What are the Best Makeup Foundation for Dry & Oily Skin Types?

Search for the perfect foundation is a never-ending quest for ladies as something which looks good on TV models might fail to do the magic on your skin. While choosing a foundation, you need to have a clear knowledge about your skin type and concerns so that the same can be matched to perfection. For narrowing down your choices, we have come up with a detailed guide of the different types of foundations and expert recommendations for that flawless look.

6 Types Of Make-up Foundation You Should Know About:

1. Liquid Foundation
   A. Matte-Finish Liquid Foundation
   B. Moisturizing Liquid Foundations
2. Powder Foundation
   A. Pressed Powder Foundations
   B. Loose Powder Foundations
3. Cream Foundation
4. Mousse Foundation
5. Serum Foundation
6. Stick Foundation
7. 

   1. Liquid Foundation

   They might have either water or oil-based formulas and can cater to all skin types. However, makeup artists originally used this foundation on dry skin. Beginners adore this foundation which can be applied easily with brushes, sponges, and even fingers. When it comes to coverage, liquid foundations win the versatility game as it offers light, medium and heavy coverage.

   • Skin Type – Dry
   • Best Brands – Anastasia Beverly Hills, Armani Beauty, Bare Minerals Bare Pro, BECCA Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Fenty Beauty, etc.
   • Cost – $5 to $120
   • Websites to buy – Walmart, Amazon, Sephora, Nordstrom, Kosas, Ulta, Bloomingdales, etc.

   Pros:

   1. Water in the formulation makes the foundation hydrating and perfect for people with dry skin.
   2. Comes conveniently packaged and is pretty easy to work with.
   3. Glides effortlessly to offer both even and sheer coverage.

   Cons:

   1. High coverage liquid foundations clog the pores.
   2. They might appear patchy on being worn for long.
   3. Not ideal for oily skin as some of its ingredients might stimulate oil glands for a super shiny look.

   Liquid foundations can be further categorized into two divisions. Let’s take a look at the benefits and loopholes of each variant:

   A. Matte-Finish Liquid Foundation

   Cosmetic formulation of this liquid foundation can reduce shine while evening out your skin tone. They are best for oily and acne-prone skin.

   Pros:

   1. 1. Offers buildable coverage and is very easy to blend.
      2. Ideal for camouflaging blemish-prone skin.
      3. Doesn’t feel very heavy on the skin.

   Cons:

   1. 1. Can exaggerate wrinkles or flaky skin if the foundation has a dry finish and also difficult to correct mistakes once it sets.

   B. Moisturizing Liquid Foundations

   The creamy and luxurious moisturizing liquid foundations can induce a silky and natural-looking finish while imparting thorough hydration to your skin so that you don’t look dull or ashy in the pictures.

   Pros:

   1. 1. Perfect for nailing a more natural look as it provides between light to medium coverage.
      2. Hydrates skin without coming off as greasy.
      3. Slight-sheen helps to nail a youthful-looking glow.

   Cons:

   1. 1. A moisturizing finish can make the oily zones of your face look oilier.

   2. Powder Foundation

   The talc-based powder foundations can serve as an excellent addition to your makeup arsenal especially if you wish to camouflage oily skin problems. People having dry skin should stay away from this foundation as it cannot fill wrinkles and fine lines and leads to cakey makeup. For best results, you should apply them either with a sponge or brush. You can easily create a customized effect using the right tool. Usually, denser brushes offer ample coverage and full fluffy brushes offer light coverage.

   • Skin Type – Normal, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin.
   • Best Brands –Bare Minerals Bare Pro, Jane Iredale, L’Oreal Paris, Maybelline New York, Dermablend Professional
   • Cost – $10 to $77
   • Websites to buy – Caretobeauty, Thebodyshop, Amazon, Bloomingdales, Walgreens, Ulta, Wetnwildbeauty, Nyxcosmetics, Sephora, etc.

   Pros:

   1. Feels lighter when compared to the liquid foundations.
   2. Do not clog pores.
   3. Gets absorbed by the skin easily and is practically mess-free.

   Cons:

   1. Tends to induce a drying effect which is why people with dry skin should primarily apply primer and moisturizer.
   2. Doesn’t offer a sheer finish like liquid foundations and also not very helpful in covering blemishes and fine lines given its light coverage.
   3. Changes color on reacting with sweat and oils.

   Powder foundations can be subdivided into two types. Let’s take a bird’s eye view at each of its high and low points:

   A. Pressed Powder Foundations

   Oily skin problems can be solved with pressed powder foundations having a matte nature. They offer light coverage and should be used along with a primer for enhancing skin quality and making your makeup last longer.

   Pros:

   1. 1. Can offer subtle luminesce for that sun-kissed glow.
      2. Can reduce the shiny finish of sunscreens as you use it over a daytime moisturizer having SPF content.
      3. Highly portable choices for on-the-go touchups.

   Cons:

   1. 1. Building coverage can lead to a cakey look.

   B. Loose Powder Foundations

   Fix your beauty imperfections with loose powder foundations which can bring a substantial reduction in the appearance of fine lines and pores.

   Pros:

   1. 1. More texture efficient than pressed powder and has a finer consistency.
      2. Can absorb excess skin oil for preventing greasy shine.
      3. Hides acne, wrinkles, bumps, and blemishes.

   Cons:

   1. 1. Can lead to messy results if you don’t use it with maximum caution.

   3. Cream Foundation

   Cream foundations can serve as the best bet for people with dry skin if they have an upcoming all-day event to attend. The HD variants can last over a stretch of 10 hours without caking or creasing while keeping your skin adequately hydrated. It usually offers medium coverage and is perfect for hiding very fine lines and similar blemishes. For best results, you need to apply it with a makeup sponge.

   • Skin Type – Dry or mature skin
   • Best Brands – Kevyn Aucoin, Tarte, Chanel, Honest Beauty, Bobbi Brown, Milk Makeup, Hourglass Cosmetics, etc.
   • Cost – $12 to $88
   • Websites to buy – Sephora, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Honest, Chanel, Tartecosmetics, Dermstore, etc.

   Pros:

   1. Best suited for mature women and during the colder season as it prevents moisture loss from the skin.
   2. Heavier formulas can cover up dark spots and blemishes.
   3. Comes in tubes and pots making it an easy option for being carried around.

   Cons:

   1. Tend to crease after a while if you have extremely dry skin.
   2. Might seem too heavy for being worn during the summer months.
   3. Not as long-lasting as the powder variants.

   4. Mousse Foundation

   The lightweight mousse foundations are also known as the whipped foundations. It is uniquely formulated with microbubbles for offering medium to full coverage without weighing you down. Mouse foundations can be applied using a makeup brush or beauty blender. While it works on all skin types, people having combination and textured skin can benefit immensely from this foundation. While they mostly come in jars, certain variants might be packaged in bottles.

   • Skin Type – Textured or combination skin.
   • Best Brands – Elizabeth Arden, Revlon, Rimmel London, Christian Dior, etc.
   • Cost – $10 to $70
   • Websites to buy – Amazon, Dermstore, Sephora, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, etc.

   Pros:

   1. Does not settle into the rides of skin, unlike cream foundations.
   2. Can camouflage fine lines and wrinkles.
   3. A weightless feel helps with smooth application and results in a matte finish.

   Cons:

   1. Doesn’t last very long and can be worn for a maximum of 3 hours before it starts wearing off.
   2. Creamy formulas can make oily skin look shinier.
   3. Using the matte finish variants on dry skin can cause your foundation to look like a mask.

   5. Serum Foundation

   This breakthrough product of the cosmetics industry carries the lightweight feel of tinted moisturizers while offering higher coverage. Serum foundations have a high-fluid concoction that delivers high-intensity pigments and looks airbrushed when set. Some of these foundations also carry skincare benefits like anti-aging, anti-pollution, and even SPF. This variety of foundation yields the best results on ladies having oily skin. A flat foundation brush can be used for applying this evenly over large areas.

   • Skin Type – Oily skin.
   • Best Brands – Bare Minerals, YSL, Maybelline, etc.
   • Cost – $10 to $80
   • Websites to buy – Amazon, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, etc.

   Pros:

   1. The silicone-based formula feels thin and watery on the skin.
   2. Multi-tasking foundations offer ample coverage and an array of skincare benefits.
   3. Renders a natural finish for that no-makeup look.

   Cons:

   1. Tends to start wearing off after 2-3 hours.
   2. Sets very quickly and is not well suited for beginners.
   3. Offers less coverage than traditional foundations.

   6. Stick Foundation

   You can expect between medium to full coverage out of the stick foundations which are heavier than the regular ones. It is best to apply this type of foundation with a makeup sponge or brush as they allow greater control over the coverage and also prevent bacteria build-up on the product.

   • Skin Type – Normal or Oily skin.
   • Best Brands – Milk Makeup, Lancôme, BareMinerals, Fenty Beauty, Huda Beauty, Hourglass Cosmetics, etc.
   • Cost – $7 to $70
   • Websites to buy – Sephora, Ulta, Tomford, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Amazon, Walmart, etc.

   Pros:

   1. Cylindric packaging helps in carrying it around easily in the purse.
   2. Can also double up as a concealer.
   3. Can conceal imperfections with medium to full coverage.

   Cons:

   1. Might seem difficult to blend.
   2. Certain stick foundations have a waxy and thick texture which might clog pores and cause breakouts.
   3. A high creamy finish can crease into fine lines around your eye.

   BB Cream

   Blemish Balm or BB creams hail from South Korea and have taken the makeup industry by storm. It can tone, brighten and moisturize skin for that natural glow. Its formula is often enriched with skin-replenishing ingredients which offer the triple benefit of hydration, soft coverage, and sun protection. You can blend it easily for matching your skin color with sheer coverage.

   CC Cream

   The color correcting creams are perfect for being used on slightly discolored or sallow skin as it carries color-correcting ingredients. They are not as oily or heavy as BB creams which make them the perfect choice for nailing a natural look. You can apply the CC creams on acne-prone skin as it renders an even skin tone while offering mild moisturization.

   Foundations vary according to formulation and texture which can have a significant impact on how they look on the skin. Since applying foundation is one of the foremost steps of makeup, choosing the right one can help you nail a radiant base.