15 Best Drugstore Foundations for that Flawless Coverage [August, 2024]

Achieving a flawless, airbrushed complexion no longer requires splurging on high-end makeup. Today’s drugstore foundations deliver serious skin-perfecting coverage at affordable prices to help you look photo-ready and polished.

With so many budget-friendly options on store shelves, it can feel overwhelming trying to decide which formula best suits your skin type and needs. Not to worry – we’ve got you covered! We tested the 15 top-rated drugstore foundations beloved by makeup artists and beauty editors alike to bring you our definitive ranking.

From mattifying bases that conquer shine all day to illuminating formulas that impart gorgeous glows, keep reading to discover the ideal pick for your personal complexion goals. These multitasking MVPs blur pores, even tone, correct imperfections and hydrate skin seamlessly without settling into fine lines. Consider them complexion perfection bottled up on a budget!

1. L’Oreal Paris Cosmetics Makeup Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Longwear Foundation, Ivory Beige, 1 fl oz

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Description

The L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation provides a demi-matte finish that lasts up to 24 hours. The lightweight formula is comfortable to wear and offers medium to full coverage that masks imperfections.

Key Features

• Longwear formula lasts up to 24 hours
• Demi-matte finish minimizes shine
• Medium to full coverage hides imperfections
• Lightweight and comfortable feel
• Available in multiple shades

Our Expert Opinion

This top-rated drugstore foundation delivers flawless coverage without feeling heavy or cakey. The stay-put formula controls oils and shine for hours, giving you a smooth matte finish that looks airbrushed. It’s ideal for oily and combination skin types. We love the natural-looking coverage and diversity of shades.

2. COVERGIRL+OLAY Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation, Natural Beige

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Description

The COVERGIRL + OLAY Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Foundation contains OLAY Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum to provide hydrating anti-aging benefits while even skin tone with medium coverage.

Key Features

• Formulated with OLAY Regenerist Serum
• Hydrates and improves skin over time
• Medium coverage evens tone
• Creamy formula blends smoothly
• Available in 11 shades

Our Expert Opinion

This innovative formula combines makeup and skincare for a beautiful complexion now and later. It glides over lines and wrinkles to help hydrate and plump the look of skin over time. The medium coverage lets your skin shine through naturally. It’s great for dry and mature skin types.

3. e.l.f. Camo CC Cream

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Description

This e.l.f. Camo CC Cream is an all-in-one color-correcting formula that provides medium to full coverage with SPF 30 sun protection. The lightweight cream adapts to your skin for a natural finish.

Key Features

• Color-correcting pigments even tone
• Medium to full coverage
• Lightweight cream formula
• Contains SPF 30 sunscreen
• Natural, versatile finish
• Fragrance-free

Our Expert Opinion

If you want flawless-looking skin in one easy step, this budget-friendly CC cream delivers. It neutralizes redness as it provides complete, natural-looking coverage. The creamy formula feels so comfortable yet lasts all day without caking up. It also contains sun protection. This is one of our favorite multi-taskingcomplexion perfectors.

4. L’Oreal Paris Makeup Infallible Up to 24HR Pro-Glow Foundation

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Description

This L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation gives your complexion a radiant finish with medium coverage for up to 24 hours. The creamy serum formula contains hyaluronic acid for glowing hydration.

Key Features

• Lasts up to 24 hours
• Hydrating, radiant finish
• Medium coverage
• Serum formula with hyaluronic acid
• Smooth, creamy texture
• Fragrance-free

Our Expert Opinion

If a fresh, lively complexion is what you’re after, reach for this fan favorite. This foundation imparts buildable medium coverage with a gorgeous luminous finish. The smooth, moisturizing texture feels comfortable even on dry skin. It really locks in hydration for an enviable glow that lasts. One of the best drugstore foundations for brightening dull skin.

5. Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Instant Perfector 4-In-1 Glow Makeup, Medium

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Description

Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind 4-in-1 Makeup instantly creates a flawless, luminous complexion with its innovative cushion sponge applicator. The lightweight liquid formula offers buildable medium coverage.

Key Features

• Cushion sponge for easy application
• Buildable medium coverage
• Instantly brightens and smoothes
• Lightweight serum-like texture
• Gives a luminous glow
• Fragrance-free

Our Expert Opinion

This versatile 4-in-1 makeup takes the hassle out of getting a perfected, radiant complexion. The ingenious cushion applicator makes application easy and customizes the coverage. We love how seamlessly it glides onto skin, blurring imperfections with a healthy, luminous finish. It’s super lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear.

6. L’Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation

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Description

L’Oreal Paris True Match Foundation provides a customized color match with buildable medium coverage in a super-blendable formula that looks natural. Suitable for all skin types.

Key Features

• Color-adjusting pigments match you perfectly
• Buildable medium coverage
• Seamlessly blends for a customizable look
• Works for all skin types
• Available in over 40 shades
• Fragrance-free

Our Expert Opinion

For sheer to medium coverage with a perfect color match every time, you can’t go wrong with this classic. It uniquely adjusts to match your undertones so it always blends seamlessly without looking masky. The thin, liquid texture feels weightless but evens tone remarkably well. Great choice for photo-ready, polished skin on a budget.

7. L’Oreal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum Foundation with 1% Hyaluronic acid, Light 2-3, 1 fl. oz.

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Description

L’Oreal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Serum Foundation delivers sheer, hydrating coverage in a serum-powered formula that contains 1% hyaluronic acid. The lightweight texture leaves a smooth, fresh-faced finish.

Key Features

• Contains 1% pure hyaluronic acid
• Sheer, natural-looking coverage
• Lightweight serum texture
• Delivers a “no makeup” look
• Hydrates without greasiness
• Fragrance-free

Our Expert Opinion

If you love that barely-there, my-skin-but-better look, this tinted serum foundation truly delivers. It provides just enough coverage to even tone while imparting major hydration through hyaluronic acid. The silky, serum-like texture looks and feels like a skin treatment rather than foundation. Yet it miraculously smooths over imperfections. Fresh, flawless skin in a bottle!

8. e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation

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Description

The e.l.f Flawless Finish Foundation offers buildable medium coverage with a semi-matte, airbrushed finish. The oil-free liquid formula is vegan, cruelty-free and helps enhance skin tone.

Key Features

• Buildable medium coverage
• Semi-matte, poreless finish
• Oil-free and non-comedogenic
• Evens out skin tone
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Lightweight texture

Our Expert Opinion

This budget-friendly foundation proves you don’t have to sacrifice flawless coverage to save money. It glides over skin with a second-skin feel, blurring imperfections for an impeccable semi-matte complexion. The skin-perfecting pigments disguise redness as they even tone. And the breathable formula prevents excess oil and shine without drying. One of our fave cruelty-free bases for combination and oily skin types!

9. L’Oreal Paris Makeup Infallible Up to 24 Hour Fresh Wear Lightweight Foundation, Ivory, 1 Fl Oz.

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Description

L’Oreal Paris Infallible Up To 24H Fresh Wear Foundation provides moderate coverage with a breathable texture for up to 24 hours of comfortable wear. The sweat and transfer-resistant formula is ideal for an active lifestyle.

Key Features

• Lasts up to 24 hours
• Sweat and transfer-resistant
• Breathable moderate coverage
• Lightweight texture
• Ideal for an active lifestyle
• Comes in 18 shades

Our Expert Opinion

Want your foundation to keep up with your busy schedule? This multitasker is the ultimate longwear sidekick. It glides on light as air yet hides imperfections for hours on end. The breathable texture sets without going cakey. Even sweat and humidity won’t make it budge! Forget constant touch-ups, this hardworking base makes flawless skin fuss-free.

10. wet n wild Photo Focus Dewy Liquid Foundation Makeup, Bronze Beige

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Description

wet n wild’s Photo Focus Dewy Foundation flawlessly diffuses light and blurs imperfections with buildable medium coverage and radiant finish. Skin appears retouched with a luminous glow.

Key Features

• Buildable medium coverage
• Radiant, luminous finish
• Light-diffusing pigments blur flaws
• Skin appears retouched
• Dewy glow without greasiness
• Cruelty-free and vegan

Our Expert Opinion

Get gorgeous, golden hour skin all day with this luminous formula. The unique light-reflecting pigments impart a soft-focus effect that blurs imperfections in a flash. Meanwhile, the smooth, melt-into-skin texture imparts major hydration without the greasiness. Your complexion appears filtered, brightened and positively radiant for a perfect dewy glow. Dewy foundation perfection on a budget!

11. Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Liquid Foundation Active Wear Makeup

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Description

Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Foundation delivers flawless skin and a long-lasting matte finish in an active-proof formula. Medium to full coverage lasts up to 30 hours without caking, cracking or fading.

Key Features

• Up to 30 hour wear
• Transfer, sweat & water-resistant
• Medium to full coverage
• Smooth matte finish
• Ideal for active lifestyles
• Available in a wide shade range

Our Expert Opinion

On the hunt for a foundation that can keep pace with a nonstop schedule? Meet your new holy grail. This high-coverage formula outlasts heatwaves, marathons and adventures alike while keeping shine at bay. Just one application gets you a polished complexion that won’t quit – even if you’re pulling an all-nighter! It mattifies without drying so skin looks smooth and natural. We can’t rave about this enough!

12. Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Liquid Foundation Makeup

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Description

Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation has an innovative formula for illuminating, effortless and buildable coverage with a natural dewy finish. Smooths seamlessly for an instantly flawless yet natural look.

Key Features

• Lightweight dewy formula
• Illuminates dull skin
• Effortless natural coverage
• Smoothes skin
• Ideal for normal to dry skin
• Fragrance-free

Our Expert Opinion

When lackluster skin has you looking sleepy, give it an instant boost with this radiance-bestowing foundation. The featherlight formula melds with your complexion, leaving skin looking fresh, bright and alive with moisture. But that luminous veil of perfection doesn’t come at the price of coverage – it still masks imperfections flawlessly! We love how skin appears so naturally luminous and lit-from within. Dewy foundation perfection!

13. UCANBE White Liquid Foundation with Brush

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Description

UCANBE’s Liquid Foundation with Built-In Brush delivers breathable, buildable coverage with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Medium to full coverage formula controls oil and shine for smoother, balanced skin.

Key Features

• Buildable medium to full coverage
• Hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid
• Long-wear, waterproof formula
• Controls oil and shine
• Evens and brightens skin
• Built-in brush for easy application

Our Expert Opinion

If balanced, even-toned skin is your goal, this 2-in-1 foundation has you covered – literally! Just sweep on the skincare-powered formula with its ingeniously integrated brush to instantly even your complexion. The ultra-blendable texture builds easily from a light veil to full correction while hydrating with hyaluronic acid. It keeps shine and redness at bay for hours with a breathable feel. Perfect for achieving a flawless yet natural look on the go!

14. wet n wild Photo Focus Matte Liquid Liquid Foundation Shell Ivory, Vegan & Cruelty-Free

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Description

This wet n wild Photo Focus Matte Liquid Foundation provides a perfected matte complexion with medium-to-full, buildable coverage. The oil-free liquid formula is vegan and cruelty-free.

Key Features

• Medium to full coverage
• Matte, pore-minimizing finish
• Oil-free, non-comedogenic
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Evens and smoothes skin
• Photo-friendly formula

Our Expert Opinion

Take your complexion to matte perfection with this top-rated cruelty-free formula. The amazingly creamy liquid texture appears almost powdery on skin while masking imperfections flawlessly. It mattifies beautifully without ever looking flat or drying out your complexion. We also love how it smooths the look of pores and controls shine for hours on end. Your new secret weapon for gorgeous, photo-ready skin that gets compliments all day long!

15. Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Oil-Free Foundation Makeup

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Description

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation delivers an airbrushed matte complexion with Clearing Beads to deeply clean pores and flawlessly conceal impurities for smooth, shine-free skin. Medium buildable coverage.

Key Features

• Clearing Beads clean pores
• Oil-absorbing powders control shine
• Refines and smooths skin texture
• Flawlessly conceals impurities
• Natural matte finish without flatness
• Buildable medium coverage

Our Expert Opinion

This best-selling formula is the secret weapon for combatting stubborn shine, pores, blemishes and uneven texture at the same time! While genius cleansing beads deep clean to tighten pores, impurities seem to disappear under its perfecting coverage. A balanced infusion of oil absorbers leaves skin with a filtered, smoothed effect that controls oils for hours without drying. Consider your mattifying and complexion needs met by this multitasking marvel!

Comparison for best drugstore foundation

How to Choose the Best Drugstore Foundation

With so many budget-friendly foundations available, it can be tricky knowing how to pick the best one for your needs. Here are some tips on how to choose:

Finish Consider if you prefer matte foundations to control oil and shine, or hydrating formulas for a dewy glow. There are also natural and semi-matte finishes.

Coverage
Sheer formulas even out skin subtly while medium coverage masks more flaws. Full coverage foundations completely hide imperfections.

Skin Type Choose oil-free matte foundations for oily and acne-prone skin types. Look for hydrating formulas with hyaluronic acid if you have dry skin.

Ingredients Seeking extra skin benefits? Some foundations contain retinol, peptides, niacinamide, vitamin C or SPF.

Shade Range Test shades on your jawline or neck in natural light to match your tone and undertone. Warm and cool shades are available.

Formula Liquid and cream foundations tend to look more natural while powder formula mattify. Stick and cushion foundations are also options.

Application
Use a makeup sponge, foundation brush or your fingers to blend seamlessly. Beauty blenders work well for fuller coverage.

Setting
Use a setting spray or powder to make sure your foundation lasts all day without fading or transferring.

No matter your needs or budget, the drugstore offers diverse, high-quality foundations to make your complexion look flawless.

Different Types of Drugstore Foundations

With countless options on the shelves, it helps to understand the different types of drugstore foundations available:

Liquid: The most common formula with versatile finishes. Easy to blend all over or just on certain areas.

Cream: Heavier, more hydrating texture great for dry skin. Warm between fingers before blending into skin.

Cushion: Light, buildable coverage applied with a cushion puff or sponge for ease of use.

Powder: Matte powder formulas that touch up shine and even skin subtly. Use dry for lighter coverage or wet for more pigment.

Serum: Lightweight, serum-like textures feel weightless while perfecting skin. Often contain powerhouse ingredients.

Stick: Solid form ideal for targeted touch-ups on the go. Swipe on then blend out for quick, customizable coverage.

Tinted Moisturizer: Sheer, hydrating formulas with a hint of coverage. More skincare/makeup hybrid than foundation.

**BB & CC Creams: **All-in-one products prime, perfect, hydrate and protect skin in one simple step.

Guide on Usage, Maintenance and Care

Using your drugstore foundation properly is key to getting a flawless, natural finish that lasts. Here’s how:

Prep
Start with smooth, clean skin. Exfoliate and moisturize before foundation application.

Tools
For sheer coverage, use fingers. A damp sponge blends liquid and cream formulas seamlessly. Look for dense brushes for fuller coverage.

Application
Dot foundation all over face and blend outwards in sections for an even look. Add more coats for more coverage.

Set
Dust a light layer of translucent powder over liquid foundation to set it in place all day. Focus on the t-zone if very oily.

Touch Up
Carry powder or stick foundation for quick touch ups when needed during the day. Blend just on shiny areas or spots.

Remove
At the end of the day, gently wipe off foundation with a makeup remover balm, wipe or micellar water before cleansing as usual.

Taking good care of your skin and foundation ensures the best looking, healthiest complexion every day!

FAQs about best drugstore foundation

Q. What is the best drugstore foundation for mature skin?

Some good options for mature skin include:

• COVERGIRL+OLAY Simply Ageless – Formulated with anti-aging OLAY Regenerist Serum to improve skin over time while providing medium, even coverage.
• L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum – Contains SPF 50 sun protection to prevent further aging plus a lightweight serum texture that won’t settle into fine lines.
• Revlon Age Defying 3X – An anti-aging, firming formula with SPF 30 that provides buildable medium coverage with a natural finish.

Q. Which drugstore foundation is best for oily skin?

Some top-rated drugstore foundations for oily skin include:

• L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte – Controls shine for up to 24 hours with its demi-matte, medium-full coverage formula.
• e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation – Buildable medium coverage foundation with a oil-free, non-comedogenic formula that keeps skin semi-matte without being drying.
• Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless – Mattifying liquid foundation that minimizes pores while clearing them of impurities and absorbing oil for a smooth, shine-free complexion.

Q. How do I choose the right shade of drugstore foundation?

A. Test shades along your jawline in natural light. Opt for the one that disappears into your skin without any demarcation lines. Shades that closely match your neck and chest generally look the most seamless.

Q. What finish of foundation is best for oily skin?

A. Matte or semi-matte foundations work best to control excess oil and shine on oily skin types. Look for oil-free formulas labeled non-comedogenic to avoid clogged pores.

Q. Should I apply foundation with a brush, sponge or my fingers?

A. Beauty sponges give the most seamless, streak-free finish for liquid formulas. But brushes allow you to layer on more product for fuller coverage. Using clean fingers warms up thicker textures nicely.

Q. How can I stop my foundation from rubbing off during the day?

A. Using a primer before foundation helps it adhere better all day. Be sure to set liquid formulas with powder, especially on the t-zone. Keep pressed powder in your bag for quick touch ups anytime skin gets shiny.

Q. What kind of makeup remover should I use to take off drugstore foundation?

A. Oil-based balms and cleansing oils work well to gently dissolve foundation so skin doesn’t feel stripped. Micellar waters also effortlessly erase makeup without irritation. Follow with your regular cleanser.

Conclusion:

A flawless complexion no longer requires breaking the bank thanks to today’s innovative drugstore foundations. These affordable all-stars deliver professional quality coverage, skincare benefits and comfortable wear without sacrificing performance.

Whether you have oily, dry, mature or acne-prone skin, you’re sure to find your perfect match within our curated list of the 15 best drugstore foundations available. Each one offers exceptional quality and complexion-enhancing results.

We hope our definitive ranking and helpful tips make picking your next budget-friendly base a total breeze. Just remember to consider your personal skin needs and makeup preferences. And always begin your application with color-matched, exfoliated and moisturized skin for optimum smoothness and longevity.