The 12 Best Full-Coverage Foundations for a Flawless Base

Best Overall

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation

$49 at Nordstrom $49 at Sephora $49 at Ulta

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Wear
  3.5/5
• Finish
  3/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.5/5

Labeled as one of the most seamless foundations of the bunch, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation wowed with its little-goes-a-long-way formula and impressive staying power. This liquid foundation was made to be a hybrid between skincare and makeup to craft a complexion that looks as healthy as it feels. 

Formulated with ingredient complexes that aim to hydrate the skin and refine wrinkles, this foundation felt nourishing when applied to our skin and was able to cover almost all of our imperfections with just two pumps. We appreciated this foundation's long-wearing formula that didn't dry us out, and there was no color transfer when we blotted it with a thin sheet. 

While this product is supposed to help with hydration, we did feel like the results were slightly drying. However, this didn’t become a deterrent in the end, as we'd sacrifice extra moisture for staying power and transfer resistance. We think this would be a great formula for those with naturally oily skin — ensuring a matte finish, long wear, and smoothed texture for any skin type. 

Size: 30 ml | Shades: 44 | Finish: Matte | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination

Best Investment

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation

$145 at Nordstrom $145 at Dermstore View on Chantecaille.com

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Wear
  5/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4/5

Glamor is the name of Chantecaille’s game, and their Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation is no exception. This stunning foundation glides seamlessly onto the skin thanks to its hydrating, water-based formula and provides a healthy glow that you can boast all day long thanks to its major staying power.

The lightweight product had just enough pigmentation to cover our redness without looking cakey or settling into our wrinkles. Its semi-matte finish gave us a natural look even though it covered all of our blemishes and hyperpigmentation spots — remaining ultralight on our skin all the while. 

Our only wish is that there were more shades to choose from, as this delectable formula should be felt by everyone.

Size: 0.42 ounces | Shades: 8 | Finish: Semi-matte | Skin type: All

Best Stick

Nudestix Nudies Tinted Blur Stick

$32 at Amazon $32 at Sephora $32 at Ulta

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Wear
  5/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  3/5

Not all foundations are made the same, and this definitely rings true for the Nudestix Tinted Blur Foundation. Pivoting from liquid products, this stick foundation allows you to work up to the level of coverage that you want thanks to its buildable and easy-to-blend formula. 

We liked that it was able to easily cover our discoloration with just a few taps of our fingers or brush, two methods that worked to effortlessly blend this foundation. Since it's a stick, the formula is naturally denser than liquid, meaning it was able to smooth over pores and blur our skin more effortlessly than most traditional foundations.

We did feel as if the formula was on the slightly drying side over time (as most full-coverage products are), so we suggest that you use a pretty hydrating moisturizer before applying your foundation for the best results. However, this foundation should be on everyone’s radar thanks to its versatility — from the light coverage-lover to the full-coverage fan. 

Size: 0.42 ounces | Shades: 11 | Finish: Semi-matte | Skin Type: All

Best SPF

Kosas Revealer Foundation SPF 25

$42 at Nordstrom $42 at Sephora $42 at Kohls.com

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Wear
  4.7/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.3/5

We all know the importance of wearing our sunscreen, but did you ever think to incorporate it into your makeup routine? Kosas’s Revealer Skin Improving SPF 25 Foundation consists of, you guessed it, SPF 25 to protect your skin against harmful UV rays throughout the day, while still leaving you with flawless texture and a healthy glow. 

We were blown away by the beautiful results this foundation gave us, needing only two pumps of the formula for a flawless finish — blending seamlessly over our entire faces and covering our redness and blemishes with ease. The coveted "no make-up makeup" look, if you will.

Though the price point is quite high compared to some other foundations, we do think this foundation is well worth the investment thanks to its skincare benefits and glow-y results. “I usually opt for tinted moisturizers and concealer, but this foundation has me changing my mind,” one of our testers raved. For the skincare-conscious, this foundation will be a no-brainer.

Size: 1 ounce | Shades: 23 | Finish: Natural | Skin Type: All

Best Powder

Estée Lauder Double Wear Powder Foundation

$52 at Nordstrom $38 at Walmart $52 at Ulta

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  4.7/5
• Wear
  4.2/5
• Finish
  3.5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  5/5

You’ve seen liquid and stick foundations, but let us introduce you to the best powder for full coverage: the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation. This pressed powder has more than 30 shades in order to match as many skin tones as possible and feels lightweight on the skin thanks to its finely-pressed formula. 

After some testing, we found favor with this comfortable foundation that blended easily into our skin and felt light enough to wear during the summer (i.e. breathability and shine control). We also appreciated the fact that this product could double as a setting powder for a tinted moisturizer or similar cream products.

Though this foundation has decent pigmentation, it was not potent enough to disguise our natural hyperpigmentaton. However, this would work wonders for someone who wants a more natural look or uses this powder as a setting agent for their base layer of liquid foundation or a concealer. 

Size: 0.42 ounces | Shades: 31 | Finish: Matte | Skin Type: Oily, combination, balanced

Best for Oily Skin

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation

$40 at Sephora $40 at Ulta View on Fentybeauty.com

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  4/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Wear
  4.6/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.9/5

There’s a difference between a radiant, glowing finish and oily skin, though it is, admittedly, a tough line to toe. The Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation is the secret ingredient to oil-controlled skin with its climate-adaptive formula that resists the buildup of sweat, shine, and oil on the skin when exposed to heat or after long hours of wear.  

We immediately noticed how lightweight and easy to blend this formula was, making this an easy product to reach for everyday. There was very little transfer onto the blotting sheet as well, which means that this product’s staying power is no joke.

Though this product will last you all day, you may prefer its use for more natural makeup days, as its pigmentation is not as full coverage as it claims. One of our testers with hyperpigmentation felt as if they would need several more layers of the product to get a true full-coverage effect, but that this was a beautiful product for those looking for medium/buildable coverage (or anyone who doesn’t have dark circles or spots). Long, sweaty days in the summer are no foe to the Fenty Pro Filt’r.

Size: 1.08 ounces | Shades: 56 | Finish: Matte | Skin Type: Oily, combination, balanced

Best Buildable Coverage

ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation

$54 at Amazon $54 at Sephora $69 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  4/5
• Wear
  4/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4/5

One of the biggest deterrents for people when it comes to full coverage foundations is the fear of looking cake-y or the skin drying out, which is why a buildable product is one of the better options for customizable coverage. The Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation hits the mark with its medium coverage formula made with niacinamide to not only provide a finish that feels as healthy as it looks, but can be easily layered for more coverage, if necessary.

Even after applying a few layers of the product, we were impressed by the weightlessness of this product plus its ability to cover up redness and pores while producing a dewy, natural finish. We think that we would still need to use a powder to set the foundation in naturally oily areas, like the T-zone — but nevertheless, this glow-enhancing foundation was easy to blend, breathable, and felt ultra-silky on our skin.

Like most of the products in this test, this foundation transferred slightly onto the blotting sheet used, but only left product-produced oil on the sheet and kept the foundation mostly intact on our skin. Because this formula doesn’t oxidize either, it’s perfect for all-day wear — meaning you can wear a little during the day for a natural look and boost the coverage for a night out without the fear of yellowing or cakiness. 

Size: 1 ounce | Shades: 30 | Finish: Natural | Skin Type: Oily, combination, balanced

Best Weightless

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation

$69 at Nordstrom $69 at Sephora $69 at Ulta

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  4.6/5
• Wear
  4.5/5
• Finish
  4.8/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.3/5

If you’re looking for a skin-perfecting foundation that feels like you’re wearing no makeup at all, then look no further than the Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Foundation. Luxe in design and formula, this pore-erasing, natural-looking foundation was one of the most lightweight formulas we tested during these trials.

Only one layer was needed to get the level of coverage that we were going for, but the formula was buildable enough to easily blend another layer on top for a more “perfect” look. One could attribute this weightlessness to its water-based formula, which made the product wear more like a tinted serum instead of a thick foundation — ideal for days when you want a flawless base that feels like second skin.

After wearing the foundation for a good amount of time, we noticed a bit of creasing at our smile lines, but this was to be expected as the foundation hadn’t been set with powder — a staple in most beauty routines. Still, we thought that this formula both looked and felt glorious our skin, making this a product that is truly worth the investment. Dame McGrath wasn’t kidding when she called her product "sublime".

Size: 1.18 ounces | Shades: 36 | Finish: Natural | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily

Best Natural Finish

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Matte Foundation

$57 at Sephora $57 at Ulta $16 at Macy's

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  4/5
• Wear
  5/5
• Finish
  4/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4/5

Natural makeup-wearers will love the little amount of product that is required to achieve a flawless look with the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Matte Foundation, as only the smallest drops of this product were necessary to comfortably cover our skin. We were happy with how nicely the product held its own on our skin without creasing or caking up. 

We also appreciated how natural our skin looked once the formula was fully blended, offering sizable coverage without making our skin look dry. A very small amount of product was transferred during the blotting test.

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend this product to family and friends due to its ease of application and gorgeous results — though we do want you to be aware that the end finish is somewhat matte, meaning you won’t get too much of a glow from this product. However, this look may be perfect for some readers who lean oily.

Size: 1 ounce | Shades: 49 | Finish: Matte | Skin Type: Oily, combination, balanced

Best for Dry Skin

KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm

$43 at Target $43 at Sephora $28 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Wear
  4/5
• Finish
  4/5
• Transfer Resistance
  5/5

It can be daunting to think of applying full coverage foundation to dry skin, but the moisturizing KVD Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm is here to make skin-perfecting products available to everyone, even those with dry skin. Its formula is made with apple extract and sodium hyaluronate to nourish the skin while evening the tone, taking care of our hyperpigmentation and leaving our skin reading more moisturized than it did before. 

This product takes us back to our first days spent experimenting with makeup, when most of us applied products by “finger painting,” a practice you can revisit with this foundation. We marveled at how easy it was to blend this formula out with our fingers, making us think that this could be a great product to throw in our bags for light touch ups on-the-go.

Though its hydrating properties and easy-to-use formula were unbeatable, we do wish the compact was a little more inventive to look prettier when displayed in their makeup collection — but its beautiful results outweighed the plastic packaging woes. Everyone with dry skin and special events coming up can rejoice, because this moisturizing full-coverage foundation is here to save the day.

Size: 0.35 ounces | Shades: 40 | Finish: Matte | Skin Type: Dry, combination, balanced