Liquid Foundations That Feel Like Your Skin, But Better

Tarte's Face Tape is my favorite foundation of all time. It offers such great full coverage that I often skip concealer, even if I'm dealing with hyperpigmentation or a breakout. Because it's so robust, a little goes a long way, so the formula lasts for ages. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it never breaks out my combination skin or irritates sensitive areas.

Pros: Editor-approved; full coverage; a little goes a long way; suitable for acne-prone skin

Cons: Some users find it too rich

Customer Review: "Goes on smoothly and covers very well. Looks very natural and not [like] fake cake." —Ulta

There are two essential things freelance writer Sophia Vilensky loves about this liquid foundation: "One: I have never in my life found a liquid foundation I like…until this one. Two: I hadn’t seen the TikTok buzz before I tried it, but now I have," she says. "And I agree with all of it." Vilensky loves that it's super lightweight while still passing the coverage test (she likes a buildable medium-coverage look). She also notes that she enjoys the feeling of nothing on her skin. "Plus, there’s no cakey-ness and I don't feel dried out or worse for wear when I take it off," she adds. "Win, win, win!"

Pros: Editor-approved; natural finish; lightweight

Cons: Not full-coverage

Customer Review: "My skin looks so flawless with this new formula, I love it. My favorite yet, I like that the makeup isn’t so heavy and gives that natural vibe." —Sephora

If you're looking for a foundation with brightening ingredients, Allen suggests Westmore Beauty. "The Instantly Flawless Foundation has great ingredients, plus serum and skincare," she explains. "It is water-resistant and sweat-resistant, which is perfect for someone with oily skin."

Pros: Expert-approved; long-lasting; buildable

Cons: Limited range of shades

Customer Review: "Great coverage! I put it on daily knowing it is helping my skin at the same time of covering my imperfections!" —Westmore Beauty

Covering dry skin with foundation often aggravates your condition, leaving you with rough, itchy, flaky, or scaly patches. For those with dry skin, Allen looks to a foundation with a serum-like finish. "My recommendation for dry skin is LYS Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation," says Allen. "It is skincare-infused and super hydrating. I instantly feel the serum and glow in one pump." According to reviewers, the formula makes skin tone appear more even, masking issues like acne scarring and hyperpigmentation.

Pros: Expert-approved; wide range of shades; glowy finish; hydrating; vegan

Cons: May be too rich for oily skin

Customer Review: "Love this foundation. It is good for dryer skin types, especially as it has a slightly dewy finish and makes the skin look healthy and plump. I always feel put-together when I wear this and the ingredients make me feel happy about what I put on my face." —Sephora

Charlotte Tilbury's catalog of foundations includes coverage for all types, but there's one in particular that stands out for Beauty Editor, Samantha Holender. "I'm a Charlotte Tilbury girl to my core, but the Beautiful Skin Foundation may just be my all-time favorite product from her range," she says. "It's the perfect I-have-an-important-dinner foundation, making my face look blurred, even-toned, and radiant. It surely has a buildable texture, but I've found that applying it with my fingers—and then pouncing on top with a beauty blender—delivers the most natural-looking finish." 

Pros: Editor-approved; a little goes a long way; buildable; natural finish; contains hyaluronic acid

Cons: Some users don't find the consistency creamy enough

Customer Review: "A little goes a long way with this. It doesn’t dry the skin—which I need for my dull/dry complexion. I get compliments every time I wear this that my skin is glowing." —Sephora

About-Face The Performer foundation is a favorite in our office. Multiple editors note that it doesn't feel heavy and it leaves their skin with a smooth, flawless glow. "Let me start by saying that I do not typically enjoy liquid foundations," says Associate E-Commerce Editor, Brooke Knappenberger. "I often find that they either look cakey or feel too heavy on my skin, so I tend to stick to tinted moisturizers or skin tints. However, I did get the chance to try about-face's new foundation and now I'm convinced I was just using the wrong formulas because this one is seriously good. It blends in incredibly well with light buildable coverage and a near-invisible feel. Basically, this foundation makes my skin look better while still looking like my skin."

Julia Marzovilla, E-Commerce Editor is also a huge fan . "I have high standards for my foundations—they need to have light or medium coverage but be buildable," she says. "When I use this foundation, the rest of my products blend perfectly over the top, and powder doesn’t cling to random parts of my face. I love it and won’t use another foundation for a long time.”

Pros: Editor-approved; lightweight; natural finish

Cons: Some users found it broke them out

Customer Review: "I have a lot of redness and pigmentation and freckles and have very fair skin. This is light and covers extremely well. Doesn't get cakey and wears really well. My new go-to!" —Ulta

This liquid foundation is my newest obsession, not only because its packing looks luxurious (what else would you expect from Christian Louboutin?) but also because it feels so smooth to the touch. The self-setting formula melts right into my skin for a seamless finish, and because it comes in so many shades, I was able to find the perfect option for my skin tone, undertone, and all. I wore this foundation to a music festival in the desert and it didn't budge, run, or feel cakey for even a moment.

Pros: Editor-approved; longwear; long-lasting; self-setting; comes in many shades that take undertone into account

Cons: Expensive

Customer Review: "I love this foundation. It is a medium buildable to full coverage matte radiant foundation. Make sure to use a good hydrating primer first and do skin prep. I am really hard to shade match and 40WO is just warm and olive enough for me, I'm usually a 3WO or 4WO in Dior foundations. The packaging is definitely luxurious for the higher price tag. Moreover, I have aging skin, rosace and eczema and this looks beautiful on my skin evening out my redness. I think people with dry skin might have challenges with this foundation, so try it with a really good moisturized face first." —Nordstrom

Holender rarely wears a full-fledged foundation, but when she does, she always uses Chanel's Sublimage L'Essence de Tient. "It's a serum-based formula, so it's no surprise that bestows a gorgeous, hydrating glow to every inch of my face," she says. "It sinks into my skin and never looks cakey, but it still completely evens my skin tone and blurs texture. I genuinely can't get through a day without someone stopping to ask me what's on my face."

Pros: Hydrating; editor-approved; glowy finish

Cons: Expensive

Customer Review: "It has the benefits of the Sublimage skincare, and it gives me the coverage I need without being like a mask. It gives a natural healthy glow. When I use it I get compliments on how great my skin looks—NOT my makeup, which is better! It means they notice me and my skin, not the makeup!" —Chanel

Rituel de Fille's Weightless Serum Foundation constantly rotates in Allen's makeup kit. "This weightless foundation is a game changer," she says. "It has a new innovative ingredient called fermented phytoene, a carotenoid that protects the skin against free radicals and improves elasticity. Over time, this is great for anti-aging."

Pros: Expert-approved; doubles as skincare

Cons: Small bottle

Customer Review: "Great color and coverage. But for me, I need three drops, so I wish it came in a larger size." —Revolve

Listing liquid foundations without mentioning Fenty Beauty's popular longwear option would be challenging. It has a matte finish that makes wearers' skin look naturally flawless, and it comes in a wide variety of shades and undertones that make it easy to find the perfect match. Scores of reviewers rave about how this product blends seamlessly into their skin—but be sure to moisturize underneath, because it can be a bit drying.

Pros: Natural finish; award-winning; popular; wide range of shade options

Cons: Slightly drying

Customer Review: "I love this foundation. It feels light on my skin and has a good glow to it as well. Doesn’t look like you’re wearing anything with this foundation." —Sephora