Our Favorite Non-Drying Foundations for Dry Skin

Whatwe’relookingfor

Best foundation for dry skin overall

Finish:Radiant |Base:Water |Shade range:59 shades

M.A.C’s Studio Radiance is “a really old-school foundation that’s been around forever,” says makeup artistKiki Gifford, who is a fan of its sheer, buildable coverage and “extremely radiant, almost glossy finish.” It has a thin, liquid consistency that spreads easily and sinks in immediately; when I tried it, I was able to apply it with my fingers and cover my face with a few drops. One layer created a “my skin but better” look, whereas a second layer helped further camouflage redness and imperfections to create an even base.

“Depending on how you apply it, you can get really good coverage out of it. It almost feels like water, but it doesn’t settle into fine lines,” Gifford explains. It also doesn’t worsen or call attention to dry spots; I’ve been dealing with some flaky patches due to a drying acne medication, but the foundation smoothed right over them without exacerbating the issue.

I was impressed by how long this foundation lasted — I wore it for several hours of dance class and didn’t notice any creasing. And because it’s so light, it should be wearable year-round. Finally, it’s available in 59 different shades, making it the foundation with the largest, most inclusive shade range on this list.

Finish:Dewy |Base:Water |Shade range:9 shades

I tested Covergirl’s Clean Fresh Skin Milk foundation on the recommendation of Strategist beauty columnistRio Viera-Newton, who, like me, is especially prone to dryness and flakiness in the winter. She found it to be “incredibly lightweight and very sheer,” similar toGlossier’s Perfecting Skin Tint. “It won’t cover up big pimples, but it’s perfect for everyday daytime wear when I just want to knock off a little redness and even out my skin a bit,”Viera-Newton writes. The formula also contains moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, aloe extract, and coconut milk to help keep skin dewy and hydrated. When I tried it, the foundation had a slightly thicker, creamier consistency compared to the M.A.C Studio Radiance foundation, but it still sank into my skin and blended out beautifully, helping to even out my skin tone without appearing cakey. And whereas Glossier’s skin tint basically disappears on my skin, as if I haven’t applied any product at all, the Covergirl provides a bit less initial coverage than the M.A.C but still helped conceal some blotchy patches and dark spots.

Finish:Radiant |Base:Silicone |Shade range:40 shades

For those willing to pay the hefty $69 price tag, Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation has a particularly smooth, silky texture and luminous finish. It’s makeup artistShanzey Al-Amin’s personal go-to foundation: “It has an impactful amount of pigment without looking heavy or greasy,” she says, and “really creates that glow-from-within, second-skin effect.” Makeup artistSteve Kassajikianadds that almost every makeup artist has it in their kit because it glides on seamlessly and gives a “flawless, naturally dewy glow that doesn’t look like you’re wearing too much.” That’s thanks to the formula’s skin-care-centered ingredients such as glycerin for extra hydration and what the brand calls “micro-fil technology” to blur pores and imperfections.

Finish:Dewy |Base:Water |Shade range:40 shades

“The NARS Light Reflecting foundation is going to be for those folks who don’t like heavier makeup,” says makeup artistMarquis Ward. Because it has a very subtle, “second skin” finish, it’s going to give you “a lit-from-within feel, but you don’t have to do anything extra,” Ward says, adding that you can use your fingers to apply the product. Former Strategist writerRachael Griffithscounts it among her go-to foundations; as she got older, the less she felt the need for a foundation with full coverage, so she made the switch from theNARS Sheer Glowto the Light Reflecting foundation. “Unless you really layer it up, it looks remarkably close to real skin. It’s also easy to get a dewy finish to your makeup, and it overall just gives that even, healthy glow that I want from a foundation,” she writes.

Finish:Natural |Base:Silicone |Shade range:37 shades

Strategist writerBrenley Goertzenhas taken Accutane in the past and is currently on prescription tretinoin, so her skin is doubly dry; she likes the fact that she’s able to layer quite a bit ofmoisturizerunderneath this Make Up For Ever Skin HD Foundation, which she first heard about from a Sephora employee who shared that it’s a serviceable dupe for theArmani Luminous Silk, above. “It blurs my pores and breakouts very nicely since it’s medium to full coverage, but it never feels dry or cakey and still has a skinlike texture,” Goertzen says. Al-Amin also recommends this one for its natural finish that isn’t overly matte or overly dewy and likes that the product is buildable: “If you apply more than one layer, you can definitely get that higher-impact coverage,” she says.

Finish:Natural |Base:Silicone |Shade range:30 shades

Our topCC cream pick, IT Cosmetics’ CC cream, is a full-coverage, SPF-infused foundation that also has skin-care and color-correcting elements (that’s what the CC stands for, after all). “It covers all your bases — you get everything you’d want in just one product,” Kassajikian says. The formula includes skin-nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and Vitamin E, which help soothe and hydrate dehydrated skin, as well as SPF 50 for sun protection and anti-aging benefits. “You’re getting flawless coverage, but at the same time, it’s hydrating and illuminating the skin. If someone who tends to be on the dry side also has uneven skin tone or redness, this can help address that as well as provide coverage,” Kassajikian says.

Finish:Natural |Base:Silicone |Shade range:43 shades

Gifford recommends this Bobbi Brown stick foundation because “you only need to use a very, very small amount, and you just buff it into the skin,” she explains. “It’s very emollient and dewy, so you can really play with it.” Unlike many stick foundations, which tend to feel thicker, Gifford notes: “It has such a nice texture and finish, and won’t ever dry you out.” It’s very easy to blend, in part due to the presence of shea butter in the formula, which gives it a rich, creamy feel. It comes in 43 shades, the second-largest range on this list. And because the stick format is less likely than a liquid foundation to make a mess in your bag, it’s very convenient for touch-ups on the go.