The 9 Best full coverage foundations for combination skin

The Top Lightweight Full Coverage Foundations for Combo Skin

Finding the best foundation for combination skin can be a real struggle. We all want to look our best, but sometimes it can be hard to find the right makeup base that doesn’t make the skin look cakey.

We’ve tested the best full-coverage foundations for combination skin available on the market. They are designed to give the skin a flawless look that can last all day long!

On days when we want a little extra coverage, we need our makeup to stay put all day long. Whether you want to cover redness, pimples, hyperpigmentation, or dark spots, full coverage foundations are the way to go. They’re meant to cover everything and give the skin a flawless look!

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Best Full-Coverage Foundations for Combination Skin

Full-coverage foundations get a bad reputation for looking cakey on the skin. If your skin is oily in some spots and dries in others, you’ve got to find the perfect foundation that doesn’t separate or make your face look worse.

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

This lightweight foundation offers buildable full coverage with a radiant finish so you can customize your look depending on how much product you apply. It has a blend of fruit extracts (Raspberry, Apple, and Watermelon) that helps to smooth the look of the skin.

The formula is easy to blend; it melts into the skin and it sets to a natural finish that looks like your skin but better. It doesn’t emphasize dry patches and it hides everything without looking cakey.

A little bit goes a long way with this foundation, so you only need a small amount to cover the entire face. It’s available in 34 shades that can fit many skin tones.  It’s also gluten-free and paraben-free. 

Select the right shade that suits your skin tone and undertone. This helps to prevent your foundation from looking ashy.

If you have dry patches on your face but your t-zone is normal or slightly oily, this foundation can be a great option. I don’t think it’s suitable for a very oily t-zone, as it might cause your extremely oily areas to become very shiny by midday. If you have a very oily T-zone, try a semi-matte foundation instead.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation

Matte foundations can often make the skin look cakey but not this one from Lancôme! It’s an oil-free formula that provides full coverage while feeling lightweight on the skin. 

It’s the perfect choice for anyone with combination skin because it’s very comfortable to wear and it doesn’t emphasize dry patches.

This foundation has perlite and silica, which help to absorb excess oil. Yes, it’s expensive but it’s worth it because it gives the skin a polished look. It’s available in 50 shades, including warm, neutral, and cool undertones, making it for many skin tones.

It works great for someone with an oily T-zone because it helps the skin to stay shine-free all day. It wears well throughout the day and it’s also long-lasting even on hot summer days. 

It has an SPF 15 to help protect the skin from the sun but always remember to wear sunscreen before applying foundation. 

A foundation with SPF is not enough to provide sun protection because it doesn’t provide the needed coverage. 

MAKE UP FOR EVER Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation

This foundation has oil-absorbing powders that ensure shine control throughout the day. It provides full coverage and a long-lasting matte finish even without a primer. It doesn’t feel heavy on the skin and it gives the face a soft look.

It’s also a great choice for events and special occasions because it looks good in pictures. The lightweight formula doesn’t settle into fine lines, and it works great for people with a very oily T-zone.

If you have dry patches, this foundation might not give you the best look. To prevent your makeup from looking dry, use a foundation with a semi-matte or velvet finish like the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation.

The MAKE UP FOR EVER Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation is available in 40 shades and you can use the Sephora Shade finder to find your perfect match.

MILK MAKEUP Blur Liquid Matte Foundation

This foundation is one of the best water-based foundations for combination skin. It’s an oil-free, silicone-free formula that provides medium to full coverage.

Don’t let the word “matte” scare you! This foundation doesn’t give a flat matte finish. It applies easily to the skin, and it sets to a beautiful velvet finish. A little bit goes a long way, so you don’t need to apply too much to cover the entire face.

Avoid applying too much foundation all at once as it might look cakey. Foundation can settle into the pores, so the trick is to start by applying a thin layer and adding more if you need.

To get a long-lasting look, set your oily T z-one with a powder.  On days you want extreme full coverage, this foundation is the way to go.

It covers everything, and it helps to blur the look of the pores too. It’s available in 24 shades, and it’s also vegan and cruelty-free.

Tip: To touch-up your makeup throughout the day, you can apply a small amount of primer on top of foundation to help blur the pores.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

This foundation is one of the best hydrating formulas for combination skin with dry patches. It has coconut water and hyaluronic acid, which helps to replenish the skin’s moisture levels.

It feels lightweight on the skin, and it provides great coverage, so you don’t need to apply too much to get good coverage.

It makes the skin look glowy and healthy, so if you prefer matte foundations, this one might not be the best choice. It’s also oil-free, and it doesn’t make the skin look greasy.

This is a great foundation for special occasions because it covers everything and looks so natural on the skin.

To get a flawless look, apply a small amount on the back of your hand, and dip your brush or makeup sponge into the foundation.

Apply the product to your face starting with the areas where you need more coverage. Blend it all over and add more if needed.

To get a long-lasting result, use it with a primer underneath. You can also set it with a pressed or loose powder to get a shine-free look on hot and humid days.

The Too Faced Born This Way Foundation is available in 30 shades, and you can use the Sephora shade finder to help you get a good match for your skin tone.

If you have yellow undertones, avoid using a shade with light pink undertones, as it might cause your foundation to look pink.

L’Oréal Paris Makeup True Match Super-Blendable Liquid Foundation

This foundation is one of the best drugstore foundations for combination skin with dry patches. It’s also very affordable, and it’s available in 45 shades!

A little bit goes a long way with this foundation, so you don’t need to apply too much product. It has a super hydrating formula that provides medium to full coverage, depending on how you apply it.

Use a beauty sponge to get light coverage or a kabuki brush for medium to full coverage.

If you have very dry skin, you can mix this foundation with a moisturizer. This tip can also work for mature skin to avoid the makeup settling into fine lines and wrinkles.

For a long-lasting result, set it with a powder to get a shine-free look, especially on hot summer days.

Related: How To Mix Foundation With Oil

Revlon ColorStay Makeup For Combination/Oily Skin SPF 15

Revlon ColorStay Makeup For Combination/Oily Skin has been specially formulated to give the skin full coverage and a semi-matte finish without looking cakey or powdery. The lightweight formula blends easily into the skin so that it looks natural and feels comfortable all day long. With this foundation, getting ready will be quick and easy because you’ll only need a few minutes to achieve a full coverage look.

It’s one of the best full coverage foundations for combination skin types because it helps control shine throughout the day, so you don’t have to worry about blotting off excess oil from your face every hour.

You can customize your look depending on how much product you apply to get medium or full coverage. The result is smooth, even-looking skin with no visible imperfections.

It’s available in  43 shades which makes it easy for everyone to find their perfect match.

It has SPF 15, which is great, but always wear a separate sunscreen underneath your foundation.

A foundation with SPF is not enough and you need more coverage to protect the skin from harmful rays.

Tip: To get a sheer look, mix your foundation with water for an added glow.

CLINIQUE Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup Foundation

Many full coverage foundations might look cakey by the end of the day,  but not this one from Clinique.

Thanks to its lightweight formula, this foundation provides undetectable medium to full coverage.

It blends effortlessly on the skin, and it doesn’t emphasize fine lines or wrinkles.

It looks natural and it feels comfortable all day long. This foundation is also oil-free which means no greasy feeling on your face! It’s great for combination skin types because it helps control shine throughout the day without looking dry on the skin.

For a quick and natural everyday look, you can blend it with a sponge.

It gives a flawless skin-like finish that can last all day. To get a full coverage look, blend it with a dense kabuki brush.

This foundation is also oil-free and it’s available in 20 shades.

Dior BACKSTAGE Face & Body Foundation

The Dior BACKSTAGE Face & Body Foundation does exactly what it promises to do; it gives you flawless and lightweight coverage.

It stays on for so long without looking cakey or heavy and it sets to a semi-matte finish that looks like skin. 

It applies nicely with your fingers, a brush, or a sponge and it melts into the skin rather than sitting on top of it. 

Yes it’s expensive but it’s worth the price and it doesn’t feel sticky on the skin. It’s also a great choice for mature skin because it doesn’t settle into fine lines or wrinkles.

It covers redness, dark spots and it layers so beautifully without looking flat or powdery. Make sure to hydrate your skin very well before applying it so that it doesn’t settle into dry patches.

It comes in 40 shades and it’s also vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free.

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