The best foundation for dry skin to fix a patchy, flaky complexion
Dry skin with acne? Flaky skin? There's a perfect foundation for it all...
Dry skin is a bit of a catch 22: you may want to cover it up, but more often than not putting foundation on makes it appear all the more obvious. That’s where the best foundation for dry skin comes in.
Armed with the right formula, your foundation can deliver a hit of moisture to your skin while simultaneously disguising it under a veil of pigment. It’s all about knowing what to look for.
Keep scrolling to find your new complexion hero, whether your dry skin is flaky or acne-prone. Because crumbly make-up is just not the one, is it?
Best foundation for dry skin with full coverage
Chanel Vitalumiere Satin Fluid Make-up, £40, John Lewis
Hyaluronic acid and liquorice extract work together to hydrate and give luminosity to the skin, guaranteeing eight hours of comfortably nourished skin.
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Best drugstore foundation for dry skin
Revlon ColourStay Makeup, £12.99, Boots
Specially formulated for skint that’s on the dry side, this one will balance your skin’s moisture levels throughout the day with a satin-y finish – the opposite of the dry and flaky texture you love to hate.
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Best foundation for dry sensitive skin
Cover FX Natural Finish Oil-Free Foundation, £34, House of Fraser
This foundation has sheer but buildable coverage and is water based rather than oil-based, so won’t clog your pores. It contains moisturising Vitamin F Esters and peptides to keep skin soft without irritation but is formulated without parabens, fragrance or mineral oil.
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Best foundation for dry patchy skin
Bobbi Brown Extra SPF 25 Tinted Moisturising Balm, £40, Fabled
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Argireline® peptide boosts skin’s natural collagen production, while clary sage ferment strengthens skin’s protective moisture barrier. Plus, although the formula seems more like a tinted moisturiser, the coverage is pretty buildable.
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Best foundation for dry skin with acne
Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation for Acne Control, £54.50, Amazon
Containing 2% of sebum-busting salicylic acid, this acne treatment foundation hydrates while helping sensitive, spot-prone skin.
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Best long-lasting foundation for dry skin
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, £33, Fabled
NARS’ cult favourite foundation gives the perfect amount of coverage, a gorgeous luminosity, plus it lasts for hours upon hours.
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See more of our favourite foundations for dry skin below.
Rest assured your dry skin worries are a thing of the past…
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Chantecaille Future Skin Foudation, Space NK
This oil-free protective gel foundation contains 60% charged water and seaweed extracts and has the unique ability to transfer water into the skin without the use of any oil, making it perfect for acne-prone dry skin.
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MAC Face and Body Foundation, £24.50, John Lewis
Loved by make-up artists and beauty lovers alike, Face and Body is one of the most famous foundations in the world. Super fluid with buildable coverage, it's a great buy if you don't want a formula that's drying on the skin.
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Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum SPF 40, £45, Fabled
The Intensive Skin Serum is packed with nutrients and moisture that's great for your skin, so you can only imagine how great this foundation is for your skin. Offering a high level of SPF 40, this a great anti-ager and the super fine pigment won't settle into fine lines or patches of dry skin. Worth every penny.
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Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, £42, John Lewis
Touted by famous faces everywhere as their go-to, from Meghan Markle to Kim Kardashian, this formula is glowy, fresh skin in a bottle. It has enough moisture that it doesn't cling to dry skin and make it look patchy, so you can rest easy knowing your complexion is A-ok.
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Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation, £45, Fabled
For a fresh glow that looks like its your own, rather than your make-up, Perricone MD is the go-to. The clue's in the name – No Foundation Foundation will give you better-looking skin without it looking like you're wearing any.
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Lancôme Skin Feels Good Foundation, £25 Fabled
'Skin feels good.' What more could you ask for?! Especially if you have quite tight, dry skin. It's a foundation that's infused with lots of hydrating skincare, like hyaluronic acid. But skin doesn't just feel good, it looks good too. It makes skin look healthy and glowy.
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Estée Lauder Double Wear LightSoft Matte Hydra Foundation, £33.50 Fabled
Double Wear is Lauder's best selling foundation, but for some people it's a bit too heavy. This lighter version offers a much sheerer coverage. It's also matte, which not everyone with dry skin will love, but it doesn't gather in dry spots and means you won't need to follow with powder.
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Clinique Even Better Refresh Hydrating & Repairing Makeup, £30 Fabled
Another formula laced with hyaluronic acid. It honestly just feels like you're applying another layer of your serum, it's so comfortable and light.
