup, $11.99 at Ulta Beauty
This foundation is the perfect drugstore option if you’re looking for one with a dewy finish. Formulated with 40 percent water, it is lightweight and hydrates skin to keep it nourished all day. It also offers light to medium buildable coverage.
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Dewy
Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation, $64 at Sephora
A cult fave included in Kim Kardashian’s makeup kit, this foundation has a medium buildable coverage that gives your skin a natural glow. It is so lightweight, you’ll forget you have makeup on.
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Dewy
Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF 50, $38 at Sephora
Radiant finishes are a big trend in K-beauty so it’s no wonder BB cushions are known for their dewy finishes. This highly popular cushion features Melacrusher brightening technology that evens out skin tone and brightens your complexion. It also has SPF 50 so you still have sun protection at every touch-up.
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Satin
Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation SPF 20, $8.99 at Ulta Beauty
This foundation is just as the name implies: enriched with a brightening complex and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and nourish your skin. It has buildable coverage that ranges from light to medium. Its satin finish gives your skin a natural-but-better look.
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Satin
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream With SPF 50+, $38 at Sephora
This full-coverage foundation not only hides skin imperfections, but also color corrects them. It is also formulated with an anti-aging serum that helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles. You can’t go wrong with this all-around foundation.
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Satin
MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation, $36 at Ulta Beauty
A waterproof, full-coverage foundation, this product also doubles as a concealer and lasts for up to 24 hours. It gives your skin a natural satin finish while hiding uneven skin tone and pimples.
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Matte
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, $34 at Sephora
A groundbreaking line first to come up with 40 shades, this foundation is worth the price for its shade range alone. It has medium to full coverage with a soft matte finish that’s perfect for all skin types.
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Matte
Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup, $27 at Ulta Beauty
This foundation is perfect for those with oily skin. True to its name, it promises to keep your skin shine-free thanks to its patent-pending formula that absorbs oil and sweat. It provides medium coverage with a natural matte finish.
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Matte
Sephora Collection 8 HR Mattifying Compact Foundation, $20 at Sephora
Powder foundations are go-tos for women with oily skin, but they tend to get cakey. This foundation from Sephora gives your skin an instant mattifying effect without the cake. Its micronized pigments blend flawlessly into skin so it won’t emphasize your imperfections.
