The Best Foundations For Dry Skin To Give You A Gorgeous Glow, According To Experts

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Following May 24, 2023, 06:29pm EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin If your complexion is consistently parched and flaky, applying foundation can sometimes feel like you’re highlighting the problem. Along with regularly using a good cleansing brush and exfoliator , the key is to find a nourishing formula that hydrates while providing coverage. The best foundations for dry skin blur unevenness and pores, reduce the look of fine lines and create a luminous, glowy finish.

The best foundations for dry skin blur unevenness and pores, reduce the look of fine lines and . . .

[+] create a luminous, glowy finish. Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers While people who have oily skin typically want a foundation with absorptive, mattifying properties, those with dry skin need moisture and to increase radiance. Experts like Sephora Beauty Director Helen Dagdag recommend looking for products described with words like “hydrating” and “luminous” rather than “matte.

” We sifted through hundreds of reviews, tested a large number and sought wisdom from beauty professionals to find the very best foundations for dry skin. Best Foundation Overall For Dry Skin: Nars Sheer Glow Foundation Best Drugstore Foundation For Dry Skin : L’Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation Best Luxury Foundation For Dry Skin: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Best Foundation For Dry, Sensitive Skin: No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum Foundation Best Foundation For Mature Skin: Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation Best Hydrating Foundation For Dry Skin: Beauty Blender Bounce Skin Tint Best Serum Foundation For Dry Skin: Saie Glowy Super Skin Serum Foundation Best Clean Foundation For Dry Skin: Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation Best Tinted Moisturizer For Dry Skin: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint Best Foundation Overall For Dry Skin Creamy Coverage That Brightens Nars US Nars Sheer Glow Foundation Key ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, turmeric | Shades: 40 | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-free: No This formula is a go-to because of its ability to transform and even tone—so not only does it provide sheer, buildable coverage, it minimizes the appearance of uneven skin over time. All-star ingredients include anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial turmeric root extract, and vitamin C, which fades hyperpigmentation and boosts collagen.

What you’ll love: Nonacnegenic so won’t clog pores Lightweight and buildable Improves skin texture Keep in mind: Pump sold separately A little goes a long way Best Drugstore Foundation For Dry Skin A Cult Favorite Affordable Pick Ulta L’Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation Buy From Ulta Beauty Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin E | Shades: 47 | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-free: No It can be hard not to feel like you have to pay up to get a flawless finish. This medium-coverage, vegan formula by L’Oreal is formulated with up to six pigments so that you can find a shade that’s a precise fit for your skin tone. It’s super moisturizing so you don’t get flakey patches, and also blends smoothly so you don’t get that weird mismatch in color at your jawline that’s a dead giveaway you’re wearing foundation.

What you’ll love: Natural finish Doesn’t look cakey Vegan Keep in mind: No SPF Best Luxury Foundation For Dry Skin Lightweight Coverage That Doesn’t Crease Or Crack Giorgio Armani Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Buy From Nordstrom Key ingredients: Glycerin, dimethicone | Shades: 40 | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-free: No This top-rated, oil-free foundation has a practically permanent place on every best list—and for good reason. It’s lightweight but buildable so you can achieve the coverage you want, and its luminous finish beautifully disguises dullness. Users say it works well for combination skin and that it doesn’t settle into wrinkles or fine lines.

What you’ll love: Silky texture Creates a glowy-not-greasy finish Doesn’t feel heavy on skin Keep in mind: Some prefer more coverage Best Foundation For Dry, Sensitive Skin A Skincare-Like Staple That Creates A Radiant Finish Amazon No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum Foundation Buy From Amazon Key ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, hibiscus | Shades: 18 | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-free: Yes This formula from UK brand No7 juggles a lot: On the surface, it conceals redness, offers medium coverage and has light-reflecting particles that de-emphasize fine lines and wrinkles. And on a deeper skincare level, it’s packed with vitamins that lift, firm and brighten. What you’ll love: Affordable Has SPF 15 Reviewers say it stays put Keep in mind: Some say the texture can be runny Best Foundation For Mature Skin Intense Hydration And A Satin Finish Sephora Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation Buy From Sephora Key ingredients: Glycerin, polymers for long-lasting wear | Shades: 36 | Size: 1.

18 ounces | Cruelty-free: No British makeup artist Pat McGrath is a beauty powerhouse notorious for creating high performance cosmetics that multitask. This hardworking foundation is a perfect match for aging skin (our top pick for mature skin , in fact)—which is sometimes code for “dry as a desert”—because it uses the company’s ultra-hydrating Vita-Serum Complex and Diamond Core Powder, which scatters light for a smooth, “illuminated” effect. The result? A natural finish in every type of light.

What you’ll love: Natural finish Buildable coverage Sets itself Keep in mind: Consistency can feel watery to some Best Hydrating Foundation For Dry Skin A Pick That Plumps And Boosts Radiance Sephora Beauty Blender Bounce Skin Tint Buy From Sephora Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Shades: 20 | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-free: Yes “This has a natural finish and provides light coverage, but it also has ingredients that help to smooth your skin and keep it looking bright,” says Dagdag. “Dullness is common when you have dry skin, so this is a great option. ” Hyaluronic acid seals in moisture and visibly plumps skin, and niacinamide and willow bark extract brighten, decrease inflammation and reduce the look of pores, so you’ll have a photo finish complexion without the filter.

To note: Users say this offers more coverage than a traditional skin tint, and it builds well. What you’ll love: Sheer to medium coverage Natural finish Long-wearing Keep in mind: Limited shade options Not great for sensitive or acne-prone skin Best Serum Foundation For Dry Skin A Lightweight And Luminizing Option Saie Saie Glowy Super Skin Serum Foundation Buy From Sephora Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalene, polyglutamic acid | Shades: 36 | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-free: Yes Meet the antidote to chronic dry skin—and all the challenges that come with finding the perfect foundation for a thirsty complexion. Saie’s medium, buildable coverage helps you ditch dullness for a pretty, glowy finish, sans the streaks.

Reviewers love the clean beauty brand’s formula for its intense hydrating and plumping benefits and natural look. What you’ll love: Blends easily Doesn’t cling to dry patches Dewy finish Keep in mind: Some say it feels too oily Best Clean Foundation For Dry Skin Undetectable Coverage That Also Reduces Irritation Sephora Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation Buy From Sephora Key ingredients: Fermented arnica, medicinal herbs, antioxidants | Shades: 51 | Size: 1 ounce| Cruelty-free: Yes Finding the right shade—especially when you’re dealing with a dry, flaky complexion—is an exacting process, and Haus Labs offers far more options than most other brands. “I am loving this new foundation because it gives a bit more coverage but looks like skin, with tons of good skincare ingredients too,” says Dagdag.

Powerful ingredients include fermented arnica, a key component for reducing redness, and the company’s BioFerment 7 Complex, a blend of protective antioxidants. What you’ll love: Expansive shade selection Smooth, weightless finish Users say it doesn’t crease Keep in mind: Some say it transfers easily Best Tinted Moisturizer For Dry Skin A One-Step Foundation With Superior Skincare Ingredients Ilia Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Key ingredients: Niacinamide, squalane, hyaluronic acid | Shades: 30 | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-free: Yes Clean beauty brand Ilia is known for creating innovative makeup that emphasizes skincare. This serum foundation follows suit: It has several complexion-boosting ingredients that hydrate and brighten—including hyaluronic acid and niacinamide—and it provides dewy coverage and has SPF.

So basically, there’s very little it doesn’t do. Reviewers say it provides light to medium coverage, doesn’t settle into fine lines and works well even for sensitive skin. What you’ll love: Natural look A little goes a long way Glides on evenly Keep in mind: Some don’t love the dropper The scent can be off-putting to some MORE FROM FORBES VETTED The 10 Best Resorts In Punta Cana By Brian Major Contributor Blue Lizard Baby Mineral Sunscreen Review: The Best Value For Safe Fun In The Sun By Elyse Moody Contributor Molly Calhoun Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.