When dry skin doesn’t wear a targeted foundation, it can easily boil down to a makeup fail: flaky skin, cakey look that even may settle into fine lines, all looking so off. You definitely don’t want something that locks into skin flakes and highlights the dryness even more. Okay, so you’re in search of the best hydrating foundation for dry skin to quench that thirsty skin, making it look moist and fresh.
When it comes to foundation for dry skin, water-based, serum, and creamy formulas are what you want. Spike the foundation with hyaluronic acid, botanical oils, and other skin hydrating ingredients and you’ve got a perfect recipe for the ideal foundation for dry, flaky skin. Yes, you also need coverage from your foundation, longevity, and a perfectly matching shade. While it may sound like an impossible mission, I’ve scoured the internet and found foundations that work to hydrate your skin, while assuring a flawless look, without sacrificing the texture or finish.
Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo
This foundation was made with dry skin in mind, so no wonder takes the first spot on the best foundations for dry skin. More than that, it assures SPF 25 mineral shield — though this doesn’t mean you should be skipping sunscreen. Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo also earns high scores for buildable coverage with all-day-hydration thanks to its creamy texture, given by the water base, glycerin, and dimethicone. The foundation layers evenly and blends effortlessly, leaving a natural finish; plus it’s fragrance-free, allergy-tested, sensitive skin tested, and non-comedogenic. Bonus: it comes in a range of 15 shades.
Stila Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer
If you’re looking for a multitasker, meet Stila’s high-definition liquid foundation and cream concealer. It was made to last throughout the day and make your skin look naturally radiant, which truly does if you look at the reviews. It’s the best foundation for dry skin folks that want a matte finish and full coverage, besides a formula that’s both hydrating and plumping. We love the fact this foundation assures high coverage and skincare-like benefits, thanks to the addition of vitamin E, retinyl palmitate, antioxidants, and green tea extract.
Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals A Foundation
This foundation was made for mature skin but works wonders for dry skin too. With glycerin, hyaluronic acid, CoQ10, and plant-derived squalane it keeps skin hydrated, while vitamin C and plant extracts give an antioxidant shield. It’s 100% vegan and free of any potential drying ingredient, making your skin love you for wearing it. The lightweight serum-like texture layers nicely on the skin, quenching it deeply, with no flakes, no cakey finish.
Juice Beauty Flawless Serum Foundation
Juice Beauty Flawless Serum Foundation is the best foundation for dry skins that want an organic formula. With an aloe vera juice base and enhanced with resveratrol-rich grapeseed, fruit stem cells, and coconut alkanes, this serum-like foundation provides hydration and plumpness while infusing skin with natural plant extracts. And with vitamins C and E added, it gives even more hydration plus antioxidant protection every time you wear it.
Laura Geller Quench-N-Tint Hydrating Foundation
A mega hydrating foundation — more like a BB cream — infused with hyaluronic acid, squalane, and glycerin. It’s like your favorite moisturizer with just a bit of coverage. The natural finish won’t let anyone know you have it on, and you never ever feel like wearing it since is so lightweight. The water-based formula helps keep your skin hydrated all day long; you’ll totally adore it if you want extra moisture with low coverage.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation
OK, this is a cult favorite, which you’ve probably heard of already. It wasn’t made for dry skin, but it was frequently named one of the best liquid foundations. Its sheer formula contains hyaluronic acid to plump skin, silica powder that blurs imperfections, and sericite to smoothen skin. Oh, and the smart adaptive pigments adjust to the skin tone if you’re going a bit off with the shade. Plus, plus: it blends like a dream, fo’ real!
Clinique Superbalanced Makeup Foundation
If you have oily T-zone but dry cheeks and chin, this foundation might be your best call. It’s oil-free yet adds hydration and minimizes excess oil where needed. Basically, it delivers exactly what your skin needs for a naturally perfected look without looking cakey. Silky upon application, this foundation is long-wearing, with a sweat-proof formula that assures moderate buildable coverage. Bonus: it’s non-acnegenic, allergy- and dermatology-tested.
bareMinerals BarePro Liquid Foundation
Do you want a gentle-to-skin hydrating foundation that offers full coverage with a natural matte finish while it feels like bare skin? Welp, look no further. BareMinerals BarePro Liquid Foundation moisturizes, cares for skin while covering, and enhances skin look by blurring pores and imperfections. Bamboo stem extract is responsible for the matte, soft-focus finish, while papaya enzymes gently improve the skin’s texture. Moreover, this foundation is water-resistant, providing broad-spectrum mineral SPF 20 sun protection.
Dior Airflash Spray Foundation
Dior introduces airsplash technology, aka a spraying foundation that provides airbrushed perfect skin for up to 12 hours. The formula packs hydrogenated coconut acid, known to give dry skin the perfect recovery thanks to fatty acids — which says more than enough about its moisturizing benefits. Dior Airflash Spray Foundation has a soft, velvety finish, and is infused with light-diffusing pigments to look natural while allowing for buildable coverage to suit all events. You don’t have to worry about not lasting as it’s water-resistant. Just spray the product on a foundation brush, apply, and blend well. It’s not called the holy grail of foundation for nothing.
