No joke: these are the best foundations for combination skin (2023)

FAQs

Which foundation is best for combination skin? ›

The Lakme 9to5 weightless mousse foundation is the best foundation for combination skin. It is a lightweight foundation that you can easily use every day. After applying this foundation to your face, you won't even feel it. It easily blends into the skin and provides a matte finish throughout the day.

Many matte foundations are oil-free so they won't clog pores or cause them to appear larger. This makes them especially great for those with combination skin or acne-prone skin. Better at hiding imperfections. A matte finish doesn't reflect light so it's better at hiding breakouts, oversized pores and textured skin.

For combination skin, opt for a non-comedogenic moisturizer that's hydrating without feeling sticky or greasy, like a water cream. This way, it won't feel heavy on the skin, but the formula will allow you to address both the dry and oily parts of your face.

Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation earned the top spot on our list due to its oil-free formula, natural finish and ability to cover up even the biggest breakouts.

The best foundation for combination skin has to work hard to appease both dry and oily areas. If the finish is too matte, it can exaggerate dryness. But too dewy, it will only add more shine to the skin.

Getting the dewy look can be difficult when you have combination to oily skin — but it's definitely not impossible. The key is adding the glow back into the skin and creating a solid base that won't break apart and become greasy after hours of wear.

Does matte foundation make you look older? ›

Sadly, also yes. Since our skin naturally becomes increasingly dry and dehydrated as we get older, a powder foundation only makes things worse. It settles into all of your fine lines, and the matte texture finish instantly ages you.

If you've every admired a celebrity's makeup, you've probably wondered what foundation they use. Celebrity-loved foundations include options from notable brands like Giorgio Armani, Dior, and BareMinerals.

Avoid products with excessive fragrance or other irritants

Any product that includes harsh ingredients like fragrance or alcohol can irritate both dry and oily skin. Dry areas may become drier, while oily parts may produce more oil, potentially leading to breakouts.

Combination skin tends to display certain characteristics - oily skin (large pores, shine, blackheads) on the forehead, jaw and nose, and characteristics of dry skin (flakiness, dullness, fine lines and wrinkles) on the cheeks, jawline and hairline.

“Combination skin is generally shiny around the t-zone but dehydrated elsewhere, so a light, water-based moisturizer is important to restore balance within the complexion,” says esthetician and skin expert, Melanie Grant.

Is hyaluronic acid good for combination skin? ›

Hyaluronic Acid can quench even the driest of complexions and works equally well for people with oily and combination skin types. Unlike some skincare products, hyaluronic acid gets quickly absorbed into the skin, meaning you lose less product.

If you have spots or areas of acne that could use a little extra coverage, you can then apply a noncomedogenic concealer in a color similar to your skin tone. Blending concealer well is a key step to getting a flawless (not cakey) look. Creamier concealers tend to blend better than stick versions.

Combination skin includes areas that are dry as well as oily—with the T-zone commonly being oily, and the cheeks being either dry or normal.

The experts have spoken, and the answer is, foundation should be one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. This is because when you use bronzer or contour then the foundation should be able to blend and give the perfect look to your face.

Your Skin Type Matters

If you have combination skin, you can opt for liquid or powder, or both—try using powder foundation in oily areas and a liquid formula in other areas around your face. Or, top off your liquid foundation with a dusting of powder foundation for a full-coverage, oil-free look.

Best full-coverage foundation for mature skin

For a daily foundation that gives skin a lightweight, natural finish, Egure recommends Estée Lauder's iconic Double Wear. The classic formula has an expansive shade range (56 and counting), is oil free, and dries down to a skinlike, matte finish.

Westman Atelier's Vital Skin Foundation Stick is ideally suited for mature skin. This 2022 Best of Beauty winner is loaded with skin-nourishing ingredients like squalane for moisture and phytosphingosine for soothing and calming the skin.

How do you make combination skin dewy? ›

"If you need more pigmentation, do one third moisturizer and two thirds foundation." Mixing the two together has added benefits as well: "The moisturizer gives your foundation added slip so it blends better and hydrates the skin at the same time. And it will give the appearance of your makeup being one with your skin."

Being gentle with your skin will cut back on prematurely aging your skin, but less makeup will have your skin looking younger. You'll have less bacteria on your face. Bacteria is all around us but you don't want it on your face. Every single time a makeup brush touches your face, you're adding bacteria to your skin.

Look for non-matte products that do double, triple, even quadruple duty—say, by adding a dewy glow, intense moisture, sunscreen to ward off spots and wrinkles, retinol and even a filter-like finish. “Dewy foundations give you a more hydrated, youthful look than matte foundations,” says Duque.

So, coming to the main question, the answer is “no” wearing an eyeliner would not make you look old, but avoid these eyeliner mistakes (read the article here), do not draw uneven lines, and stick to soft colors. .

Lopez's longtime makeup artist Scott Barnes revealed to Allure he applies the Dior Forever Foundation on the star. It has buildable matte coverage with a touch of luminosity that's still lightweight on the skin.

Armani Beauty Luminous

Kardashian herself. The formula is buildable, creamy, and perfect for Kim's signature soft glam look. This is a medium coverage foundation that is going to give you a nice luminous glow to the skin, which is a must to achieve Kim Kardashian makeup.

We hunted the talented professional on Instagram, and he mentioned that the Pat McGrath Skin Labs range was used on Prince Harry's wife. The only foundation the brand produces is the Sublime Perfection Foundation so we are pretty sure this was what was used to create Meghan's flawless skin.

Cream Foundation: If you wish to have a flawless and hydrated look, you can go for a cream foundation. This type of foundation is great for dry skin types. The cream foundation is thicker in texture and offers great coverage.

Which cream is best instead of foundation? ›

A BB cream, also called a beauty balm or blemish balm, is designed to provide light to sheer coverage for your skin. Endowed with skincare benefits - SPF, antioxidants, hydrating properties - these creams correct your blemishes, and are ideal for a 'no-makeup makeup look'.

If you're a novice, try a powder foundation that's right for your skin type. "It's the easiest to apply, and it disappears into the skin more easily than liquid formulas," says New York City makeup artist Mally Roncal. Next easiest is a cream foundation in a compact (which is great for dry complexions).

"Oil-free foundations always help, particularly if you find that wearing makeup clogs your pores and causes breakouts," says Tobi Henney, a makeup artist in New York City. "Mattifying foundations can also be great as they will give you more longevity throughout the day and avoid looking too shiny."

While coverage level is a matter of personal preference, those with mature skin will want to blur texture and blend discoloration with a formula that doesn't settle into fine lines or dry patches—meaning it's best to avoid matte makeup, as it's more prone to creasing.

Avoid products with excessive fragrance or other irritants

Any product that includes harsh ingredients like fragrance or alcohol can irritate both dry and oily skin. Dry areas may become drier, while oily parts may produce more oil, potentially leading to breakouts.

If you're not sure, checking the color of your veins is a quick way to find out. Take a look at the veins in and around your face and neck. If you see blue veins, you have cool undertones. If your veins appear green on the skin (olive), you're warm.