The best foundations come in many forms, from powder foundations to full-coverage foundations to foundations made for acne-prone skin. As a beauty writer, I've tried scores of options, all of which promise to make skin appear more even, but one facet of the foundation world will always have my heart: liquid foundation. It's a natural-looking, easy-to-apply formulation that makes layering makeup a breeze.
"A liquid foundation has more versatility," agrees celebrity makeup artist Brandy Allen. "It is suitable for all skin types, depending on its formula. Liquid foundation tends to mimic skin texture very well with its blendability." She adds that liquid foundations come in a range of formulations and thickness levels, so they're great for dry, normal, and combination skin. Liquid formulas, she concludes, "cater to each skin type, including oily skin"—great news for those who struggle with acne.
Thus, I've worked with Allen and my fellow editors to round up our favorite liquid foundations of all time, each withstood sun, sweat, and hours upon hours of wear.
What to Look For In a Liquid Foundation
As with all face makeup, the best liquid foundation for you depends on your skin needs and personal preferences, according to Allen.
Skin Type: Allen says, "Water-based or silicone-based foundations are perfect for those with oily skin. Silicone helps blur and smooth imperfections to create a smoother surface. I also prefer a water-based foundation on oily skin because it's gentle and can dry down to a matte finish. It isn't packed with oils, so it dries and sets then can be paired with a setting powder. Niacinamide regulates oil while retaining moisture."
She advises consumers with combination skin to look for similar ingredients but pay attention to the "dominating skin texture (oily or dry)" when looking for the best formula for the moment.
Meanwhile, for dry skin, she says, "Water-, oil-, or serum-based foundations are ideal for their hydrating benefits. These foundations often contain minerals and natural oils for a healthy glow and dewy finish." When it comes to specific ingredients, she says, "hyaluronic acid offers tons of hydration with a smoother appearance."
Meghan Markle is known to wear liquid foundation to achieve a velvety natural skin-like finish.
Coverage: Coverage level refers to the overall opacity of your foundation. For instance, a full-coverage foundation will be thicker and more pigmented and will, therefore, effectively cover up acne, hyperpigmentation, redness, and freckles. On the other hand, lightweight coverage is much thinner and will make skin appear more even while allowing its natural details to shine through. Medium coverage falls somewhere in between, masking subtle flaws but failing to hide darker spots like acne marks. The best coverage for you is, of course, a matter of personal preference and needs, but bear in mind that the more full-coverage the formula, the heavier it will feel on your skin.
Finish: The finish of your liquid foundation dictates your overall makeup vibe. A glowy finish, for instance, lends itself to the "clean girl aesthetic," while a matte finish "has a powder-like finish with no shine," according to Allen. This might be best if you're planning on taking lots of pictures. Finally, she says, "a satin finish is the most natural, skin-like texture."
The Best Way to Apply Liquid Foundation
I've been applying foundation for years during clear-skin eras and decidedly less-than-clear skin. Based on that experience, I recommend starting with thin dots of foundation around the face, with extra attention to areas with flaws or pigmentation you'd like to cover up. Many people like spreading the foundation with their fingers or a brush, but I prefer a makeup sponge (Beautyblenders are my favorite). To avoid cakiness, start with a thin layer and add more if needed.
The Best Liquid Foundations
- Best Full-Coverage Liquid Foundation: Tarte Face Tape Full Coverage Foundation
- Best Lightweight Liquid Foundation: Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation
- Best Liquid Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin: Westmore Beauty Instantly Flawless Foundation
- Best Liquid Foundation for Dry Skin: LYS Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation
- Best Liquid Foundation Overall: About-Face The Performer Skin-Focused Foundation
Tarte's Face Tape is my favorite foundation of all time. It offers such great full coverage that I often skip concealer, even if I'm dealing with hyperpigmentation or a breakout. Because it's so robust, a little goes a long way, so the formula lasts for ages. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it never breaks out my combination skin or irritates sensitive areas.
Pros: Editor-approved; full coverage; a little goes a long way; suitable for acne-prone skin
Cons: Some users find it too rich
Customer Review: "Goes on smoothly and covers very well. Looks very natural and not [like] fake cake." —Ulta
There are two essential things freelance writer Sophia Vilensky loves about this liquid foundation: "One: I have never in my life found a liquid foundation I like…until this one. Two: I hadn’t seen the TikTok buzz before I tried it, but now I have," she says. "And I agree with all of it." Vilensky loves that it's super lightweight while still passing the coverage test (she likes a buildable medium-coverage look). She also notes that she enjoys the feeling of nothing on her skin. "Plus, there’s no cakey-ness and I don't feel dried out or worse for wear when I take it off," she adds. "Win, win, win!"
Pros: Editor-approved; natural finish; lightweight
Cons: Not full-coverage
Customer Review: "My skin looks so flawless with this new formula, I love it. My favorite yet, I like that the makeup isn’t so heavy and gives that natural vibe." —Sephora
If you're looking for a foundation with brightening ingredients, Allen suggests Westmore Beauty. "The Instantly Flawless Foundation has great ingredients, plus serum and skincare," she explains. "It is water-resistant and sweat-resistant, which is perfect for someone with oily skin."
Pros: Expert-approved; long-lasting; buildable
Cons: Limited range of shades
Customer Review: "Great coverage! I put it on daily knowing it is helping my skin at the same time of covering my imperfections!" —Westmore Beauty
Covering dry skin with foundation often aggravates your condition, leaving you with rough, itchy, flaky, or scaly patches. For those with dry skin, Allen looks to a foundation with a serum-like finish. "My recommendation for dry skin is LYS Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation," says Allen. "It is skincare-infused and super hydrating. I instantly feel the serum and glow in one pump." According to reviewers, the formula makes skin tone appear more even, masking issues like acne scarring and hyperpigmentation.
Pros: Expert-approved; wide range of shades; glowy finish; hydrating; vegan
Cons: May be too rich for oily skin
Customer Review: "Love this foundation. It is good for dryer skin types, especially as it has a slightly dewy finish and makes the skin look healthy and plump. I always feel put-together when I wear this and the ingredients make me feel happy about what I put on my face." —Sephora
Charlotte Tilbury's catalog of foundations includes coverage for all types, but there's one in particular that stands out for Beauty Editor, Samantha Holender. "I'm a Charlotte Tilbury girl to my core, but the Beautiful Skin Foundation may just be my all-time favorite product from her range," she says. "It's the perfect I-have-an-important-dinner foundation, making my face look blurred, even-toned, and radiant. It surely has a buildable texture, but I've found that applying it with my fingers—and then pouncing on top with a beauty blender—delivers the most natural-looking finish."
Pros: Editor-approved; a little goes a long way; buildable; natural finish; contains hyaluronic acid
Cons: Some users don't find the consistency creamy enough
Customer Review: "A little goes a long way with this. It doesn’t dry the skin—which I need for my dull/dry complexion. I get compliments every time I wear this that my skin is glowing." —Sephora
About-Face The Performer foundation is a favorite in our office. Multiple editors note that it doesn't feel heavy and it leaves their skin with a smooth, flawless glow. "Let me start by saying that I do not typically enjoy liquid foundations," says Associate E-Commerce Editor, Brooke Knappenberger. "I often find that they either look cakey or feel too heavy on my skin, so I tend to stick to tinted moisturizers or skin tints. However, I did get the chance to try about-face's new foundation and now I'm convinced I was just using the wrong formulas because this one is seriously good. It blends in incredibly well with light buildable coverage and a near-invisible feel. Basically, this foundation makes my skin look better while still looking like my skin."
Julia Marzovilla, E-Commerce Editor is also a huge fan . "I have high standards for my foundations—they need to have light or medium coverage but be buildable," she says. "When I use this foundation, the rest of my products blend perfectly over the top, and powder doesn’t cling to random parts of my face. I love it and won’t use another foundation for a long time.”
Pros: Editor-approved; lightweight; natural finish
Cons: Some users found it broke them out
Customer Review: "I have a lot of redness and pigmentation and freckles and have very fair skin. This is light and covers extremely well. Doesn't get cakey and wears really well. My new go-to!" —Ulta
Also Recommended
This liquid foundation is my newest obsession, not only because its packing looks luxurious (what else would you expect from Christian Louboutin?) but also because it feels so smooth to the touch. The self-setting formula melts right into my skin for a seamless finish, and because it comes in so many shades, I was able to find the perfect option for my skin tone, undertone, and all. I wore this foundation to a music festival in the desert and it didn't budge, run, or feel cakey for even a moment.
Pros: Editor-approved; longwear; long-lasting; self-setting; comes in many shades that take undertone into account
Cons: Expensive
Customer Review: "I love this foundation. It is a medium buildable to full coverage matte radiant foundation. Make sure to use a good hydrating primer first and do skin prep. I am really hard to shade match and 40WO is just warm and olive enough for me, I'm usually a 3WO or 4WO in Dior foundations. The packaging is definitely luxurious for the higher price tag. Moreover, I have aging skin, rosace and eczema and this looks beautiful on my skin evening out my redness. I think people with dry skin might have challenges with this foundation, so try it with a really good moisturized face first." —Nordstrom
Holender rarely wears a full-fledged foundation, but when she does, she always uses Chanel's Sublimage L'Essence de Tient. "It's a serum-based formula, so it's no surprise that bestows a gorgeous, hydrating glow to every inch of my face," she says. "It sinks into my skin and never looks cakey, but it still completely evens my skin tone and blurs texture. I genuinely can't get through a day without someone stopping to ask me what's on my face."
Pros: Hydrating; editor-approved; glowy finish
Cons: Expensive
Customer Review: "It has the benefits of the Sublimage skincare, and it gives me the coverage I need without being like a mask. It gives a natural healthy glow. When I use it I get compliments on how great my skin looks—NOT my makeup, which is better! It means they notice me and my skin, not the makeup!" —Chanel
Rituel de Fille's Weightless Serum Foundation constantly rotates in Allen's makeup kit. "This weightless foundation is a game changer," she says. "It has a new innovative ingredient called fermented phytoene, a carotenoid that protects the skin against free radicals and improves elasticity. Over time, this is great for anti-aging."
Pros: Expert-approved; doubles as skincare
Cons: Small bottle
Customer Review: "Great color and coverage. But for me, I need three drops, so I wish it came in a larger size." —Revolve
Listing liquid foundations without mentioning Fenty Beauty's popular longwear option would be challenging. It has a matte finish that makes wearers' skin look naturally flawless, and it comes in a wide variety of shades and undertones that make it easy to find the perfect match. Scores of reviewers rave about how this product blends seamlessly into their skin—but be sure to moisturize underneath, because it can be a bit drying.
Pros: Natural finish; award-winning; popular; wide range of shade options
Cons: Slightly drying
Customer Review: "I love this foundation. It feels light on my skin and has a good glow to it as well. Doesn’t look like you’re wearing anything with this foundation." —Sephora
Meet the Expert
Brandy Allen is a celebrity makeup artist who specializes in making skin look flawless, no matter the client's concerns. She has worked with Keke Palmer, Janelle Monae, Yara Shahidi, and others. She is currently bicoastal, splitting time between New York City and her native Los Angeles.
