The search for the best drugstore foundation is real. We don't all want to spend an arm and a leg on a bottle of skin-coloured liquid as, let's face it, it doesn't always last too long and there are other, more affordable options available at the drugstore! Check out the Drugstore Foundation Edit to find your perfect match and save some cash!
DISLAIMER: Be sure to diagnose your skin type before purchasing a foundation. Bases for oily skin types may accentuate dry patches on combination to dry skin and foundations intended for dry skin can highlight oilier complexions. Choosing a foundation to suit your skin type and desired effect ensures you get the best out of your base. Check out the chart I've nabbed from Sephora below to discover your skin type and proceed onto the best drugstore foundations to suit you!
(Side Note: Illuminating foundations are generally intended for drier skin, but if you have oilier skin and desire a dewy finish, you can still use illuminating foundations, but make sure you use a matte primer to minimise pores and set your t zone with powder to keep oils at bay. Matte foundations tend to work best for oily skin but if you have drier skin and desire a matte base, use a hydrating primer and setting mist to keep your skin moisturised throughout the day).
(Side Note: Illuminating foundations are generally intended for drier skin, but if you have oilier skin and desire a dewy finish, you can still use illuminating foundations, but make sure you use a matte primer to minimise pores and set your t zone with powder to keep oils at bay. Matte foundations tend to work best for oily skin but if you have drier skin and desire a matte base, use a hydrating primer and setting mist to keep your skin moisturised throughout the day).
Oily/combination skin
Does your foundation break apart on your nose within a matter of hours and almost slide off your face? By the end of the day, are you missing patches of foundation along your hairline? Does your face tend to have an overall 'sheen', even without highlighter? Odds are, you have oily to combination skin. The good news is the dewy-skin look has been all the rage since the summer so that natural glow of yours is working in your favour! The downside is that trying to keep your makeup in place throughout the day can be a bit of a challenge. Here's a few drugstore foundations I've found have tackled my 'problem areas' and kept my oils at bay.
Revlon color stay
Somewhere between thick and moussey and thin and liquidy sits the Revlon Color Stay foundation. It's thick enough to cover blemishes but thin enough to not feel too heavy on the skin. The medium to full coverage is buildable and honestly, this baby doesn't budge. It covers dark circles and blemishes in an instant and so this foundation is my absolute go to when I've had little sleep and feel as though my skin needs to be rejuvenated. It actually feels hydrating on the skin whilst still keeping oils at bay, making it perfect for combination skin. When applying, I'd recommend dotting the product around your face and distributing with a sponge or finger as a brush tends to eat this product up for some reason.
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Maybelline fit me
The Maybelline Fit Me foundation is my absolute favourite of all bases, from high end to drug store. The lightweight texture provides a medium, buildable coverage that allows skin to breath and doesn't feel greasy. Although it's a matte foundation, it actually leaves a healthy glow to my face. Nothing as intense as an illuminating base but a slight sheen that makes my skin appear more skin light without looking oily. It doesn't break apart on my nose like most heavy foundations tend to after a little while and because of the thin consistency, anything I put on top of it (e.g. concealer, cream contour, powders) glides on with ease and doesn't get messed up like it sometimes does with mousse foundations.
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L'Oreal total cover
You want thick, full coverage, heavy duty foundation? Look no further. This is the most matte foundation I have ever used and is perfect for the summer months when my skin tends to be a little more oily. In the colder months, I tend to use this foundation as more of a concealer to cover any blemishes or only on my t zone to control my oils. Because it's a thicker foundation, cream products on top of it can get a little weird so be cautious of piling a load of makeup on top of this base as it can get a little cakey. But if you're after a quick fix for blemishes and targeting oily skin as opposed to an everyday, all-over wear foundation, the Total Cover is an absolute staple in your makeup bag.
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rimmel stay matte
Somewhere in between the Revlon Color Stay and the L'Oreal Total Cover sits this gem of a foundation. The consistency is pretty moussey like the Total Cover but is a little softer and more like a thick liquid like the Color Stay. The coverage of this foundation is 10/10 full coverage and can be used to spot conceal or even all over the face for a fully covered look that doesn't look as cakey as a mask of Total Cover. With this base, I find that using my fingers gives the best application as it blends the foundation out without losing any coverage or gaining any weird streaks from a brush. After it has been applied, you can then go over the layer with a beauty sponge to remove any of the excess product and smooth out the base even more. I find that I don't need a lot of powder with the Stay Matte but, as always, I still set my t-zone as no matter what, I'll still get oily throughout the day if I don't.
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max factor pan stik
Stick foundations tend to be great for oilier skin as they're less liquidy than the traditional base. The Max Factor Pan Stik is a great affordable option that provides medium to full coverage and doesn't look too cakey on the skin. It does have quite a strong scent but once set with powder, you'll no longer be able to notice it. Another thing to note is that the shades tend to run a little pink toned, which is perfect for those of you with pink undertones or paler skin, but perhaps something to think about if you're of a deeper or warmer complexion.
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match perfection
The Rimmel Match Perfection foundation has been a long-term favourite of mine as I find that it really matches my skin tone the best without too many undertones making me look grey/pink/orange. To be honest, this foundation is good for all skin types and works best for oily/combination skin if set with powder as it is a liquid foundation and can break apart throughout the day if it's not baked or set in place. Like the Maybelline Fit Me, the Match Perfection leaves a slight sheen to the skin, giving it a healthy looking glow. If you're on the oilier side, make sure to set the places you tend to get the most build up of oils to avoid this sheen looking too greasy.
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Dry skin
If you find that your foundation tends to stick to certain parts of your skin, highlighting dry patches and you experience a general tightness across your face, here's a selection of the best base products to combat dry skin and hydrate your face. The upside of having dry skin is that it can often be combatted with a moisturising routine or a hydrating primer, meaning you can probably make use of most foundations on the market. However, illuminating and hydrating foundations will work best for your skin type to give you that added boost of hydration to create that desired smooth base. Don't forget that dry skin can appear solely in patches, so if you find that you also get a little oily in some areas, take a look at the suggestions for combination skin above or make sure to set those areas with a powder after applying a moisturising foundation.
illuminating touch
The Collection Illuminating Touch foundation is an absolutely beautiful base that leaves a radiating glow and feels hydrating on the skin. The colour tends to run a little orange so be wary if you have cool undertones. You can always lighten up the base with a light or even white concealer if you find that the slight orange undertone is too much for your skin tone. The key with foundations for dry skin is to find a base that is more of a liquid than a mousse and the added luminosity to this foundation will give your skin even more of a nourishing boost and glow. If paired with an illuminating primer or even just on top of your favourite moisturiser, your dry patches will be banished from your face all day.
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infallible pro glow
The sister foundation to the Infallible, the Infallible Pro Glow by L'Oreal incorporates a laminating liquid with the foundation to create an extra glow and moisturise the skin. The coverage is medium to full and extremely buildable without looking cakey. I can't say enough positive things about the L'Oreal Infallible collection in general and I love that there is an option in the long-lasting range for every skin type. The major pro of this foundation is that it is long wearing and doesn't tend to break up on the skin.
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photo focus
The only downside to the Wet N Wild Photo Focus foundation is how difficult it is the get a hold of in the UK. This foundation creates a flawless base with medium to full (more full than medium) coverage that is buildable without looking cakey. It does smell quite strongly of sun cream, which isn't an unpleasant scent, but it does subside as you wear it and even more so if set with powder. If a strong scent puts you off a product, you can always apply powder on your upper lip below your nose to lock the scent in and free your nose of the smell sooner.
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They key to combatting dry skin is in the primer, so here's a few options from the drug store that will really hydrate your skin and provide a seamless glowing base for your foundation:
Normal Skin
First of all, you lucky bugger. Pretty much any foundation will work for your skin type. It all just depends on your desired effect. You can go matte, full coverage, illuminating or a combination of all of them. Here's a few suggestions for normal skin bases depending on the look you're trying to achieve.
conceal + perfect
The Milani Conceal and Perfect foundation is a high coverage base for a low cost. Concealer on top of this foundation is optional due to its high coverage. For oily skin, this foundation has a little too much sheen and it's probably a little too thick for dry skin but on normal skin, this foundation creates a flawless finish.
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healthy mix
The Healthy Mix foundation by Bourjois actually works well for dry skin due to its moisturising qualities, but it also works well for normal skin if you're after a healthy glow to your skin. The coverage is medium to buildable and it leaves a healthy sheen to your face. This works well in the winter when normal skin can be prone to drier patches due to the cold but also looks well for a glowing summer look.
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instant age rewind
Everybody raved about the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer, claiming it was similar to the Tarte Shape Tape. If you loved the formula of the concealer, you'll love the foundation version. It has medium to full coverage with a slight sheen to the finish, giving your skin a healthy glow.
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