Just so you know: If you have oily or acne-prone skin, the castor oil in this product—an occlusive ingredient that can help with moisture retention—might clog your pores.
Best Powder Foundation: Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Matte Powder Foundation
Why we love it: Dewy makeup may be having its (glistening) moment in the sun, but sometimes a basic powder foundation is hard to beat. This matte option from Sephora Collection provides soft, even, lasting coverage—creating the perfect canvas to play with other products. And, with an impressive 40 shades to choose from, you should be able to find your ideal match.
Bonus points, per the experts: Some powder foundations can feel dry on your face, but this one uses dimethicone to lock in moisture.
One tester said: “I loved this full coverage matte powder foundation. It’s easy to apply, feels silky going on, it’s super long lasting, the color was perfect for my skin tone, and it noticeably minimized the appearance of my pores.”
Best Serum Foundation / Splurge: Youthforia Date Night Skin Tint Serum Foundation
Why we love it: Youthforia boldly claims that you can break a cardinal skin care rule for this foundation: You can sleep in it. Okay, maybe that feels aggressive (and TBH we wouldn’t recommend doing it on purpose), but with more active skin care ingredients than your average foundation and lasting, buildable coverage, testers felt great about using it on the daily.
Bonus points, per the experts: This serum contains hyaluronic acid, a light hydrator that’s recommended for acne prone or oily skin.
One tester said: “I am obsessed! This foundation is not heavy but not too airy either; it feels great. You don’t need a lot of product to get great coverage. It’s not cakey, it blends in so naturally, and it lasts all day. It also washes off clean and doesn’t leave any residue when I follow up with a cotton pad covered in toner.”
Best Serum Foundation: Catrice Cosmetics Nude Drop Tinted Serum Foundation
Why we love it: If you hate the feeling of heavy foundations, this tinted serum is a great lightweight alternative. Testers were impressed with the level of coverage given the barely-there texture, and even more impressed with the quality level for a $10 product.
Bonus points, per the experts: The dimethicone and hyaluronic acid in this product are light moisturizers that are especially great for hydrating dry skin.
One tester said: “I underestimated this product because of the price tag, but it DELIVERS. It’s been great for my sensitive skin and blends in more like a skin care product than makeup. The best part is that it doesn’t cake, crack, or pill (which usually happens for me, because I wear serums under my moisturizer/sunscreen).”
Just so you know: This foundation contains vitamin E, which can clog pores and is not generally recommended for oily or acne-prone skin.
Best Skin Tint: InnBeauty Project Face Glaze Bronze
Why we love it: This multi-use glaze might just be the only bronzing product you use from here on out. Our testers confirmed that you can use it as a primer (or mix it with moisturizer) for an all-over tint, or to build color and depth in certain areas, like you would a classic bronzer. No matter how you apply it, you can count on a shimmering sun-kissed glow.
Bonus points, per the experts: With gentle moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and ceramides, this glaze supports more than just a surface-level glow.
One tester said: “This was a great multipurpose bronzing product! The applicator was easy to use, and the gel/cream formula applied nicely and wore well throughout the day. It was a really nice option for the winter because it did add just a nice, gentle glow that gave my skin some life.”