The Best Foundation for Combination Skin – 2023 Reviews and Top Picks
In our commitment to offer you with only the top products suited for your skin type, we have gathered and reviewed 5 of the best foundations that are creating a buzz in the market today. These foundations were then tested based on the coverage they provide, their overall feel on the face, and their easiness on the budget to be able to choose what we feel is the best foundation for combination skin.
Go for the ColorStay Makeup, Natural Beige by Revlon for a matte and flawless coverage that lasts all day. Lightweight, this product is a holy grail and an absolute must in any makeup kit.
Choose Clinique’s Even Better Makeup, Neutral for a dermatologist-developed product. It also doubles as an anti-aging foundation, can last all day, and does a great job keeping oil at bay.
Mary Kay’s TimeWise Matte-Wear Liquid Foundation, Beige 4 also works as an anti-aging foundation. With Vitamin E, it provides a matte finish and instantly smoother and healthier skin.
The Liquid Mineral Foundation, Sandalwood by Shimarz is a 90% organic product. Blendable and hypoallergenic, it provides an airbrushed look for that poreless, flawless finish.
True to its name, the Dream Velvet Foundation, Classic Ivory by Maybelline offers a finish that’s velvety soft. It provides long-lasting hydration without the dryness for a soft, matte finish.
2017’s Reviews of the Best Foundations for Combination Skin
Rankings | Brands | Content | Other features | Editor’s Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
#2 | Clinique | 1 ounce | Wear and oil-free | |
#3 | Mary Kay | 1 ounce | Has vitamin E and peptides, humidity and transfer-resistant | |
#5 | Maybelline | 1 ounce | Gel-whipped formula, 12-hour wear | |
#1 | 1 ounce | ColorStay TM longwear technology, oil and fragrance-free, transfer-resistant | ||
#4 | Shimarz | 1 ounce | Non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic |
Its ability to control oil and provide a matte finish make this the best foundation for combination skin. This product is also oil-free and promises wear that can last for up to 24 hours.
It provides a medium to full coverage and is completely buildable. It also comes in a creamy and lightweight formula and is not as watery compared to its original formula.
This product comes in a pump bottle and a little goes a long way—two pumps are enough for a full application. It also does a great job hiding skin imperfections and goes on smoothly.
Because it is completely buildable, this foundation can be layered if you want full coverage without looking too cakey. It has a comfortable feel to it, and lasts the whole day without fading.
The product line comes in 35 different shades. We think this is amazing because lots of women can wear this foundation, no matter what your skin color is.
A huge plus point is that it offers sun protection. It contains SPF15, which is a huge difference from the previous version’s SPF 6.
What We Like:
- Provides great coverage
- Lightweight
- Humidity-resistant
What We Didn’t Like:
- May not be for sensitive skin
- Some found the smell unbearable
Being an oil-free product makes this a great foundation for combination skin. It also reduces age spots and evens out skin tone, so you still look beautiful even without makeup on.
Recommended for dry and oily to combination skin, this product was developed by the brand’s group of dermatologists. It is also free of any irritants, making it ideal even for sensitive skin.
Texture-wise, this foundation is so smooth and is easily spreadable. It is also blendable, and offers a light to medium coverage that is completely buildable depending on your desired look.
This product is perfect for concealing minor skin flaws and imperfections. It also doesn’t oxidize that much, making you look like you just applied makeup even after having it on for hours.
Lightweight, this won’t dry out your skin and needs little to no moisturization before application. With a natural finish, there are no signs of patchiness or streakiness that can ruin your look.
The best part is that it offers sun protection. This foundation contains SPF 15, and does not leave a white cast unlike other foundations with SPF.
What We Like:
- Long-wearing
- Provides great coverage
- Humidity-resistant
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can be too thick
- Shade can be a bit “off”
- Very expensive
The product has a unique blend of peptides and Vitamin E. It instantly makes skin look younger by reducing the appearance of fine lines.
It also does a great job in keeping oil at bay, and provides a matte finish that lasts all day. This is thanks to its special microspheres, making it ideal for those with oily to combination skin.
An age-fighting foundation, this product reduces imperfections, wrinkles, and the appearance of pores. It is humidity and transfer-resistant, making it perfect for those living in warmer areas.
It generally comes in 23 different shades, meaning a lot of women can enjoy and reap this product’s benefits. It’s a little watery too, making this foundation spreadable and easy to apply.
This product does a great job in concealing slight discolorations, thanks to its light to medium coverage. Highly pigmented, it hides redness as well, but may not work well for facial bumps.
This product can, however, be a hard find, which can be a bummer. It also has no SPF, but we guess those can be overlooked considering it is really an effective product.
What We Like:
- Offers full coverage
- Is smooth to apply
- Blendable
What We Didn’t Like:
- A little streaky
- Some found the smell unbearable
- May not be for sensitive skin
The foundation provides full coverage and leaves skin mattified. It is also packed with nutrients that nourish the skin, and is chemical-free.
This product promises to get your confidence level back. It assures you that you get stared at only for a good reason, and that is because of how flawless and perfect you look.
What’s great is that it guarantees that you’ll look younger than your age. It promises younger, renewed skin as it promotes organic skin healing.
These claims are because of its Vitamin E, Chamomile and Aloe Vera contents. Vitamin E protects the body from free radicals, which is important to slow down the aging process.
Chamomile, on the other hand, is highly anti-inflammatory and one of the most powerful medicinal herbs; while Aloe Vera is packed with vitamins that moisturize and soothe the skin.
Great for all ages, this product can easily be blended and has skin brightening effects. It offers a poreless appearance, is breathable, and is completely hypoallergenic.
The best part is that this product comes with sun protection. Equipped with SPF 15, you can still rock your look with confidence without worrying about the sun’s damaging effects on your skin.
What We Like:
- Does not settle into lines
- Is not cakey
- Comes with a 100% lifetime guarantee
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can be too thin
- Some found the smell overpowering
- May not be for sensitive skin
This is the best foundation for combination skin because it keeps you hydrated and at the same time mattified. These are the two most important criteria, and it definitely passes our standards.
This product is the brand’s first of its kind. It feels like you’re wearing nothing on your face, yet it gives you the perfect coverage to keep you looking fresh throughout the day.
In terms of wear, this foundation promises to last you for up to 12 hours. It also keeps your skin for a long 12 hours, so you’re assured that this product’s got you covered.
Perfect for those with normal to combination skin, this product offers medium coverage. It also comes in a unique gel-whipped formula, which we think makes this foundation more interesting.
Sold separately, this can be used with their Dream Blender sponge. It comes with a handle and looks like an ice cream cone, and they claim having this applicator makes application easier.
What we didn’t like is that this product has no SPF. Though not really a big deal, it would still be a huge plus to have everything you need in a single tube.
What We Like:
- Long lasting
- Lightweight
- Decent amount of coverage
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can get cakey
- Not so buildable
- Tends to settle into lines
Reviews and Comparisons of the Best Foundations for Combination Skin
Rankings | Best Overall | 2nd choice | 3rd choice | 4th choice | 5th choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top-Rated Foundations for Combination Skin 2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
Brand | |||||
Coverage | Medium to full | Light to medium | Fill | Light to medium | Medium |
Finish | Matte | Natural | Matte | Matte | Matte |
Fragrance-free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Has SPF | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Get Started |
How to Find the Right Foundation for You
With all the formalities aside, foundation is probably the first step in every woman’s beauty ritual. As they say, a makeup kit is worth nothing without this product in hand.
But with a lot of options to choose from, how do you know which one’s for you?
- The most important step is to get to know your skin. Normal skin is characterized by an even complexion, and lotion-based foundations work best for this skin type.
- Dry skin, which often feels parched and dry, can benefit from cream-based liquid foundations. Water-based foundations work for oily skin as they last longer and do not leave a greasy look.
- Next is to determine your skin tone. If you have a dusky complexion, a liquid, sheer foundation and a good concealer are your best bet to create an impression of a perfect skin.
- If you have a wheatish complexion, choose foundations that have an earthy shade or those with a yellow pigment. Avoid foundations with a pinkish tone as they can make you look greyish.
- For those with fair skin, determine if your fairness is yellowish or rosy pink. Foundations with warmer tones are recommended for this skin tone.
- Last step is to determine your foundation. Suited for dry, combination, and normal skin types, cream foundations leave a dewy finish and are perfect for those who need a full coverage.
All skin types would benefit from liquid foundations. They offer either a dewy, matte, or a satin finish, and provide a light to medium coverage.
Pressed powder foundations work best for oily skin. They are great at oil absorption, provides a light to medium coverage, and leave skin with a mattified finish.
Those with sensitive skin should opt for mineral foundations. They provide a light to medium coverage, and leave skin with a mattified finish as well.
Conclusion
Even if you aren’t a fan of wearing makeup, foundations can be your best friend. They slightly cover up any imperfections, even out your skin tone, and give you a flawless, natural look.
Plus, if you find the one that’ll match your skin type, it will leave you with the finish that would accentuate your beauty even more.
We have chosen the ColorStay Makeup, Natural Beige by Revlon as the best foundation for combination skin. Water-based and oil-free, it provides a semi-matte finish and can last for up to 24 hours.
It gives a medium to full coverage, and even has SPF 15. The best part is that it is pretty cheap, so for those of finding the right (yet inexpensive) foundation, this is what you’ve been waiting for.
- Shares
