The 14 Best Water-Based Foundations — and Why You Need One
November 17, 2022
L'Oréal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Acid Tinted Serum
As promised by its name, this is a serum — and chances are it's anything but the traditional foundation you're used to. How it works is you apply a few drops directly to your face and then blend in the liquid formula with your fingers or a brush. The result is a radiant, bright finish powered by luminous mineral pigments and hyaluronic acid for hydration.
Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
If you're on TikTok, you're definitely familiar with the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. It comes in 40 shades and is highly revered for its natural, glowy finish. It's no stranger to the red carpet nor the makeup bags of ordinary people like you and me.
Maybelline New York Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Foundation
Drugstore aficionados have certainly come across the highly rated Maybelline New York Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Foundation. A fan-favorite in the beauty aisle, especially for oily and combination skin, it features micro-powders to control shine and blur pores, all for a fair price of $9.
IT Cosmetics CC Nude Glow
IT Cosmetics CC Cream is a highly esteemed complexion perfector. Across the board, the brand is known for its full-coverage formulas, but this one is an exception. It offers medium coverage and boasts a bevy of skincare ingredients: 2% niacinamide to brighten skin and reduce the look of dark spots, pores, and texture, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and green tea extract for environmental protection.
Dermablend CC Continuous Correction Cream
If you're searching for a full-coverage formula, look no further than the Dermablend CC Continuous Correction Cream. It's fade-defying for a whopping 24 hours, per the brand, and ideal for uneven skin tones looking for color correction. Similar to IT Cosmetics, this product doubles as skincare with SPF 50+ and skin-brightening ingredients. It's been clinically tested to improve skin's radiance after just four weeks, according to Dermablend.
Urban Decay Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator
Bid adieu to pores and imperfections with the Urban Decay Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator. This formula has a blurring effect that evens out your skin tone and texture, but above all, it's praised for its ability to keep your skin quenched all day long. It contains marula oil to protect and hydrate your complexion while simultaneously offering buildable, medium coverage with a fresh, glowy finish.
Valentino Beauty Very Valentino 24-Hour Wear Liquid Foundation
If a super glowy finish isn't your thing, check out the Valentino Beauty Very Valentino 24-Hour Wear Liquid Foundation, which, as the name implies, won't budge or crease for a full day straight. This formula delivers a semi-matte finish and offers buildable, medium coverage and a lightweight texture that you'll barely feel on your skin. Not to mention, it contains SPF26 and comes in 40 shades.
YSL Nu Bare Look Tint
Embrace the dewy skin look with the YSL Nu Bare Look Tint, which we're willing to bet will garner compliments like "You're glowing!" from strangers on the street. Dubbed a "makeup-moisturizer hybrid" by the brand, it's infused with glycerin, hyaluronic acid and brightening mallow that works overtime to hydrate your skin while giving you that effortlessly perfect no-makeup-makeup look.
Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation
If you're willing to splurge when it comes to your foundation, keep this unique cream-to-liquid formula from Koh Gen Do on your radar. It's best for those looking for a sheer, your-skin-but-better finish. It contains jojoba oil to help seal in moisture and keep the skin soft and vegetable collagen to improve its elasticity.
Jones Road What the Foundation
Undeniably unique, the Jones Road What the Foundation is a combination of a tinted moisture balm meets traditional foundation. It contains nourishing ingredients, including jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate, and offers light-to-medium coverage. Plus, it comes with a little spatula, so you don't need to stick your fingers directly into the container.
Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum
Check out the Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum for light coverage and a radiant finish. The liquid formula contains pigment spheres suspended within the product's base and burst open when they come in contact with a brush.
Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25 with Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide
Kosas prides itself on including actives in all of its products, including this foundation, which, as seen in the name, contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides and squalane. This might be your perfect match if you're looking for a "second skin" formula with medium coverage and SPF.
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation
If you're obsessed with dewy skin, say less: The ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation has you covered (literally). It's a liquid, serum-like formula containing mineral SPF, squalene and hyaluronic acid for hydration and niacinamide to smooth. Just be warned that if you're sensitive to scents, this one has mixed reviews in that department.
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