16 Foundations ELLE Editors Won't Shut Up About (2024)

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Matte
Shade range: 50 shades

“I love that this truly stays on ALL day. It’s a favorite of mine for brides and the red carpet. It’s full coverage and also ensures a flat and even base for those struggling to mask redness or acne.” - Judi Gabbay, celebrity makeup artist

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Soft matte
Shade range: 51 shades

“‘Say what?’ is exactly what you’ll say in your head when you witness this foundation's magic. This deceitful little gem startled me when I first pumped the product onto my face. But once I blended everything out, I looked like a more poreless, smooth, radiant version of myself.” — Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Shade range: 20 shades

“I’ve been using BareMinerals Complexion Rescue for almost my entire adult life. Sometimes I’ll try to switch to other brands for fuller coverage, or because they get great reviews, but I always end up coming back to my tried and true fave. It’s the only foundation that covers up my rosacea, doesn’t cake or dry, and leaves my skin looking glowy. I layer it on top of the Becca Backlight Primer and voila! It’s the epitome of effortless no-makeup makeup.”— Jessica Roy, Digital Director

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Luminous
Shade range: 40 shades

“I’ve been in an entanglement with Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Foundation for two years. This foundation isn’t stuck up; she gets along well with every product in my routine and still finds a way to stand out on her own. We’ve had our ups—eight-hour-plus workdays of non-stop radiant skin—and our downs—scraping the bottom of the bottle to get the last drop. But this is the best $65 I’ve ever spent in my life.” — Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Shade range: 42 shades

“A friend needed a recommendation for the foundation to wear on her wedding day and I had only one suggestion: Dior Forever Glow. It’s totally foolproof and lasts through morning Zoom calls and (multiple) masked coffee runs. I prefer to put it on with a fluffy foundation brush, and it instantly gives you smooth, even skin without covering your glow.” — Margaux Anbouba, Beauty Editor

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Shade range: 30 shades

“My skin goal is to look so glowy that I glisten so hard in the sun and all my friends need sunglasses to look at me. This new foundation from Charlotte Tilbury does the trick. It’s blendable, dewy, and looks just like my skin—only better.”— Tatjana Freund, Beauty E-Commerce Writer

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Shade range: 40 shades

“Finding Dior’s Backstage was a godsend. My skin tone’s a neutral, without pink or yellow tones, which, lol, but Dior delivers my holy grail: a perfect shade that goes on silky-smooth for top-flight medium coverage.” — Katherine Krueger, Features Editor

Coverage: Light
Finish: Natural
Shade range: 14 shades

“On days when I don’t want to feel too made up, this tinted SPF/BB cream makes it look like I just woke up with perfect skin. It’s super lightweight and moisturizing and makes my skin look radiant. Plus, extra sun protection is never a bad thing.” — Tatjana Freund, Beauty E-Commerce Writer

Coverage: Medium to full
Finish: Soft matte
Shade range: 18 shades

“Would die for this beauty balm. No, I’m not being dramatic, and yes, it’s that good. I’ve never been a fan of BB creams because my acne-prone skin needs a bit more coverage than those lightweight formulas can provide. One/Size created the perfect happy medium: a balm with the coverage of a foundation and weightless finish of a skin tint.” — Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

Coverage: Full
Finish: Soft matte
Shade range: 34 shades

“You know what they say: It's always the one you least expect that swoops you off your feet. Nars' Soft Matte Foundation has been pushed around my foundation draw for quite some time, so I decided to bring it along during my summer vacations to see what the hype was about. Every makeup look with this foundation is a hit because not only is she a team player, but she can withstand any weather, any work shift, and any naps (shhh, we've all been there).”— Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

Coverage: Light
Finish: Natural
Shade range: 56 shades

“I’m not big on makeup, but skincare is paramount. Clinique remains the only foundation that gives ample coverage and doesn’t cause breakouts. I’ve been using it since I was a teenager and it never disappoints.”— Claire Stern, Digital Deputy Editor

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Dewy
Shade range: 23 shades

“I don’t like to keep a million products around, which means I love anything that can pull double duty. This foundation gives the light to medium coverage I’m looking for [and contains] SPF 40, meaning I can feel extra protected throughout the day. Plus, this sleek packaging makes me feel fancy every time I pull it out.” — Madison Feller, Senior Staff Writer

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Shade range: 43 shades

“My criteria for a great foundation are as follows: It doesn’t cake or flake, looks natural enough to trick my Instagram followers, and plays nicely with my other products. Bobbi Brown hasn’t been my go-to brand since I stole my mom’s eyeshadow as a kid, but this product instantly changed that. It blends like nothing else, makes me look super glowy, and looks great in photos, which is all I ever want. I keep gifting bottles to my friends, and now we’re like a perfectly-blended, blemish-free squad.” — Tatjana Freund, Beauty E-Commerce Writer

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Shade range: 48 shades

“This foundation takes the cake (while not feeling cakey)! I wear this foundation nearly every day, so if you’re looking for lightweight and consistent color, then this base is for you. It comes in a variety of shades [48 to be exact] and pairs nicely with your everyday serum or cream. The applicator wand glides on effortlessly but I'd recommend applying with a beauty sponge if you want that dewy look.”— Leah Romero, Senior Digital Designer

Coverage: Medium
Finish: Matte
Shade range: 40 shades

“I absolutely love this Maybelline New York poreless foundation. I have sensitive skin, and this drug store reliable has never given me any trouble. For anyone looking for that perfect matte finish, this is it. Bonus: It stays on all day.” — Rose Minutaglio, Staff Writer

Coverage: Light
Finish: Matte
Shade range: 35 shades

“I’ve used BareMinerals’ powder foundation since high school, but what I love about its newer performance-wear foundation is that it really evens my skin tone and covers all my blemishes without feeling heavy—and the color lasts. I have oily skin too, so having a good matte foundation helps keep my skin’s sheen in check in the summer. BareMineral’s powder foundations generally feel ‘barely there’ for me but still work miracles on my skin. And it never breaks me out: a major plus!” — Alyssa Bailey, News and Strategy Editor

Knowing your skin well is key to finding the perfect foundation, as certain formulas can make or break your entire routine. Here's what you should consider when shopping for your next foundation.

Shade Range - An extensive shade range makes it easier to find a shade close enough to your complexion. Understanding your undertone is especially important when looking at the shades because a good undertone match will provide a seamless makeup look. You can always ask a sales associate to help you match your undertone or refer to our guide.

Coverage - Depending on your preference, most foundations are broken into three coverage categories: light, medium, and full. Lighter consistencies are similar to skin tints and BB/CC creams; they are sheer and lightweight and enhance your skin, but don't necessarily conceal blemishes or dark spots as well as fuller coverage foundations. Medium and full coverage formulas cover most (if not all) spots and hyperpigmentation.

Finish: There are many foundation finishes you can choose from, including matte, natural, or dewy. Dry skin should favor foundations with a natural or dewy finish, while oily skin should typically reach for matte/soft-matte formulas.

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless beauty professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest foundations.

For this piece, she interviewed celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay and ELLE Editors for their favorite foundation picks.