Top Pick for
Overall foundation

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Top Pick for
Overall foundation
Top Pick for
Foundation for oily skin
Top Pick for
Powder foundation
Top Pick for
Matte Foundation
A foundation is a makeup product applied on the face to create a smooth, even base. It comes in many different forms, including stick, cream, powder and liquid. Liquid options are the most popular because they offer sheer to full coverage without looking cakey.
Shopping for a foundation can be an overwhelming experience because there are hundreds to choose from. To find the best product for your skin, consider the level of coverage you want, your undertone, the type of foundation you prefer and the price. Other factors to consider include the foundation's scent, longevity and SPF feature.
For this list, we examined hundreds of foundations available in various online retailers like Amazon, Adore Beauty and MECCA. We chose products based on customer reviews and ratings. We also chose options for each category based on key product features such as value for money, shade range, coverage level and packaging.
Read more detail on our methodology below.
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For the best overall foundation, our pick is Maybelline's Fit Me Matte & Poreless Mattifying Liquid Foundation. This iconic product has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 63,000 Amazon reviews.
A mattifying foundation that provides a flawless finish, Fit Me Matte & Poreless is a cult favourite. It leaves a long-lasting, natural finish to the skin while controlling shine and blurring pores. It is lightweight and doesn't cake. Apart from being non-comedogenic, this foundation is dermatologist and allergy-tested. It comes in 40 shades as well.
Customers praised the product's ease of use, value for money and longevity. It can be applied using a brush, beauty sponge or just your fingers. It gives a medium, buildable coverage that doesn't feel heavy on the skin. One major con for buyers is that this foundation tends to oxidise over time. Some recommend getting a shade lighter to offset this issue. Others also found the formula too mattifying for dry skin.
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A full-coverage foundation with a creamy texture, The Ordinary's Coverage Foundation comes in 21 shades and offers a semi-matte finish. It can be sheered out for a more natural effect or built up to hide imperfections and redness.
The Coverage Foundation is a budget-friendly option if you're looking for a cruelty-free base. It spreads easily using a sponge or brush. The highly saturated pigments are suspended in the brand's proprietary spreadability system to give a naturally smooth finish. It doesn't cling to dry patches, making it a suitable candidate for dry skin. But people with oily skin might need to use a setting powder with this product.
Check out our full review of The Ordinary Coverage Foundation to learn more.
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Featuring a vegan and cruelty-free formula, Too Faced's Born This Way Foundation offers medium to full coverage that can be sheered out with a moisturiser for off-duty days. It has a semi-matte finish that blurs imperfections while smoothening the skin's texture for a radiant look. While the formula is matte, it has alpine rose to add a bit of glow to the skin. It also comes in 35 shades to suit most skin tones.
Despite offering heavy-duty coverage for glam looks, this foundation is lightweight and non-cakey. It offers a naturally flawless finish that lasts all day. According to reviews, it has superb oil control while adding radiance to the skin. It also doesn't oxidise. But despite being infused with hyaluronic acid, some people with dry skin said it gets patchy around the eye area.
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Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint is an oil-free, sheer coverage product that provides plumpness and hydration to the skin. It offers a radiant, natural finish for everyday wear, leaving the skin smooth-looking and even. It is non-comedogenic and comes in 10 shades.
An easy-to-use product, this foundation doesn't settle into fine lines and dry patches. It is non-cakey, giving a sheer, dewy finish that lasts all day. While it doesn't cover imperfections, it evens out redness for a more put-together look. The shade range is quite limited, which makes finding a perfect match a bit difficult.
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The Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation is an oil-free, hydrating and long-wearing base that offers up to 24 hours of weightless wear. It features ActiveForce technology that claims to prevent the foundation from creasing or fading. It is also formulated with thyme extract to infuse the skin with antioxidants and protective polymer that prevents skin damage from free radicals. It comes in 30 shades to fit most skin tones.
Customers praised the product's flawless finish, ease of application and longevity. It has a waterproof and smudge-proof formula that offers medium, buildable coverage. It has a natural finish that controls oil throughout the day, even in humid conditions. Reviewers added that it doesn't oxidise or cling to dry patches, making it suitable even for those with drier skin. But because the formula is heavy-duty, removal requires a cleansing oil or micellar water.
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Inspired by charmeuse silk, this Giorgio Armani foundation uses Micro-fil technology to sculpt and brighten the skin. It offers medium coverage for a flawless, lit-from-within glow. It also blurs imperfections and doesn't settle into fine lines for a more natural finish. Apart from being dermatologically tested, it comes in 40 shades.
Despite its hefty price tag, this product has won many loyal customers over the years. It has a fuss-free, lightweight formula that can be applied with any tool of your choice. Its fluid consistency sinks into the skin without enhancing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It is non-greasy and fragrance-free as well. Some customers said it's not really buildable, but this seems to be a minor concern.
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This foundation offers long-lasting full coverage that is lightweight and non-cakey. It has a matte (but not flat) finish that looks flawless and natural. According to the brand, it is heat-resistant, life-proof and doesn't oxidise. It comes in over 50 shades as well.
A waterproof product, the Double Wear Foundation is a classic favourite. Avid users stated that they have used this foundation for years and it has never failed them. The matte finish offers fantastic oil control, perfect for those with oily skin. It is also easy to blend using a sponge or brush for buildable coverage, to hide redness and imperfections. The product is housed in a sleek glass bottle with a gold cap, but you need to buy the pump separately.
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The MAC Studio Radiance Face & Body Radiant Foundation is the reformulated version of the backstage favourite Face & Body Foundation. Now with a wider shade range, this product still gives the same sheer, buildable coverage and radiant finish that the old formula was known for. It has an ultra-fluid texture that spreads easily using a brush, sponge or your fingers.
This foundation is a great option for those who want a model-off-duty look. While it might be too sheer to cover imperfections, it gives a naturally glowy finish to the skin that lasts all day. It can also be used on the legs and body. It comes in over 20 shades as well.
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Another cult favourite from MAC, the Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation comes in a handy compact for on-the-go application. It offers medium to full coverage to even out redness and cover imperfections. The finish is matte and lightweight, suitable for oily skin. Apart from being sweat and humidity-resistant, it doesn't have any flashbacks.
Numerous buyers were impressed by the product's smooth texture, longevity and ease of application. It can be used as a base makeup, a setting powder and for touch-ups throughout the day. It comes in a wide range of colour-true shades to fit most skin tones. However, those with mature skin said it tends to settle into their fine lines. Some customers found the included sponge flimsy and recommended using a buffing brush for a more flawless application.
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Available in 40 shades online, the L'Oréal Paris True Match Liquid Foundation offers medium to high coverage with a dewy finish. It has a lightweight formula that is easy to blend to even out the skin tone and hide imperfections. It also comes in an elegant glass bottle with a pump that dispenses just the right amount of product for the entire face.
Customers praised the product's weightless formula, easy application and value for money. It layers well without looking cakey or clinging to dry patches, making it suitable for mature and dry skin. Despite having a dewy finish, people with oily skin said it doesn't make them look overly greasy. It's a great option for everyday use, though is not as long-lasting as higher-end products.
Not yet rated
This foundation offers light to medium coverage with a dewy finish. According to the manufacturer, it goes on like a moisturiser and finishes like a lightweight foundation. It has a creamy formula infused with prickly pear oil for hydration.
Candid Glow helps even out the skin tone while minimising the appearance of imperfections. It has a long-wearing formula that glides smoothly using any tool of the trade. It comes in 16 shades and is free of parabens, harmful dyes, phthalates and fragrances. It doesn't cling to any dry patches, but the dewy finish may be too much for those with oily skin.
Not yet rated
This foundation has a lightweight formula that gives a demi-matte finish – not too matte or dewy. It has medium to full coverage that helps cover imperfections while minimising the look of pores. It claims to last up to 24 hours and comes in over 20 shades.
Suitable for oily skin, the Pro-Matte Foundation blends seamlessly for a naturally flawless look. Customers said it is easy to build up to full coverage, eliminating the need for a separate concealer. It is quite affordable at less than $20, but some reviews found the foundation too heavy despite the lightweight claims. Others said it gets cakey when layered.
For this list, we analysed hundreds of foundations listed in various online retailers like Amazon, Adore Beauty and MECCA. We evaluated products from the following brands:
We narrowed down our choices based on customer ratings and reviews (as of March 2022). We also considered each foundation's key product features, including price, shade range, coverage level and packaging. We came up with what we believe are the 12 best foundations available online.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.Shopping for foundation can be a confusing and sometimes overwhelming experience. Not only is there a huge range of products to choose from, but they also come in different styles, shades and to suit different types of skin.
One key factor to consider is that foundations feature different shades designed to suit one of the following skin undertones:
These tones are often represented with a letter on the product label – C for cool, W for warm and N for neutral – but that's not the case with all brands. For example, Clinique uses N for neutral, P for pink (suitable for cool undertones) and G for golden (suitable for warm undertones) on its foundation shade names.
You'll also want to consider the foundation formula you prefer. There are several options to choose from, including:
Whether you opt for a liquid, cream, powder or some other option your choice may also be influenced by your personal preference in terms of texture. For example, you may decide that a liquid foundation simply feels softer and smoother on your skin, or that a powder is easier to apply evenly.
Need help finding the right foundation for your skin? Check out our guide to the best foundations or our guide to the best foundations for people with pale skin.
Need help finding the best foundation to use on your face? There are a few important factors you need to consider when comparing your options:
One of the key factors you need to consider when choosing a foundation is your skin undertone. Once you know what it is, you can choose the right colour of foundation, lipstick, clothes and more. Your undertone could be cool, warm or neutral, and the most common way to tell your tone is to check the colour of your veins under your skin.
Foundation formulas are developed to suit different skin types, including oily, dry, normal, sensitive and mature skin. For example, if you have dry skin, look for a hydrating foundation. If your skin is oily, look for a product that's oil-free, mattifying and offers a long-lasting finish.
You'll also need to consider whether you want light, medium or heavy coverage. For example, you may opt for full coverage if you want to conceal acne scars or light coverage if you just want a general touch-up. It's also worth keeping in mind that the amount of coverage you require may vary throughout the year as the seasons change.
Next, consider the type of finish you want the foundation to have on your skin. There are 4 main options: sheer, dewy, satin and matte, plus a handful of other options.
Sheer will be your go-to if you want a light and natural look, while a dewy look gives you younger, glowing skin. Matte finishes are shine-free and long-lasting, while satin is the most common option and sits halfway between a dewy and a matte finish.
If you'll be spending any time outdoors, you may want to look for a foundation that offers some sort of protection against UV rays. Check the SPF rating before you buy – the higher the rating, the more protection you'll enjoy.
The price of foundation varies based on factors such as size, type and brand name. Prices at the more affordable end of the spectrum start at less than $5, while some high-end products push well past the $150 mark. Be sure to compare the price per ml for an accurate idea of how much a foundation truly costs.
As always, it's a good idea to shop around to find the best value for money. Check out our guide to the best sites to buy foundation online for more information.
If you'll be spending any time in the Aussie sun, it makes sense to look for a foundation that offers some level of sun protection. However, there are a couple of factors you should be aware of before you buy.
The Cancer Council also points out that:
As a result, instead of using cosmetics that feature an SPF, the Cancer Council recommends using SPF30 or higher sunscreen that has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) if you're going to be sweating, swimming or spending a long time outside. Check out our sunscreen buying guide for more details.
There are a few other factors you should also consider before buying foundation. These include:
Total Score | Overall rating | Value for Money | Ease of application | Coverage | Shade options | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bareminerals | 8.35 | 4.45 | 4.64 | 4.77 | 4.55 | 4.68 |
Maybelline | 8.29 | 4.49 | 4.41 | 4.53 | 4.45 | 4.51 |
Other | 8.17 | 4.44 | 4.38 | 4.42 | 4.46 | 4.24 |
Estee Lauder | 8.13 | 4.46 | 4.08 | 4.34 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
Revlon | 8.11 | 4.39 | 4.12 | 4.39 | 4.39 | 4.49 |
MAC | 8.1 | 4.47 | 3.96 | 4.35 | 4.35 | 4.37 |
L'Oreal | 8.05 | 4.34 | 4.28 | 4.4 | 4.34 | 4.24 |
Clinique | 7.96 | 4.32 | 4.18 | 4.48 | 4.24 | 4.32 |
NARS | 7.73 | 4.35 | 3.65 | 4.12 | 4.12 | 4.29 |
Elizabeth Arden | 7.36 | 4 | 3.85 | 4.15 | 4.05 | 3.85 |
Lancome | 7.3 | 3.97 | 3.64 | 4.03 | 4.06 | 3.88 |
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