The Best Foundations For Combination Skin (2023)

If your skin is sometimes dry and other times oily, here are the top foundations for you to try!

Do you have combination skin? If so, then finding the right foundation can be a real struggle. If your foundation is very hydrating, it will make your T-zone shiny by midday and if it’s matte, it will emphasize your dry areas. You’ve got to find the perfect balance of oil control and moisturizing properties in one formula.

Luckily, there are many different products available on the market that live up to their claims! The best foundations for combination skin will not only even out your skin tone but also provide good coverage without making your face look greasy.

Whether you prefer powder, liquid, or stick formulas; here are our top foundations that we’ve already tested. These foundations will work no matter how oily or dry your T-zone is.

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Best long lasting: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation

Lancôme’s Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation is one of the absolute best full coverage foundations for combination skin. It’s available at Sephora and it has a weightless but buildable formula that gives the skin a natural look.

It’s oil-free and it’s available in 50 shades to suit any skin tone. The shade range is organized by the intensity and by undertone (Cool, Neutral, Warm).

This lightweight foundation blends easily into the skin. You can apply it using a brush or a sponge depending on how much coverage you need. This brush set has gained a lot of popularity! It has everything you need to blend your face makeup.

It feels lightweight on the skin and it doesn’t emphasize dry patches which makes it a great foundation for combination skin. It contains Perlite and Silica to absorb excess oil and it’s also transfer-resistant.

It glides on beautifully making your skin look natural and it doesn’t settle into the pores. It’s a great option if your T-zone tends to get very shiny throughout the day.

Best liquid foundation: NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

True to its name, this liquid foundation gives the skin a natural but radiant finish that lasts all day. It has a blend of raspberry, apple, and watermelon extracts which help to smooth the look of skin’s texture. 

It’s available at Sephora and it comes in 34 shades. This unique formula is also transfer- and sweat-resistant. 

Yes, it’s expensive but a little bit goes a long way with this foundation so you only need a tiny amount. Even if you wear foundation every day, the bottle can last you for a long time.

The paraben-free formula feels comfortable all day while giving the skin medium to full coverage. 

Tip: For a natural look, apply it with a damp beauty sponge and set the oily t-zone with a mattifying powder to prevent the foundation from separating throughout the day.

Best High end: Armani Beauty Power Fabric Foundation

This foundation is a go-to for those with combination skin since it promises a long-wearing velvet-matte finish.

You can apply it with a makeup sponge or a kabuki brush depending on how much coverage you need. It’s also buildable and it can last all day without smudging.

It gives the skin a luminous and lightweight finish that looks like skin. The best part about this foundation is that it has a unique formula that melts into the skin. It works great for summer and winter as well. It doesn’t emphasize dry skin and it doesn’t settle into big pores too.

The only downside is that it’s only available in 20 shades with not many shades that can suit people with very fair or dark skin tones. The lightest shade available can be dark for many people with very fair skin tones and the darkest shade available is also not a good match for people with very dark skin tones.

To find your shade match, Armani has an explorer tool that is updated in real-time. You can use the live camera to try the foundation or you can also upload a photo to check how the shade might look on your skin tone.

Tip: Make sure to select your exact shade match by knowing your skintone and undertone. using a lighter shade might cause your foundation to look ashy. On the other hand, selecting the wrong undertone might cause your makeup to look pink.

Best drugstore: L’Oréal true match super-blendable makeup

This foundation provides full coverage while still feeling lightweight on the skin. It has a hydrating formula that blends seamlessly and leaves a natural finish without looking cakey. Whether it’s for every day or any special occasion, the L’Oréal true match super blendable makeup can make your skin look great throughout your day and even in the night if you’re having an after-party!

You don’t need to spend so much money to find a foundation that works with your combination skin. This foundation is one of the best drugstore foundations for combination skin. It comes in 45 shades to match each person’s unique skin tone.

It provides medium coverage and a satin finish that looks so natural. It’s also oil-free and fragrance-free!

Chanel VITALUMIÈRE AQUA ULTRA-LIGHT SKIN PERFECTING MAKEUP

A few pumps of this foundation give the skin an even look and a healthy glow. It’s all thanks to a fine and lightweight formula that blends easily into the skin.

If you’ve been looking for a luxury foundation that will give your skin a radiant look, this is the one for you. It glides smoothly on the skin while providing perfect medium coverage that lasts all day long.

The formula is also very comfortable to wear and it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. 

 It contains a hyaluronic acid derivative that helps to hydrate the skin and lotus water which makes the skin look more energized. These ingredients can prevent your makeup from looking dry.

This foundation is available in 12 shades. I hope they could extend the shade range to include more skin tones.

Tip: For an airbrushed look, apply one to two drops of foundation on the back of your hand, and take some product with a kabuki brush and blend on the entire face. 

Best Natural: bareMinerals COMPLEXION RESCUE Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF 30

Water-based foundations can be a great choice for combination skin and this one from bareMinerals is no exception. It provides a dewy sheer to medium coverage that gives the skin a radiant appearance.

If you are looking for a lightweight formula to even out the skin tone, this hydrating foundation is a nice option. It gives giving you a natural look for every day. It looks subtle on the skin, so it won’t make your complexion look too unnatural or heavy.

It’s also easy to apply and it contains marine botanicals to help hydrate dry skin. Plus, it has heart-leaf globe daisy, an antioxidant, which helps in protecting against environmental stressors.

It’s not the best choice for someone who’s looking for a medium to full coverage foundation. Some foundations can be heavy and many women want a minimalist makeup that’s natural looking. This foundation works great as an everyday lightweight cream while providing an SPF 20 protection from harmful rays. It’s available in 16 shades and it’s also vegan!

if you’re looking for a foundation that doesn’t crease into fine lines or wrinkles, this foundation is worth checking out.

For more water based foundations, check these 7 best water based foundations for combination skin!

Best Matte: NYX CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP FULL COVERAGE MATTE FOUNDATION

If you are looking for a matte foundation that stays put, the NYX CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP FULL COVERAGE MATTE FOUNDATION is a great choice! It has a light texture that covers imperfections without feeling heavy on the skin. The lightweight formula provides buildable coverage with a natural finish that doesn’t transfer.

You only need a small amount of this ultra-pigmented formula to cover redness, hyperpigmentation and blemishes.

It’s available in 45 shades which is great especially for a drugstore foundation.  What makes it work great for combination skin is that it controls shine without drying the skin.

Don’t let the word ‘matte’ scare you because this foundation gives a beautiful velvety-matte finish that looks like skin but better.

For more tips on how to get a long lasting look, check this guide on how to stop foundation from transferring.

Best lightweight: Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

The magic ingredients in this luxurious hydrating foundation are jojoba oil, olive squalane, and shea butter. These oils give the skin a natural but dewy finish and a sheer to medium buildable coverage.

This foundation has light-diffusing minerals that brighten and minimize the look of the pores. It’s also sweat-resistant and it doesn’t make the skin look oily or greasy.

We all want to look flawless while wearing makeup, but we don’t like to get the cakey feeling of most foundations. This is why the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation was created. It’s lightweight and gives you sheer coverage with a luminous but natural finish.

This foundation provides smooth application and wears comfortably throughout the day without settling into fine lines or wrinkles.

It’s available in 10 shades which I know is not the ideal shade range. I really wish they can add more shades to suit many skin tones.

Best Matte: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Oil-Free Matte with SPF 40

Finding a matte foundation that doesn’t look cakey or feel heavy on the skin can be tricky.

This is why we love the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+Oil-Free Matte with SPF 40. A little bit goes a very long way with this product so you only need a tiny amount to cover the entire face. Otherwise, it might look cakey on the skin. It provides buildable medium to full coverage and a semi-matte finish.

The formula is more on the thick side and it sets very quickly on the skin. You can mix this foundation with your moisturizer to sheer it out and get a light look for every day. 

See Today’s best moisturizers List

If you have an oily t-zone, this foundation can be a great choice. It provides oil control and helps to blur the pores. It’s also infused with charcoal and it has Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid while providing an SPF 40 protection from harmful rays!

This CC cream is available in 12 shades and it’s also free of parabens and phthalates. If you have dry patches, you might need to wear a moisturizer under this CC cream.

Read More: CC Cream Vs Primer

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

This medium-to-full coverage foundation is oil-free and long-wearing. This is an ideal option for anyone who has combo skin because it has coconut Water, Alpine Rose, and Hyaluronic Acid. These ingredients help to give the skin a radiant look without looking greasy or oily.

Use a damp beauty sponge to apply this foundation and you will get a natural medium coverage that looks like skin. It’s also oil-free and it’s available in 30 shades that can suit many skin tones.

Tip: If you have extremely dry skin, you can mix your foundation with a hydrating primer or moisturizer to get a smooth look.

Best full coverage: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation

On days when you just want full coverage, try this foundation from Estée Lauder. It’s is available in over 55 shades including cool, neutral, and warm undertones to suit many skin tones. 

It’s perfect for summertime because it has oil control properties and it’s also comfortable to wear. It covers imperfections without feeling heavy on the skin and the key is to apply it with a light hand.

Blending it with a damp sponge can help to sheer it out while providing a flawless finish that lasts all day. This oil-free foundation provides enough coverage for those special occasions or photoshoots. 

It’s a matte foundation so it’s not the best choice for people with extremely dry skin. It’s one of the best full coverage foundations for combination skin! A great tip is to mix it with face oil or a moisturizer to add some hydration! 

Best Powder foundation: L’Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Powder

This wallet-friendly powder foundation from L’Oreal provides buildable coverage and a shine-free finish. The formula contains a hint of pearl pigments that help to enhance your skin tone.

This powder foundation is perfect for anyone who wants medium coverage with a natural finish. It won’t make your face look shiny throughout the day and it comes in 34 shades to match many skin tones. The best part? You get all of this at an affordable price!

It contains micro-fine pigments that cover imperfections while giving your skin a beautiful finish. Plus, it’s oil-free and it doesn’t settle into the pores.

 You can use it as your foundation on the days you decide to wear a little makeup. You can also dust it on top of your liquid foundation to get a shine-free look. It helps to blur the skin and it wears perfectly throughout the day even without a primer.

If you have a very oily t-zone, the issue with using a liquid foundation is that it tends to look heavy and greasy on your face. Powder foundations are great because they don’t leave an oily residue behind like liquid foundations do.

Best Stick foundation: MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation

Foundation sticks are the perfect solution for anyone looking for an easy way to apply makeup. These creamy sticks blend easily into the skin. They are also great for travel because they come in a small tube that can be tossed into your purse without taking up too much space.

Foundation sticks make it easy to achieve a flawless look every day but you got to find the perfect formula! The  MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation glides on easily into the skin. It’s easy to blend and it provides medium to full coverage in one swipe. It doesn’t look cakey or heavy on the skin and it covers redness perfectly. 

It’s designed to suit all skin types so it works great for combo skin. If you have a very oily t-zone, set it with a pressed or loose powder to get a long-lasting look. 

This foundation stick is available in 20 shades. To find your perfect match, you can try Sephora’s shade matching system that will help you find the best shade for your skin tone. 

Foundation sticks are also versatile so they can be used to conceal the under-eye area or to contour the face.

Which type of foundation is best for combination skin?

If you have combination skin, you want a foundation that can cover your imperfections but not make your skin feel greasy or dry.

There are many types of foundations that work best for combination skin. Liquid and powder foundations work the best to provide the skin a flawless finish. 

Powder foundations work great at absorbing and controlling excess oils. There are also many liquid foundations with mattifying properties that provide the oily t-zone a shine-free look while still hydrating any dry areas. These liquid foundations have light formulas and they give the skin a semi-matte or velvet finish.

If you have a very oily t-zone, you can use a liquid foundation on the entire face and apply a mattifying powder on top of your oily areas for a shine-free look.

Final thoughts

Combination skin is difficult to deal with and it takes some trial-and-error before finding the right foundation for your complexion. There are many factors you need to consider when shopping for a new foundation. You need to get good coverage and also make sure your face doesn’t look shiny or dry.

Look for foundations with oil control ingredients such as silica and hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid.

Choose a lightweight liquid formula that looks natural on the skin and try to avoid thick or heavy liquid formulas as they might emphasize dry patches.

Powder foundations can work great for combo skin too. They contain oil-absorbing ingredients and they can keep the face shine-free without looking cakey on the skin.

On the other hand, you have to balance your skincare routine with your makeup on top, and sometimes that means compromising between two different needs. That means you can use two formulas on different areas of your face. For example, use a hydrating liquid foundation on dry areas and a mattifying powder or stick foundation on the oily areas.

Related Articles

• The 7 best water-based foundations for combination skin
• How to keep your makeup from separating
• How to prevent your foundation from looking grey

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