The Best Foundations to Match Your Skin Type

Words by Jennifer George

When it comes to choosing the best foundation, it’s not just about finding the exact colour and preferred skin finish. One of the most important aspects to bear in mind is your skin type and how that comes into play. Whether you have dry, oily, sensitive, acne-prone, combination or mature skin, matching it with the right formula and format of foundation could mean discovering the best finish, longevity and make-up look of your life. 

“Choosing the right foundation for your skin type is really important to make your skin look amazing,”, says Zoe Taylor, make-up artist and Sisley ambassador, “and if you choose the wrong formula, it can be as bad as choosing the wrong shade.” It can age you, change the appearance of your texture or cause make-up to ‘slip’ much faster than it should.  

Not sure where to start? Follow our guide below to find your perfect match.

First and foremost for any skin type, but  especially dry skin, you need to prep properly before make-up is applied, says Taylor, with a great, hydrating moisturiser. But on top of that, you want to look for foundation formulas that promise hydration. Dior’s newest stick foundation claims to give 24 hours of hydration and comfort, and applies incredibly seamlessly to the skin - if you’ve shied away from stick formula before it’s worth giving this one a chance. If for some reason you’re looking for even bigger claims, Givenchy’s 94% natural option boosts hydration for up to 48 hours, thanks to hyaluronic acid and yuzu ceramide extract in the mix. Lastly, Armani’s iconic Luminous Silk foundation manages to balance moisturisation with a slightly matte finish, due to an oil-free formula, making it a good choice for someone wanting to go matte without risking things drying out and cracking. 

It might be tempting to reach for the thickest, most matte-promising formulas if you suffer from oily skin. However, oily skin is often crying out for hydration (the sebum glands might be overproducing to compensate for a lack of moisture), so instead try something that will help to control oil production whilst being kind to the skin. Sisley’s oil-free option is great if you’re looking for medium, mattified coverage that lasts and - as with all Sisley products - your skin will love it thanks to botanical extracts like gardenia and mallow. Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter is famously long-lasting, even as the afternoon shine usually creeps in, and feels incredibly lightweight. For a full coverage option, Lancôme’s contains oil-absorbing ingredients that will prevent things from slipping and sliding for hours on end. 

“With acne prone skin there can be a lot of factors to consider” says Taylor, who refers to the long list of causes of inflammation and breakouts. “Coverage is what people are usually looking for, but it’s so important that the foundation is healing and soothing.” One of her go-tos is the Sisley Phyto Teint Perfection foundation “as it’s extremely soothing but also has the most amazing coverage, and is buildable without becoming patchy and caked.” Clinique’s Anti Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup - boosted with salicylic acid to help fight breakouts - really does what is says on the tin, giving a slightly matte but lightweight coverage that calms and covers redness in equal measure. Also packed with skincare ingredients is NARS’ Light Reflecting Foundation, which has a buildable consistency so you can apply a thin veil to help smooth the appearance of the texture on your skin or build layers to a finish that will be more sturdy but still natural looking, as the light reflecting formula won’t look flat. 

Sensitive skin needs to be treated in a similar manner to acne-prone skin: you want foundation formulas that won’t cause any irritation or trigger inflammation. Estee Lauder’s Futurist Skin Tint Serum Foundation is a great example of this, being breathable and lightweight, plus it has the added benefit of SPF to protect the skin. Another skin tint option is from Kylie Cosmetics, which gives a hydrating, non-irritating veil of coverage. For something a little more buildable try Shiseido’s luminous foundation: soothing and SPF filled and perfect for sensitive skin. 

For mature skin, Taylor suggests something “light but elevated, a veil of colour covering just enough but that you can hardly see on the skin.” Also hydrating comes into play here (again!), as mature skin is often on the drier side, and it’s best to avoid anything too heavy that will easily crease into the natural lines on the complexion. Bobbi Brown’s serum-y option feels more like skincare than make-up and helps to plump with a generous dose of hyaluronic acid, and Hourglass’ hero product is equally as lovely, feeling like a second skin instead of complexion coverage. If you want something that will help counteract dullness as well as dryness, try Clé de Peau’s foundation which has the brand’s exclusive ‘skin-empowering illuminator’, a technology that gives a long-lasting glow alongside natural-looking coverage.