I can probably count on one hand the number of affordable make-up brands I like as much as Maybelline. They make one of the most famous mascaras ever to go viral on TikTok, which is one of my go-tos, but Maybelline foundations are also well worth your time and money.
Much like Maybelline concealers or Maybelline mascaras, these are some icons of the high street make-up market; it may not be anywhere near as many as Sky High Mascara, but the hashtag #maybellinefoundation has more than 22 million views on TikTok.
In this guide I've broken down my honest thoughts on the most widely available Maybelline foundations, as well as included pictures of me wearing each one so that you can see what they look like on. Full disclosure, I used some corrector under my eyes and a dab of concealer to cover a nasty spot but, other than that, the only thing on my skin is the foundation in question. Here’s what you need to know about them.
The best Maybelline foundations reviewed by a beauty editor
1. Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation
It’s a toss-up between Fit Me and SuperStay Tint, but based on first impressions this is probably my favourite Maybelline foundation. The coverage is great, it applies really easily and has a nice, natural-looking matte finish to it rather than being too flat. Despite the good coverage, it doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin and is formulated with oilier complexions in mind—micro powders work to control oil and shine throughout the day. This is hands down one of the best drugstore foundations on the market.
2. Maybelline SuperStay 24H Tint with Vitamin C
One of the newer additions to the Maybelline foundation line-up, the SuperStay Tint falls into the skincare-make-up hybrid category, containing a vitamin C derivative. It has surprisingly good coverage despite its name—though a little bit will stretch quite well for light coverage. It’s quite buildable, lasting well through a day of wear, and has a kind of illuminating quality to it.
3. Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Perfector 4-in-1 Glow Makeup
If you like a pretty understated base day-to-day, this will make a great foundation for you, but it can also be used as an illuminating primer and highlighter. It’s very glowy with only a hint of coverage, evening out the skin for a kind of “no make-up make-up look”, but it did disguise some redness in my skin. You’ll probably find it useful to have the best concealer to hand for any areas that you feel need a bit more coverage (blemishes, for example), but overall it’s a nice base and a great multipurpose option.
4. Maybelline Super Stay 24H Hybrid Powder Foundation
Maybelline’s Powder Foundation is great for those who want a properly matte finish. Full disclosure, the shades I tested weren’t a great match, they were a bit lighter than I typically wear so it was a little harder to judge compared to the others. I’d also note that there’s room for improvement with the shade range as a whole. It did apply nicely without caking too much around a couple of dry areas and is very lightweight and soft—but do note it has a very matte finish. Because I have oily skin, I think a little could also be used as a setting powder on those areas that are very prone to shine.
