Still Stuck On Which Foundation To Choose? Consider This Your Ultimate Guide (2024)

The days when your foundation covers and conceals rather than highlights and accentuates are officially over; the next-gen formulas filtering onto beauty shelves right now are, thankfully, a far cry away from the cake-y, drying formulas of the past and will deliver a finish that's entirely bespoke to you.

Whether you're looking for a lightweight veil enriched with skincare ingredients, a high-tech formula that adapts to your skin changes and temperatures throughout the day (hello heatwave), a full-coverage foundation that still lets your skin breathe or a handy stick that makes speedy application on the tube a total breeze - there is truly a foundation finish for everyone.

FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE

Of course, finding that do-it-all foundation is often the hardest part. You need to consider your skin type and undertone before sifting through the endless options - and that's before you think about how to apply foundation too.

If you're still stuck on which one to choose, consider this your cut-out-and-keep guide to finding the exact foundation for you, plus, the ELLE editor-approved formulas that are guaranteed to survive in a heatwave.

What's the best foundation for your skin type?

'Firstly, it's really important to find the right foundation for your skin type as this will help with the look, feel and finish of your skin,' shares PRO Bobbi Brown Artist, Hollie Ellis.

First off, identify what your skin type is: oily, dry, sensitive, normal or combination (normal and oily). 'You can work out your skin type after a couple of hours. If you see shine through the t-zone, then you have a normal-oily skin type; if you don't get any shine at all and can sometimes see a little bit of flakiness in the skin, then you have a normal-dry skin type,' shares Ellis. Then work out your skin concerns too (different from your skin type) which could be anything from dehydration, acne to fine lines and hyperpigmentation.

'If you have a normal to dry skin type, then you want to aim for hydrating and moisturising foundations such as skin tints or serum foundations which will help nourish the skin texture throughout the day,' she says. For normal to oily skin types, she recommends opting for water-based or oil-free foundations. 'This will help control the oils in the skin, making sure the formula will last throughout the day.'

How to work out your skin's undertones

There are a few simple methods of working out your undertone. 'First, look at the veins on your arm: if you see more blue tones, then you are cool undertone, whereas if you see more green tones, then you are warm. If you see a mixture of both, you are neutral,' shares Ellis.

'You can also look at the under-eye area to see what colours show through more (blue vs green) and also what jewellery you like to wear (for example, silver or gold). Silver is cool toned, gold is warm, neutral is if you like to wear both.'

With your undertone and skin type, you can then use a shade finder tool to identify the right foundation for you, or some foundations are marked with a c (cool) or w (warm) within their shade range to make it easier to find yourself.

The ELLE Edit of the best foundation

Best skin tint: Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Tint, £35

Best liquid foundation: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, £36

Best powder foundation: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation, £34

Best serum foundation: Saie Super Glowy Foundation, £34

Best foundation stick: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation, £62

Best full-coverage foundation: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, £39.50

The best foundation for your skin type

Skin tints

You've probably spotted a slew of new skin tint launches going viral on TikTok, namely from make-up heavy hitters such as Charlotte Tilbury and Bobbi Brown. 'A skin tint is a lightweight, hydrating liquid or stick that gives a radiant tinted glow on the skin,' shares Ellis. Think of it as the modern, more sophisticated upgrade to a BB cream and with more skincare ingredients packed in than your go-to tinted moisturiser.

If you're all about a minimalist make-up routine, a skin tint is probably going to be a winning choice for you in the midst of a heatwave given the lightweight, hydrating finish, however, you'll want to steer clear if your skin is prone to oiliness.

Liquid foundation

Perhaps the most classic form of foundation in the line-up, liquid foundations have come a long way with formulas now running the gamut of lightweight and dewy and full coverage and matte.

Liquid foundation is usually applied with a brush and ensures a more even and precise finish - a great choice if you like your foundation to look like the work of a pro make-up artist.

Powder foundation

Forget what you know about powder foundations. They might have massively fallen out of favour, scarring us after one too many poor, overly drying and pore-clogging formulas, but there are some seriously game-changing powders out there helping to shake their old-school moniker, from Fenty's lightweight and soft-focus powder to Dior's no-transfer compact.

Pro tip: always ensure that you prep your skin with the right products beforehand as this will reduce pilling or drying out the skin.

Serum foundations

Much like skin tints, serum foundations are packed with skincare benefits. 'Think of them as a foundation and serum hybrid. They are predominantly more skincare ingredient-based formulas that help to nourish and look after the skin, as well as even out and give coverage to the complexion,' says Ellis.

Foundation sticks

'Think of these as an easy "swipe and go" solution; they're great for five-minute touch-ups or for anyone who travels a lot,' share Ellis.

The best part, though, is that they're completely foolproof. 'Most foundation sticks will have good coverage and require no technique. You can normally just swipe where you want the foundation and can blend out with your fingertips or desired application,' agrees Ellis.

Full-coverage foundation

A full-coverage foundation needs little introduction. Whether you want to hide a blemish or conceal a bad night's sleep, a full-coverage foundation will add a long-lasting and smooth finish without covering your real skin.

ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.