If you find that you’re not a full coverage foundation type of person—I get it—you’re not exactly alone. Although I’m personally more of a full coverage queen myself, I totally understand that some people find these types of formulas too heavy, cakey, or hard to work with. As with any makeup product though, it’s all about the application. What if I told you there were full coverage formulas out there that apply so beautifully that people won’t even know you’re wearing makeup? Sounds impossible? Well it’s your lucky day, folks! Celebrity makeup artist Elizabeth Seropian shared her favorite formulas for this along with her best application tips. Read on for all she had to share.
When shopping for a full coverage foundation to suit your needs, you’ll first need to consider your skin type. If your skin tends to get dry, you may not want to go for a super matte formula because it might dry your skin out. If you have oilier skin however, a matte formula may suit your skin perfectly. Combination skin types will want to look for light hydrating ingredients in a formula like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Seropian also has a few application tips that will come in handy for full coverage formulas.
“First you need to prepare your skin with a clean, moisturized face and a primer,” she says. “Use a dense brush or beauty sponge for application. Start with a small amount and build up coverage as needed. Remember with full coverage foundations, less is more and you can always build as you go. Blend thoroughly for an even and natural finish. Once you are done blending in your foundation, you can go in with your concealer to dab on any areas that need a little more coverage. Setting your make up with a powder is key! It helps enhance longevity and reduces shine.”
For a few of Seropian’s favorite full coverage formulas, along with a few of our own favorites, keep scrolling.
Pros: Full coverage, matte finish, fragrance-free, large shade range. Cons: May be too matte for dry skin types. “My all-time favorite full coverage foundation is the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation. This long-lasting foundation gives you the fullest coverage and keeps your skin matte all day! I personally use this foundation and it helps cover all of my imperfections.” — Seropian. Customer Review: “I have struggled since the beginning of my makeup journey finding a long wear matte foundation for my pale, oily skin. This is my dream foundation. I wish it came with a pump though. I don’t care how expensive this is, I’ll always repurchase.”
Pros: Full coverage, fragrance-free, provides a luminous, matte finish. Cons: May be too matte for dry skin types. “Next on my list is the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation. This foundation is known for its high coverage and its ability to even out the skin tone. It has a velvety texture and a long-lasting formula that helps create a flawless finish all day!” — Seropian. Customer Review: “
Pros: Medium to full coverage, contains fermented arnica to reduce redness, large shade range, helps even out your skin tone, noncomedogenic. Cons: Tends to get dry after 5+ hours. Although this foundation is technically labeled as “medium coverage,” I’ve found that it applies more like a full coverage foundation—a little goes a long way. It’s honestly one of the best foundations I’ve ever used for sensitive, acne-prone skin because the formula is completely noncomedogenic. The only downside is that it tends to dry me out when I wear it all day, but that could just be my own issue since my skin gets dehydrated easily. Customer Review: “Such a silky, lightweight product and coverage is impeccable. This foundation is by far my new favorite. Highly recommend especially to those with rosacea. Stays on with a naturally smooth finish. Thank you for this amazing foundation!”
Pros: “Replexium” technology helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, full coverage, provides a matte finish, refreshes and hydrates the skin throughout the day. Cons: May be too matte for some. The name of this classic foundation from Charlotte Tilbury says it all. It’s long-lasting, weightless, and contains extra skincare ingredients to keep skin looking flawless. “Replexium” technology helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles while MossCellTec No. 1 and AirCool technology help keep skin hydrated and refreshed throughout the day. Customer Review: “Honestly, this is full coverage and makes my skin glow. I’m getting a darker shade for when I tan.”
Pros: Oil-free, lightweight, noncomedogenic, unique formula with 60% water that transfers moisture to the skin without oil, reflective circular pigments provide adjustable coverage, contains skincare ingredients to calm irritation. Cons: Expensive. This medium-to-full coverage formula from Chantecaille is buildable and has so many good things going for it. Yes, it is a little bit pricey, but it’s definitely worth the money IMO. Fun fact: It’s actually one of the first foundations I tried as a beauty editor and it’s still one of my all time favorites. It glides on so beautifully and smoothly, and never dries my skin out. I also love that it contains soothing ingredients like chamomile, arnica, and aloe, making it great for sensitive, acne-prone skin. Customer Review: “I have combination skin, rosacea, and occasional acne and this is the BEST foundation I have ever used. Why? It hydrates, yet doesn’t leave my skin oily. It covers without looking cakey. It lasts all day. I rarely have to powder at all. It doesn’t oxidize. ALL of this and it isn’t tested on animals!! Hallelujah!! Best foundation ever.”
Pros: Budget-friendly, can stay in place for up to 30 hours, full coverage, provides a natural matte finish, noncomedogenic. Cons: Can oxidize a bit after application and looks darker. Maybelline’s full coverage foundation stays in place for longer wear, is noncomedogenic, and provides a natural matte finish. Customer Review: “I love this foundation I wore it to the pool and it absolutely didn’t come off !!”
Pros: Provides a luminous matte finish, contains SPF 30 sun protection, hyaluronic acid provides extra hydration to the skin. Cons: Expensive, strong smell. YSL’s luminous matte foundation contains skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate and jasmine petal to help brighten the skin. It applies so beautifully that some reviewers even said it made them look like they we wearing an IRL Instagram filter. Customer Review: “This product quite literally looked like a filter on my skin. Stayed on all day, weightless feel. Every person deserves to feel as pretty as I did with this on my skin! Absolutely incredible foundation – I only used a sample and will 100% splurge on this. My skin looked FLAWLESS!!!!!!!!! Will have to keep testing to see it in different settings. Stayed on in 100 degree texas heat and did not MOVE.”
Pros: Full coverage, natural matte finish, waterproof, sweatproof. Cons: Recently reformulated. Lancôme’s Teint Idole formula is full coverage and dries down matte, but still looks totally natural. It’s also waterproof and sweatproof, making it a great option for hot summer days. Customer Review: The shade is perfect for my skin tone. I have dry skin so I am always looking for a foundation that does not make my skin feel patchy dry and this foundation makes my skin look flawless.
Pros: Budget-friendly, contains glycerin for extra skin hydration, medium-to-full coverage formula, great for dry and combination skin, weightless all day wear. Cons: Not fragrance-free. E.l.f. Cosmetics consistently delivers when it comes to its formulas—this foundation is no different. It’s supercharged with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, making it a great option for dry or combination skin. Customer Review: “I have tried every foundation from high-end to low-end makeup and this is the only one that has worked for my combination skin. I cannot even begin to gush over this very light to buildable coverage foundation! The scent isn’t too strong either!!!”
Pros: Infused with high-tech micro-pearls for a luminous and natural matte finish, medium-to-full coverage, fragrance-free, oil-free. Cons: May be too drying for some. Beauty Pie’s medium-to-full coverage foundation is incredibly lightweight, provides a natural matte finish, and contains micro-pearls that create a soft, luminous look on the skin. Customer Review: “Great coverage and finish! I generally use high-end foundations and this one was as good as any I’ve splashed lots of money on. The coverage is buildable, from a very natural look with a beauty blender to something higher coverage. It might be a little drying though so I do have to use a hydrating mist over it as the day goes on.”
Pros: Budget-friendly, designed to be a primer, concealer, and foundation in one, dewy finish. Cons: Tends to oxidize a bit after applying. Covergirl’s Outlast foundation is unique because it’s designed to be a primer, concealer, and foundation in one. It also provides a dewy finish, glides onto the skin smoothly, and lasts all day. Customer Review: “I just finished my first bottle and immediately repurchased a new bottle. I’m currently on my second bottle. I have oily/combo skin and I find that this foundation last all day even in humid and hot weather. I’ve worn this to Disneyland in the blaring heat and even after sweating and going on water rides my foundation was still perfect at the end of the night. Please do not discontinue! I will repurchase this over and over.”
