The Most Hydrating Foundations for Thirsty, Dry Skin

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Anyone with dry skin knows the struggle is real when searching for the best foundation. Many formulas can be harsh and irritating, and ultimately do the opposite of what you had hoped for: camouflage your imperfections. The key to finding the best foundation for dry skin simply lies in the ingredients. You want a formulation that's chock-full of known hydrators (think: hyaluronic acid and vitamin E) that help nourish the skin, improve its texture, and deliver a dewy finish. A good moisturizing foundation should also provide ample coverage without settling into fine lines or accentuating any flakiness you might be experiencing.

To help with your search, we tapped makeup artists Sasha Ghodstinat, Nick Lujan, and Sam Michalska to breakdown what to look for in hydrating foundations—plus the best formulas on the market.

Simply Ageless Instant Wrinkle-Defying Foundation

Skincare and makeup forces combined to bring customers the best of both worlds with this foundation from Olay & Covergirl. Made in part with Olay moisturizer, it contains a hyaluronic complex and vitamin C to help replenish your skin's hydration.

One Amazon reviewer reports: "It felt like silk going on and one press into the cream covered my whole face and forehead... I definitely will order it again you definitely get your money's worth!"

Shades Available: 10+

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C

Size: 0.42 oz

Dior Forever Clean Matte Foundation

With a formula that's nearly 90% skincare ingredients, does this even fall into the makeup category? Based on its long-wearing performance, medium to full coverage, and matte finish, yes, yes it does. Dior's beloved foundation comes in 43 shades and provides SPF 15, as a bonus.

A reviewer raves: "This liquid foundation sinks into my skin like a dream. I love the fact that the consistency is light but covers my rosacea perfectly and my makeup stays perfect through the day."

Shades Available: 40+

Key Ingredients: Iris Extract, Rose Extract, Wild Pansy Extract

Size: 1 oz/ 30 mL

Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation

For a drugstore pick, Maybelline's Fit Me Dewy + Smooth foundation is formulated specifically for normal to dry skin. It's packed with Vitamin E to help keep your skin hydrated all day.

A user raves: "This foundation is my holy grail. I love how it blends easily onto my skin. No need [to spend] extra time blending the foundation all in. It left my skin with a smooth and hydrating look."

Shades Available: 20+

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E

Size: 1 oz/ 30 mL

Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer

Don't let the playful name of this one fool you. It does apply like moisturizer (seriously), but it packs the same punch as your favorite foundation. Its base as a moisturizer makes it a fantastic option for those struggling with dryness.

A longtime user writes: "My face looks so natural with light application, yet I love how I can build it up to cover other problem areas. I find that it does not show fine lines and wrinkles like other typical foundations on mature skin, in fact, it even makes my skin look more youthful overall."

Shades Available: 10+

Key Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide

Size: 1 oz/ 30 mL

True Skin Serum Foundation

If you're going for a dewy finish and prefer products with natural ingredients, prepare to fall in love with Ilia's serum foundation. As the name suggests, it feels like applying a serum rather than wearing makeup. Aloe leaf, rosehip, marula, and jojoba oils will help quench your skin's thirst, leaving it with a healthier appearance even after your makeup comes off.

Raves a customer: "This is the best foundation I have ever used! It looks and feels natural with just enough coverage. Doesn’t dry out and lasts all day."

Shades Available: 30

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Allantoin, Aloe

Size: 1.0 fl. oz.

The Healthy Foundation

Not only does this drugstore all-star provide buildable medium coverage to rival beauty counter competitors, but it's also a hero to dry skin, with a formula containing hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.

One Amazon customer says: "It evened out my complexion even with a small amount used. It’s buildable and always looks natural. I have dry skin and my skin always feels perfectly hydrated. Hold up nicely through the day, and if I needed to touch it up, it never looks caked on."

Shades Available: 10+

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins A, C, E

Size: 1.0 fl. oz.

Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation

Get sun protection, hydration, and medium coverage with this ultra-lightweight foundation. Its thin consistency is made with MAC's moisture fusion complex and elastic gel-serum that will leave your skin looking smoother than ever.

A fan raves: "For people who have normal or dry skin, this is simply amazing. Although this looks very natural on the skin, it really hides imperfections like no other. I have tried countless foundations... not one compares to this one."

Shades Available: 25

Key Ingredients: Octinoxate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide

Size: 30 ml / 1.0 US fl oz

Luminous Silk Liquid Foundation

For a lightweight, oil-free option, try this makeup artist-approved option from Armani. It's earned numerous beauty awards for its hydrating effects and buildable medium coverage. Customers also love the way it blends flawlessly.

One reviewer raves: "It goes on like cashmere and finishes so incredibly smooth."

Shades Available: 40

Key Ingredients: Micro-Fil Technology

Size: 1.0 fl. oz.

VIitalumière Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Sunscreen Makeup

Chanel formulated this foundation to be extremely lightweight with a thin, watery consistency. It provides a drink for you skin and light to medium coverage, plus broad spectrum SPF 15.

A reviewer raves: "Vitalumiere Aqua is like smoothing velvet on your face! It's light, smooth, and provides ample coverage for me, especially in the summer months when you don't want to put full coverage on your face. But you can use it all year round; at least I do. I always use a makeup brush so it goes on quite evenly and smoothly."

Shades Available: 15+

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid

Size: 1.0 fl. oz.

Intensive Serum Foundation

Part moisturizer, part foundation, part serum, this Bobbi Brown foundation is like a three-in-one. Cordyceps mushroom help calm skin and hydrate will still offering medium to full coverage.

A fan writes: "This stuff knocks everything out of the park and gives me a flawless complexion morning till night... within seconds I look 5 years younger with the most natural, radiant looking skin I've ever had."

Shades Available: 20+

Key Ingredients: Cordyceps Complex

Size: 30 ml

Sublime Perfection Foundation

Leave it to Pat McGrath to create a long-wearing formula that stays in place no matter where your day takes you. The foundation is loaded with unique polymers and vitamins that smooth out skin and help fight fine lines and wrinkles. There's also a "diamond core powder" technology which increases skin's luminosity.

A Sephora reviewer says: "This is seriously one of the best foundations I’ve ever used in my life. It feels really light, has great coverage yet still looks natural. Covered my pimple and lasted all night. Best part, after I removed my makeup and washed my face for the night my skin was even softer than before."

Shades Available: 36

Key Ingredients: Unique Polymers, High-Purity Pigments Treaded with Amino Acids, Diamond Core Power

Size: 1.18 fl. oz.

Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation

Another oil-free option, Chantecaille's Future Skin works to hydrate skin with water and seaweed and is a top-pick among celebrity makeup artists. Plus, it works great for those tricky cases where skin is both dry and breakout prone.

Shades Available: 8

Key Ingredients: Network of Sugars, H20, Bionymph Peptide Stem Cell Extract

Size: 0.42 oz

What The Foundation Tinted Moisture Balm

Think of this as a foundation and tinted moisturizer mixed into one product. Customers love the second skin effect they get from its formula, and how the creamy texture leaves the complexion looking healthier, fuller, and glowing. What more can you ask for?

A reviewer raves: "The foundation is by far the best I’ve ever used. It is filled with moisture, which makes your skin feel amazing. As you apply the foundation to your face you instantly see how your skin looks so even, yet it looks so natural."

Shades Available: 12

Key Ingredients: Jojoba Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate

Size: 1.14 oz.

The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation

Kevyn Aucoin's glow-inducing formula is chock-full of skin-loving ingredients, such as jojoba oil and vitamin E, and according to Lujan, it leaves a natural skin-like finish with medium coverage. Pro tip: Pair the foundation with the brand's Stripped Nude Skin Tint, and your skin is good as gold.

A reviewer reports: "This foundation is incredible - super lightweight but with fantastic coverage. If you have dry or mature skin you can't go wrong. It glides on effortlessly and doesn't sink into lines. I've struggled to find a foundation I like recently and this is a winner. Highly recommend!"

Shades Available: 16

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil

Size: 28 ml

Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

Available in 30 unique shades, this skin tint from Ilia has become a fast favorite among fans and beauty lovers alike—and it's not hard to see why. With a super smooth texture, an insanely nourishing formula made of plant-based ingredients, plus mineral SPF, you really can't ask for much.

A customer reports: "The coverage is nice and lightweight, and it truly feels like skincare. That it's an all-in-one step of skincare, sunscreen, and coverage makes it the ultimate travel companion."

Shades Available: 30

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Plant-Based Squalane, Niacinamide

Size: 1.0 fl. oz.

Phyto-Teint Nude 1C Petal

Skincare meets makeup with this innovative formula that not only beautifully evens skin tone but also improves its appearance over time, leaving it looking and feeling super-smooth, plumped, and hydrated.

One reviewer writes: "It's simply perfect for those times when you want very little makeup but also want complexion evenness and skincare benefits. This will always be in my 'must have' bag!"

Shades Available: 20+

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Konjac Glucomannan Microspheres, Aquatic Mint Extract, Kiwi and Acerola Extracts

Size: 1.0 fl. oz.

Day to Night

Full-coverage formulas get a bad rap for appearing cakey and drying on skin, but never this Code8 option. "This is your perfect foundation if you’re looking for something that has more coverage and doesn’t look or feel too heavy on the skin," says Ghodstinat. "It's perfect for longevity and flexibility, and most importantly, a beautiful, flawless finish."

One reviewer says: "Goes on lightly, blends well, gives good coverage without feeling heavy or cloggy. Does not accentuate my 59 year old wrinkles at all:-)"

Shades Available: 15

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E

Size: 0.7 fl. oz.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear 24H Full Coverage Foundation

Many hydrating foundations promise a dewy look, meaning it can be difficult to find a good matte option that doesn't dry out your skin even more. This oil-free contender from Lancôme, however, finishes matte and looks very natural on skin.

A reviewer writes: "This is such a versatile foundation. You can make it light, medium or full coverage!! It works well with a brush or damp beauty sponge. I used to own like 4 foundations and when I decided I didn't need that many, I just kept the Lancôme one because of how well it matches me!"

Shades Available: 45+

Key Ingredients: Eternalsoft Polymers, Perlite and Silica

Size: 1.0 oz

What is the best foundation for dry skin?

"The best type of foundation for dry skin is a hydrating one that is buildable rather than full coverage, as the thicker the foundation the more it can dry your skin and create a flaky look," explains Ghodstinat.

Lujan recommends looking for liquid and cream formulas, while Michalska also advises reaching for a serum. "Serum textures and lightweight products that pack in hydration are best," says Michalska. "It may be tempting to try thicker formulas like sticks or creams, but often these stick to dry spots."

What ingredients should one look for in a foundation for dry skin?

When searching for the best foundation for dry skin, it's important to keep the formulation in mind. Ghodstinat, Lujan, and Michalska all agree that hyaluronic acid is crucial in hydrating foundations. "It helps to capture and bind moisture to the skin," says Lujan. "It's like a moisture magnet."

Lujan also likes foundations with oils, such as jojoba, avocado, passion fruit, and papaya, since most of them "are full of antioxidants."

Michalska says allantoin is great too: "As someone with dry and sensitive skin, it's a moisturizing ingredient that helps prevent dry, rough, and irritated skin."

What is the best way to apply foundation?

There are several ways to apply foundation, but ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. Ghodstinat and Michalska both agree that using your fingers is one of the best ways to achieve a flawless application. "They warm up the product and allow it to become one with your skin," says Ghodstinat.

But if you prefer using a brush, Lujan recommends dotting foundation onto the skin with your fingers and then quickly blending it out. "For more coverage, I like to use a fluffy buffing brush to apply foundation," notes the pro. "For transparent coverage, I like to use more of a flat paddle brush to apply foundation and stretch it over the skin."

Meet the experts

• Sasha Ghodstinat is the Global Makeup Artist & Brand Trainer of CODE8 Beauty.

• Nick Lujan is a makeup artist.

• Sam Michalska is a makeup artist and Ilia Beauty's Executive Director of Global Education.

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