Choosing the best foundation can be tricky. It’s important to find the right formula for your skin, whether it’s oily, dry, or acne-prone, but it’s not always easy. There’s a lot of makeup out there, from sheer to full coverage foundations, high-end to drugstore, matte to dewy-finish… It’s a beauty minefield.
Well, we’re determined to make things easier by bringing you an edit of the very best foundations according to our Beauty Editors. Finally, the struggle to find a long-lasting formula (yes, one that won’t disappear come 3pm) with beautiful coverage is over!
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation SPF 10
Victoria Jowett, beauty director: If you want a perfect finish, fast, you need a foundation that offers more coverage and this is it. The formula smooths over everything from acne to redness.
Finish: A classic satin finish, not too matte, not too dewy.
Coverage: Full, but apply it with a makeup sponge and you can sheer it out a little.
Shade range: Over 60 shades. Yesssss Estée Lauder!
Lasting power: Sick of your foundation melting off by 3 o’clock? Yep, so was I. I found this formula stays in place for up to 12 hours, so go ahead and plough through your day without having to touch-up.
Final thoughts: I wore this foundation for my sister’s wedding – when I knew I needed a base that would stick around all day (and night), luckily this one did not disappoint. It gave excellent coverage (without looking cakey), and the lasting power was second to none. No wonder this is the UK’s best-selling foundation…
Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation
Clare Stephenson, e-commerce beauty writer… I could write a love letter about how much I adore this foundation – but I won’t, as that would be weird. But if you’re looking for a satin base with ample coverage, please go forth and read on.
Finish: As you may have guessed, the Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation is designed to keep your skin looking like, well, skin. The finish is matte but it still gives your complexion a healthy glow rather than making it look like a flat pancake.
Coverage: Medium, but very buildable and does so without caking.
Shade range: There are 43 shades to choose from, including a variety of undertones from Extra Light to Deep Rich. Okay Bobbi, I see you.
Lasting power: Trust me, this foundation will stick around longer than ‘Instagram User 3214’ who keeps viewing your stories 👀. Staying true to its claim, the foundation lasts from morning to night without fading.
Final thoughts: This is my ‘special occasions’ foundation for two reasons. 1) I like to fish for skin compliments, and this foundation will give me them. And 2) I love it so much that I dread the day I’m bashing on the end of the bottle to scrape out the remaining liquid. So, I use it sparingly.
Quite simply, it delivers ‘filter-like’ energy giving you a unified complexion. Plus, it feels like a cloud to wear.
