Whether your skin is oily, prone to breakouts, on the sensitive side or simply dry, choosing a foundation that works with your skin can make all the difference to how it looks, feels and lasts throughout the day.
From mineral and liquid foundations to lightweight skin tints, powders and more, there really is a formula for every skin type and need. But with so many options available, knowing which is right for you isn’t always easy. And then there’s the small matter of finding the perfect shade!
So whether you’re looking for a foundation that helps conceal pesky pimples without feeling heavy, a longer-lasting formula that won’t slide off oily skin by lunchtime, or something hydrating enough for a dry, dehydrated complexion, BC have you covered.
Keep reading to find the foundation formula that best suits your skin.
What foundation is best for dry or dehydrated skin?
If your skin is dry or dehydrated, foundation can sometimes highlight the very things you’d rather it didn’t! Think flaky patches, fine lines and uneven texture. Eek. So you’ll want to make sure you look for lightweight liquid formulas with a natural or luminous finish rather than anything overly matte or heavy.
Hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and squalane are also worth looking out for, helping skin feel comfortable while giving your complexion a fresher, smoother appearance.
Try: ELES Mineral Glow Skin Tint SPF 15
If you prefer your foundation to still look like skin, this is the perfect option and a personal can’t-live-without favourite of mine!
The silky formula offers sheer-to-buildable coverage with a naturally luminous finish, while hyaluronic acid and squalane help support hydration. It also contains antioxidant-rich botanical extracts including pomegranate, sea buckthorn, kiwi and cucumber.
The result? Skin that looks even, fresh and radiant without feeling heavily made-up!
What foundation is best for oily or combination skin?
If your skin is generally oily, you’ll want to steer clear of foundations with an overly dewy finish. This is because oily skin can make the foundation appear a little too shiny as the day goes on!
Instead, look for a matte or semi-matte finish, whether that’s an oil-controlling liquid formula or a powder foundation. These formulas can help absorb excess oil and keep shine at bay, while giving your complexion a smoother, more even finish.
Mineral powder foundations can also work particularly well on oily skin, as the powder helps absorb excess oil throughout the day. And if you have combination skin, you don’t necessarily need to mattify your entire face, concentrate your powder or more matte formula through oilier areas such as the T-zone and keep things lighter elsewhere.
Try: ELES Mineral Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 15
Offering medium-to-full buildable coverage with a soft powder finish, this mineral liquid foundation contains kaolin clay and rice powder to help absorb excess oil and minimise the appearance of pores. But it isn’t all about mattifying! Hyaluronic acid, squalane and jojoba esters help maintain hydration too and contrary what many might think, oily skin still needs hydration!
This makes it a particularly good option for combination skin, where you may be dealing with shine through the T-zone but drier areas elsewhere.
What about breakout-prone or sensitive skin?
When skin is prone to breakouts or sensitivity, piling on a thick layer of foundation can be tempting particularly when redness or blemishes are making you feel self-conscious. But heavier doesn't necessarily mean better! But more importantly, you’ll want to pay particular attention to what’s in your foundation.
Fragrance and other potential irritants can aggravate some sensitive complexions, so look for a gentle formula that won't clog pores or feel heavy on the skin.
Mineral makeup can be a particularly good choice. ELES mineral foundations are designed to provide lightweight, breathable coverage that allows skin to ‘breathe’ freely without clogging pores, while still giving you the coverage needed to camouflage redness, blemishes and uneven skin tone.
Try: ELES Mineral SkinPerfect Powder Foundation SPF 15
This silky mineral powder foundation gives you buildable coverage, so you can keep it light across your complexion and add a little more over redness, blemishes or uneven areas. Its lightweight formula is designed with sensitive, reactive and acne-prone skin in mind, while helping to minimise the appearance of pores and control excess oil.
Skin prone to redness? You may also like our guide to the best makeup for rosacea skin.
What foundation is best for mature skin?
As skin changes with age, it often becomes drier and fine lines or texture can become more noticeable. But that doesn’t mean there is one type of foundation every mature complexion should (or shouldn’t!) wear.
If your skin is on the drier side and you prefer lighter coverage, ELES Mineral Glow Skin Tint gives the complexion a fresh, luminous finish while hyaluronic acid and squalane help support hydration.
Prefer more coverage? ELES HD Mineral Satin Foundation is a great middle ground. It offers medium-to-full buildable coverage with a natural, satin-soft finish and contains hyaluronic acid and squalane to help keep skin feeling comfortable. Its light-reflecting mineral pigments also help soften the appearance of fine lines, pores and uneven texture without leaving skin looking overly matte.
And despite what you may have heard, mature skin doesn’t automatically need to avoid powder. If you love a powder foundation, keep the application light and concentrate it where you want coverage or shine control.
Try: ELES Mineral SkinPerfect Powder Foundation SPF 15 or ELES Mineral Veil Cream to Powder Foundation
Want something quick and easy?
If speed and convenience are top of your list, a foundation stick is hard to beat.
ELES Foundation Stick combines foundation and concealer in one easy-to-use stick, with high, buildable coverage and a natural finish. Swipe it directly onto the areas where you want coverage and blend, or use it more precisely to conceal blemishes, redness or uneven tone. It’s also handy for touch-ups and travel when you don’t want to carry a liquid foundation around.
How to find the right foundation shade
Once you've found the right formula, there's one more important decision to make, the shade! This can often feel even harder than selecting the correct foundation formula for your skin type and concerns.
Forget testing foundation on the back of your hand. Apply a few of the closest shades along your jawline instead and check them in natural daylight. The best match should blend almost seamlessly into your skin without making your face look noticeably lighter, darker, pinker or more golden than your neck.
Your undertone can help narrow things down too. Skin is generally described as having cool, warm or neutral undertones, although there's no need to overcomplicate it. If foundations regularly look too yellow on you, try a cooler shade; if they tend to look too pink, you may need something warmer. If neither is particularly obvious, you may sit somewhere in the neutral camp.
And don't be surprised if your perfect shade changes throughout the year. A little more sun exposure in summer can mean the foundation you wore throughout winter is suddenly no longer quite right.
The right foundation should work with your skin
Ultimately, finding your perfect foundation isn't just about matching your skin colour. Think about your skin type, how much coverage you like and the finish you feel most comfortable wearing.
The latest foundation formulas also blur the line between skincare and makeup, combining complexion-perfecting pigments with ingredients more commonly found in your skincare routine.
So, whether you love a barely-there skin tint, prefer fuller coverage or can't go past the ease of a mineral powder, there's no single formula that's right for everyone. The best foundation is simply the one that works with your skin and gives you the finish you love!
