I Swear These Under-$30 Drugstore Foundations Are Better Than Luxury Formulas

Plus they're editor- and expert-approved.

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Good makeup doesn't always have to be expensive, and if you've ever used one of the best drugstore foundations, then you already know that. Over the last decade, drugstore brands have evolved their foundation offerings, with much improvement. Affordable coverage is no longer heavy, cakey, or limited in shade range. They honestly rival their luxury counterparts. "There are so many drugstore foundations now that perform beautifully and deliver genuinely high-end results," makeup artist Tamara Boyd tells Marie Claire. "At the end of the day, it's less about the price and more about the formula, the match, and how well it works for your skin."

These days, a quick stroll through the makeup aisle at Ulta or your local drugstore will expose you to dozens of foundations that cater to a range of skin concerns. Need a 24-hour, full-coverage formula that won't budge? There's a product for that. A light powder that won't make your skin look chalky? There's a product for that, too. How about a your-skin-but-better foundation/serum hybrid? Do I even have to say it?

With so many products to sort through, I spoke to makeup artists who dished on their go-to formulas and tested a few on my own. To find out our favorite drugstore foundations, read ahead.

The Best Drugstore Foundations

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Danielle Jackson before applying Maybelline's Super Stay Lumi-Matte Longwear Foundation.(Image credit: Danielle Jackson)
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Danielle Jackson before applying CoverGirl Simply Ageless Skin Perfector Essence Foundation.(Image credit: Danielle Jackson)
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Danielle Jackson before applying Black Radiance Color Perfect Foundation Stick.(Image credit: Danielle Jackson)

What Should I Consider When Buying a Drugstore Foundation?

Drugstore foundations aren't all that different from the more luxury ones, so you'd pretty much have to consider some of the same factors when shopping for these as you would for higher-end formulas. That includes texture, shade range, wear, and finish.

  • Shade Range: Make sure the product you're considering has a proper shade range and includes one that matches your skin tone. "Always consider the formulas with good undertone ranges, and ones that won't make you look too pink, orange, or gray," Briceno says. "Choose the one that disappears from your skin after it dries, and watch for oxidation as some formulas dry darker or warmer."
  • Texture: When shopping for foundations, there are three textures to consider: liquid, cream, and powder. Per Briceno, liquid foundations are the most forgiving of the three, which is why they're among the best options for beginners, since they're often easier to blend and can be customized to suit how much coverage you want. Creams, on the other hand, are a bit thicker and tend to give the skin a more polished finish. "They work well for evening looks when you want a more sculpted look and smoother finish without looking powdery, but they can easily look too heavy if you apply them directly to the face," he adds. (To avoid this, try pumping the foundation onto the back of your hand first and applying the product with a brush as needed.) Lastly, powders are a great choice for anyone whose skin sits on the oilier side of the spectrum, but they're also an ideal complexion product to wear when it's hot or humid. You can use these to mitigate shine or to give yourself easy touch-ups throughout the day, but beware, "they can emphasize dryness if the skin isn't properly prepped," Briceno says.
  • Wear: This is how the product sits on your skin when you're already wearing it. "If the formula breaks or separates, it may be clashing with your skincare, or you may need less product," Briceno says. "If it emphasizes texture or clings to dry patches, the foundation may be too thick, or you may be over-applying."
  • Finish: The finish of your foundation refers to how you want it to appear on your skin. Usually, you can find formulas with matte, satin, or dewy finishes, and the choice depends on your skin type. "Matte is best for oil control, but the wrong matte can accentuate texture and pores," Briceno says. "Satin is the safest, and the finish that most closely resembles skin. Dewy foundation looks beautiful on normal to dry skin, but if you have an oily complexion, it can look too shiny too quickly unless you set it properly."

How Can I Find My Foundation Shade?

First off, if you don't know your exact foundation shade, try shopping in store instead of online so you can see the product in accurate lighting. Then, if your drugstore has tester products available, both artists recommend testing the foundation on your jawline, neck, and chest. "The goal is for the foundation to blend seamlessly into all three areas, with no visible line of demarcation," Boyd says. She also recommends identifying your undertone first, which can fall into four categories: cool, warm, neutral, and olive.

"If the shade depth is right but the undertone is off, the foundation will still look unnatural," she adds. "It might be the right darkness level, but appear too orange, too pink, or too ashy on the skin." (Most foundation shades will include an abbreviation that indicates the undertone that it's for.)

Per Briceno, you should try to test out the three shades you think are the closest to your skin tone. "Wait around ten to 15 minutes to check for oxidation," he says. "If it pulls pink or rosy, it's too cool. If it's too yellow or orange, it's too warm. If it looks ashy or gray, it's usually the wrong undertone or too light. If it disappears and your skin looks simply more even, that's your undertone."

How Do I Apply Foundation?

Both experts agree that foundation—no matter the formula—always works best when the skin is properly prepped. "I recommend cleansing, moisturizing, and using primer only where it's truly needed," Boyd says. "Use a hydrating primer for dry areas or a smoothing primer where pores are more visible." After prepping and moisturizing your skin, Briceno recommends waiting a few minutes to let the products absorb. Then, "apply the foundation in thin layers, only where you need it."

"I like to begin in the center of the face, where most people need the most coverage, then blend outward for a softer, more natural finish," Boyd says. You can also apply your foundation using a brush or a damp makeup sponge, depending on what you're most comfortable with. "I often use both a brush to place and spread the product, then a sponge to press everything into the skin," Boyd adds. "That pressing motion is what helps the foundation melt in rather than sit on the surface."

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Experts

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Tamara Boyd

Tamara Boyd is a professional makeup artist and brand ambassador for Black Radiance.

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Christian Briceno

Christian Briceno is a makeup artist based in New York City. He specializes in beauty campaigns, editorials, and celebrity glam.

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Danielle Jackson
Danielle Jackson
Senior Beauty Writer

Danielle Jackson is the senior beauty writer at Marie Claire. She has nearly a decade of experience covering beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment and was previously the senior beauty editor at Women's Health, where she thoughtfully covered topics related to skincare, haircare, aesthetics, and wellness. Before that, she spent three years as an assistant beauty editor at PS, and in the years since, her work has appeared in titles like Vogue, InStyle, Glamour, and more. Danielle graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in English, and has lived in Brooklyn for almost ten years. When she's not writing, you can find her reading romance novels and talking about sunscreen. You can find her on Instagram @danielleknecole.