When it comes to the best drugstore foundation, finding the perfect shade and coverage can be a challenge. And with so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to sift through ingredient lists to find the best options for your skin.
That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the 10 best drugstore foundation options that not only provide great coverage but also include good-for-your-skin ingredients.
These foundations will not only improve the look of your skin but also nourish and protect it. From lightweight liquids to full-coverage powders, there’s a foundation for every skin type and preference on this list.
Ingredients that Make a Foundation Good For Your Skin
Foundations that are good for your skin typically contain ingredients that hydrate, protect, and nourish the skin. Some of the most common good-for-your-skin ingredients found in foundations include:
Vitamin E
This vitamin is an antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals and UV rays.
Vitamin C
This vitamin is another antioxidant that can help brighten the skin and improve its overall appearance
Hyaluronic Acid
This ingredient is a natural substance that helps to hydrate and plump the skin.
Glycerin
This substance is a humectant that helps to keep the skin moisturized
Niacinamide
This ingredient is a form of vitamin B3 that can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as reduce redness and inflammation
Sunscreen
This ingredient will protect the skin from harmful UV rays
Other natural good-for-your-skin ingredients are Aloe, chamomile, green tea, etc. It’s important to note that it’s not just the ingredients that make foundation good for your skin.
It’s also important to look for non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free options, as these will be less likely to cause irritation or clog pores.
Revlon PhotoReady Candid Natural Finish Foundation
Introducing Revlon Photoready Candid Natural Finish foundation – the perfect solution for a flawless, natural-looking complexion.
This lightweight, medium-coverage foundation goes on like a moisturizer, blending seamlessly into your skin for a flawless finish. And with buildable coverage, you can customize your look to suit your needs.
Formulated with antioxidant Vitamin E, this foundation not only provides the coverage you want but also keeps your skin moisturized and protected against environmental pollutants.
And, it’s free of parabens, phthalates, harsh dyes, and fragrances, so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your skin. With Revlon Photoready foundation, you can have the best of both worlds – great coverage and great skin.
Features
- Lightweight, medium buildable coverage
- Goes on like a moisturizer, and blends seamlessly for a natural finish
- Contains the antioxidant Vitamin E to keep skin moisturized and protect against environmental pollutants
- Free of parabens, phthalates, harsh dyes, and fragrances
- Allows for customization of coverage
- Provides both coverage and skincare benefits
Physicians Formula Organic Wear All Natural Liquid Foundation
The Physicians Formula Organic Wear All Natural Liquid Foundation not only improves the appearance of your skin tone and texture but also nourishes your skin with organic and natural ingredients.
This ultra-nourishing and weightless foundation elixir provide a sheer-to-buildable coverage that feels like a second skin.
Formulated with organic jojoba oil, organic Aloe Vera, organic coconut oil, and botanical cactus flower, this foundation locks in moisture improves the appearance of skin tone, and gives you an airbrushed dewy finish.
This will benefit those who suffer from dry skin. The unique blend of ingredients works together to create a natural-looking coverage that enhances your natural beauty, without the use of harsh chemicals or synthetic ingredients.
This foundation is Dermatologist Tested and Clinically Tested, making it suitable for all skin types. It is a great choice for those looking for a natural and organic alternative to traditional foundations.
With Physicians Formula Organic Wear All Natural Liquid Foundation, you can achieve a flawless, radiant complexion while nourishing your skin with key organic ingredients.
Features
- Ultra-nourishing, ultra-fluid, weightless, organic foundation elixir
- Improves the appearance of skin tone and texture while delivering sheer-to-buildable coverage
- Features organic jojoba oil, organic Aloe Vera, organic coconut oil, and botanical cactus flower
- Locks in moisture, improve the appearance of skin tone, and deliver a second-skin, airbrushed dewy finish
- Dermatologist Tested, Clinically Tested
- Suitable for all skin types
- A natural and organic alternative to traditional foundation
- Nourishes the skin with key organic ingredients.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Lightweight Cream Foundation
The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Lightweight Cream Foundation not only gives you a flawless, natural look but also protects your skin from the sun’s damaging rays.
With Broad Spectrum SPF 55, this silky and lightweight formula provides buildable coverage while providing the most powerful level of UVA/UVB protection available in a compact foundation.
This dermatologist-tested formula is non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores, and it’s also free of heavy or greasy feeling.
It helps prevent sunburn and decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun when used as directed along with other sun protection measures.
It also contains vitamins A, B5, C, and E which help to nourish your skin and improve its overall appearance. With Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Lightweight Cream Foundation, you can achieve a flawless, natural look while keeping your skin protected from the sun.
Features
- Provides a flawless, natural look
- Protection against the sun’s damaging rays with Broad Spectrum SPF 55
- Silky, lightweight makeup that provides buildable coverage
- Provides the most powerful level of UVA/UVB protection available in a compact foundation
- Non-comedogenic, won’t clog pores
- Contains vitamins A, B5, C, and E to nourish the skin
- Dermatologist-tested
- Helps prevent sunburn, and decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun
- Free of heavy or greasy feeling
L’Oreal Paris Visible Lift Serum Absolute Foundation
Introducing L’Oreal Paris Visible Lift Serum Absolute Foundation – a breakthrough in age-perfecting makeup.
This foundation features a unique serum of 5 ingredients in 1 radiant foundation makeup. Its luxuriously lightweight liquid formula instantly evens skin tone without settling into lines and wrinkles.
With continued use, see your skin visibly transform to smoother, brighter, even, and flawless in just four weeks.
Visible Lift Serum Absolute Foundation is infused with Pro-Retinol A and Vitamin C, which hydrates and evens skin tone.
It also contains SPF 17 which protects your skin from harmful UV rays. Real women have seen visible results, with 87% seeing more even skin tone, 79% seeing more radiant skin, and 68% seeing the appearance of wrinkles reduced.
With L’Oreal Paris Visible Lift Serum Absolute Foundation, you can achieve a youthful, radiant, and flawless complexion.
Features
- A breakthrough in age-perfecting makeup
- A serum of 5 ingredients in 1 radiant foundation
- Instantly evens skin tone with a luxuriously lightweight liquid formula that doesn’t settle into lines and wrinkles
- In four weeks, see skin visibly transform into smoother, brighter, even, and flawless
- Medium coverage foundation infused with SPF 17
- Infused with Pro-Retinol A and Vitamin C
- Instantly hydrates and evens tone
- Smoother, brighter, flawless skin
- Contains SPF 17
Burts Bees 100% Natural Origin Mattifying Powder Foundation
Burts Bees 100% Natural Origin Mattifying Powder Foundation controls shine and evens skin tone with buildable, blendable coverage.
Formulated with bamboo, it absorbs oil without drying skin and is available in six shades. It comes with a custom sponge applicator and mirror and is free of parabens, phthalates, SLS, petrolatum, and synthetic fragrances.
It is dermatologist-tested and never tested on animals. Achieve a smooth, natural-looking complexion with this foundation.
Features
- 100% Natural Origin Mattifying Powder Foundation in Vanilla
- Controls shine with buildable and blendable coverage
- Lightweight and non-comedogenic
- Perfect for oily or combination skin, effectively absorbs oil without drying out your skin
- Made with Bamboo to blur imperfections and easily blend to even out skin tone
- Available in six shades
- Includes a custom sponge applicator and mirror
- Formulated without parabens, phthalates, SLS, petrolatum, or synthetic fragrances
- Dermatologist-tested and not tested on animals
Almay Clear Complexion Makeup Foundation
Almay Clear Complexion Makeup Foundation is a lightweight formula that effectively conceals blemishes, controls shine, minimizes pores, and suppresses acne flare-ups without suffocating your skin.
The soft matte foundation finish allows you to build coverage without caking and contains a maximum-strength dose of salicylic acid to treat current breakouts and help stop future ones.
Suitable for acne-prone, oily, and combination skin types and available in 14 easy-match shades that are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and cruelty-free.
Its improved formula is powered by a skin-balancing complex of salicylic acid, prebiotics, and aloe vera for clarified, healthy skin and helps to nourish and fuel a healthy skin barrier, promoting even, smoother skin over time. Aloe vera helps to moisturize and calm irritation.
Features
- Lightweight, semi-matte finish foundation that conceals blemishes and controls shine.
- Suitable for acne-prone, oily skin, and combination skin types.
- Available in 14 easy-match shades that are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and cruelty-free.
- Contains a skin-balancing formula of salicylic acid, prebiotics, and aloe vera for clarified, healthy skin.
- Helps to nourish and fuel a healthy skin barrier, promoting even, smoother skin over time.
Max Factor Radiant Lift Liquid Foundation
Max Factor Radiant Lift Liquid Foundation is a long-lasting, luminous foundation that provides radiance with staying power.
Infused with hyaluronic acid, it hydrates to provide a healthy glow, while the long wear complex ensures all-day coverage. Light-reflecting micro-pearls and hyaluronic acid replenish and lock in skin moisture for a radiant and refreshed look.
Features
- Long-lasting luminous foundation
- Provides radiance with staying power
- Infused with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and provide a healthy glow
- Long wear complex ensures all-day coverage
- Light-reflecting micro-pearls and hyaluronic acid replenish and lock in skin moisture for a radiant and refreshed look.
Covergirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation
The Covergirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation is an anti-aging foundation that instantly reduces the look of wrinkles for a smoother, more youthful appearance.
It evens skin tone and blurs the appearance of dark circles and other less-than-perfect areas. Its hydrating formula contains hyaluronic complex and vitamin C for firmer and healthier-looking skin.
Available in multiple shades so you can find the right match for your skin tone, it is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free by Cruelty-Free International.
Features
- Reduces the look of wrinkles for a smoother, more youthful appearance Evens skin tone and blurs the appearance of dark circles and other less-than-perfect areas
- Contains hyaluronic complex and vitamin C for firmer and healthier-looking skin
- Available in multiple shades
- Leaping-Bunny-certified cruelty-free by Cruelty-Free International
Almay Ageless Smart Shade Foundation
Almay’s Ageless Smart Shade Foundation is a lightweight and buildable liquid foundation that delivers your perfect shade match while improving the appearance of your skin in just two weeks.
The foundation features color-adjusting shades that turn from white to your ideal shade as you blend, making it flexible across a range of skin tones. Formulated with niacinamide to help even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of discoloration, hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump the look of skin.
This foundation is free from added parabens, mineral oil, DMDM Hydantoin, and palm oils, making it suitable for sensitive skin. As part of the Almay promise, this product is hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, clean, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free.
Features
- Lightweight and buildable coverage liquid foundation
- Delivers your perfect shade match and revives skin for a smooth, replenished look in just two weeks
- Color-adjusting shades turn from white to your ideal shade as you blend
- Includes niacinamide to help even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of discoloration
- Includes hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump the look of skin
- Formulated without added parabens, mineral oil, DMDM Hydantoin, and palm oils
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested
- Clean, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free.
Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation
The Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation is a water-based, oil-free formula that delivers 12-hour coverage and a natural, second-skin finish.
This foundation is not only vegan and cruelty-free, but it also provides powerful antioxidant protection thanks to the inclusion of Vitamins C, E, and F. The formula is also enriched with emollients for 12-hour hydration, ensuring your complexion stays moisturized throughout the day.
At Cover FX, they believe in using clean ingredients, which is why their foundation is free of talc, parabens, fragrance, mineral oil, gluten, sulfates, and phthalates. Experience the best of both worlds with high performance and clean ingredients in one brand.
Runners-up for Flawless Finish Foundations
Maybelline Fit Me Matte Poreless Foundation available with clay or vitamin E
Wet n Wild Photo Focus Matte Liquid Foundation vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free formula
NYX Professional Makeup Born To Glow Naturally Radiant Foundation vegan and cruelty-free formula
e.l.f. Cosmetics Flawless Finish Foundation with Glycerin, vegan, cruelty-free, free from harmful ingredients like phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone
Storing Your Foundation
The best way to store powder and liquid foundation is to keep them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat. Here are a few tips for storing each type of foundation:
Powder Foundation
Keep the compact closed tightly to prevent the powder from drying out or becoming contaminated. If you have an extra powder compartment in your compact, you can also use it to store a spare sponge or brush to keep them clean.
Liquid Foundation
Store the bottle upright to prevent leakage, and make sure the cap is tightly closed to keep the foundation fresh and prevent contamination. Avoid storing liquid foundation in a bathroom, as the humidity can cause the formula to separate or become moldy.
Cake Foundation
Store it in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep the container closed tightly to prevent the powder from drying out or becoming contaminated. Store the container in a dry area, away from any humidity or moisture that could cause the powder to clump or become hard.
If you are traveling, consider carrying the foundation in a separate container, or a compact with a mirror, to avoid any damage. Avoid storing it in a bathroom, as the humidity can cause the powder to become hard and difficult to use.
Cake foundations can have a longer shelf life than liquid foundations, but it’s important to keep them dry and in a closed container to maintain their quality and prevent contamination.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to check the expiration date of your foundation and discard it if it has passed. It is also recommended to avoid sharing your foundation with others, this way you can prevent the spread of bacteria and other germs.
Drugstore Darlings: Flawless Skin on a Budget
Choosing the right foundation can be a tricky task, but with the options mentioned in this article, you will not need a makeup artist to help you choose the best one. You can feel confident that you’re getting a good-for-your-skin product without breaking the bank.
From hydrating formulas to ones infused with antioxidants, these best drugstore foundations are a great choice for anyone looking to improve their skin while still achieving a flawless finish.
Remember to always patch test and find the right shade for your skin tone, and you’re sure to love your new go-to foundation!
Also Read: HOW TO APPLY FOUNDATION LIKE A PRO: A BUSY WOMAN’S GUIDE & The French Aesthetic: The Secrets of Effortless French Beauty
