Whether you’re dealing with seasonal dryness or are perpetually flaky, the best foundations for dry skin can provide the coverage you need without exacerbating the look of your roughest patches. They’re especially helpful this time of year: Cold, dry weather (along with the dry air from cranking up the heat) can sap your skin’s moisture, making it even more prone to the cakiness, flakiness, and pilling that come with using the wrong foundation. Not exactly a vibe.
While standard foundations usually have the coverage department, well, covered, they often lack hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, which are key for plump skin and a smooth, flake-free finish to your base products.And, no, we’re not just talking about tinted moisturizers. These days, you can absolutely have hydration and buildable coverage all in the same bottle. Whether you’re braving the winter chill or simply pampering your skin, these editor-loved, MUA-approved foundations—backed by dermatologist advice—are here to keep dry skin happy.
Our Top Foundations for Dry Skin
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Dior Forever Skin Glow
Why it’s worth it: Skin care meets makeup in the Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation. This luxe, hydrating formula (shout out to conditioning botanicals like iris, wild pansy, hibiscus, and nasturtium extracts) comes in a wide range of shades, each featuring one of six Dior signature undertones. Pick between neutrals, warms, warm olives, warm peaches, cools, and cool roses to find a fitting match for your skin tone. Regardless of SPF rating, we always recommend a standalone sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher—but any additional SPF is always a welcome boost.
“With dry (often flakey) skin, I’m not a foundation-wearer. Instead, I prefer skin tints, tinted moisturizers, and the like—but if I ever do need foundation, Dior’s Forever Skin Glow has been my go-to for years. It’s everything someone with dry skin would want out of a formula: breathable, doesn’t seep into fine lines or accentuate dryness, and leaves you with a subtle dewy finish that’ll trick anyone and everyone into thinking you were born with richly hydrated, plump skin.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
- Key ingredients: octisalate (4.5%), titanium dioxide (4.23%), iris, wild pansy, hibiscus, nasturtium
- Fragrance-free: no
- Shades: 41
- Coverage: medium to full
Best Buildable: Make Up For Ever Super Boost Lightweight Moisturizing Skin Tint
Why it’s worth it: No matter how much or little Make Up For Ever’s Super Boost Lightweight Moisturizing Skin Tint you apply, you’re always guaranteed a dewy, radiant base that stays put. As its pigment neutralizes the appearance of blemishes and uneven skin tone, a blend of polyglutamic and hyaluronic acids hydrates skin; meanwhile, grapefruit extract brightens and exfoliates with its natural abundance of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). A light, sheer veil of this good stuff is just enough to take down redness and blur uneven spots, but feel free to build it up to a proper medium-coverage base—trust us, you’ll still have a natural, second-skin finish.
“Between my use of tretinoin and the increasingly chilly weather, my skin hurts. It’s dry and flaky, and I’ve been avoiding makeup so as to not irritate it. This base product from Make Up For Ever is admittedly a skin tint, but builds into medium coverage. It deserves a spot in this story because of how good it feels. It’s featherweight, does not highlight any of my dry patches, and doesn’t crack or fade throughout the day. The finish is slightly dewy, and wears perfectly on top of my many skin-care layers.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
- Key ingredients: polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, grapefruit extract
- Fragrance-free: no
- Shades: 18
- Coverage: sheer
Best for Mature Skin: Sweed Glass Skin Foundation
Why it’s worth it: Thought glass skin could only be achieved with really good skin care? Turns out, you can fake it ‘til you make it with Sweed’s Glass Skin Foundation. Equal parts hydrating skin care and lightweight makeup, this buildable-finish formula has a silky, radiance-boosting effect that instantly dials up your natural glow. Meanwhile, a combination of hydrators and moisture-sealing ingredients like antioxidant vitamin E, seawater, and seaweed extract ensures your skin stays smooth, soft, and plump all the while. Sweed’s weightless foundation is also developed to sit over fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin without settling into them or creasing, making glass skin all the more achievable for all ages.
“During the winter, my foundation can get very patchy due to my dry skin. The Sweed Glass Skin Foundation keeps my glow without any rough spots coming out during the day. It’s incredibly light and I only need a quarter sized amount on the back of my hand for a full face.” —Kassidy Silva, social media director
- Key ingredients: vitamin E, seaweed extract, sucrose, seawater
- Fragrance-free: no
- Shades: 15
- Coverage: light to medium
Best Dewy Finish: Patrick Ta Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation
Why it’s worth it: Glowing, luminous skin in a bottle? Sounds pretty far-fetched, but it was somehow achieved in the form of Patrick Ta’s Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation, an Allure editor-favorite. It’s infused with a glow-boosting trio of squalane, kombucha, and hyaluronic acid to leave your skin with a lit-from-within luminosity—greasy sheens not included. We also appreciate the relatively wide range of 30 flexible shades, which makes finding a perfect match easier than wading through the sea of beige that other brands tend to provide.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“I’m all about dewy bases. Usually I reach for a hydrating concealer or skin tint, but when I want a tad more coverage, Patrick Ta is my go-to. You can build it up to light-medium coverage—just enough that any discoloration is masked/blurred—but it still very much looks like skin (key!). Depending on the time of year (and how pale I am), 6 Neutral and 10 Neutral are perfect shade matches. Just like you’d find in some of my favorite skin-care products, you’ll find hyaluronic acid (three types) and squalane in this Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation—which gives me a radiant, airbrushed-like finish that’s just chef’s kiss. What more could I want from a base? Spoiler: Not much!” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: squalane, kombucha, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Shades: 30
- Coverage: light to medium
Best for Light Coverage: Kosas BB Burst
Why it’s worth it: The super-hydrating Kosas BB Burst has a tight grip on our hearts and our vanities. It goes on smoothly, helps skin retain and attract moisture, and soothes the other telltale symptoms of dryness, like redness and a weakened skin barrier. The formula goes on like a tinted moisturizer but builds nicely to a medium-coverage finish, and you’ll dig the hydrating duo of sodium PCA and sugar molecule-derived saccharide isomerate, as well as firming copper peptides and zinc. In Kosas’s words, it’s “your skin but better.” Pair it with the Hailey Bieber-approved Revealer Concealer and bask in the glowiness.
Tester feedback from senior shopping director Shanna Shipin
“This formula is the definition of weightless. If I don’t apply it using a mirror, I truly question whether I put it on or not. It can be a little tricky getting the undertones just so, but once you’ve found the perfect color, it’s Second Skin City. Truly imperceptible coverage that blends easily—with just your fingers!—and wears ridiculously comfortably. It’s my ideal summer skin tint.” —Shanna Shipin, senior shopping director
- Key ingredients: copper peptides, zinc, sodium PCA, saccharide isomerate
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Shades: 24
- Coverage: light
Best for Medium-to-Full Coverage: Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation
Why it’s worth it: This Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation was a 2022 TikTok smash hit that’s still going strong, and for good reason. The formula features a fermented arnica complex and BioFerment 7 Complex, which includes fermented Shiunko, green tea, and Licorice Root. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously explained the calming effects of arnica and the skin-healing benefits of Shiunko, an ointment traditionally used to heal cuts and burns. “This formula is gentle for the skin,” she said, adding that “fermented ingredients have a better efficacy as fermentation breaks down the molecule more for better penetration.” And it doesn’t hurt that this flexible-coverage foundation, which provides a sheer, barely-there finish that can be layered to a full-coverage effect, has garnered both a Best of Beauty Award and a Reader’s Choice Award.
“While I much prefer a medium-coverage foundation, on days when I need something a tad lighter, I reach for the Haus Labs foundation. Even though it’s buildable, I usually only apply a single layer (with my fingers), and after my concealer is on, I’ll go back in with a makeup sponge (love you, Beautyblender) to even out the dewy finish. It wears well, but I always notice near the end of the day, it starts to sheer out, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for something super long-wear. Shade matching-wise, I know it’s the bare minimum to expect a brand to have my exact shade, but I really like that this foundation is truly a perfect match for my fair skin and neutral undertone. (I’m shade 120 Light Warm, by the way.)” —Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
- Key ingredients: fermented arnica, fermented Shiunko, green tea, licorice root
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Shades: 51
- Coverage: light to full, buildable
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Nars Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation
Why it’s worth it: So, you want something light but long-lasting, radiant but subtle, hydrating but non-greasy? What we’re hearing is that you want the Best of Beauty-winning Nars Light Reflecting Foundation. This light-coverage, buildable, and non-acnegenic formula evens out skin tone and quenches with a cocktail of hydrating and moisture-sealing ingredients like glycerin, moringa seed extract, cacao peptides, biomimetic oat (a synthetic oat molecule), and Japanese lilyturf. You’ll only need one to two pumps to get the full effect, and you can skip the foundation brush and blend it out with your fingers if you so please.
Tester feedback from former shopping market editor Ang Trakoshis
“Every time I move onto a new foundation, I immediately miss this one. It’s glowy (but not greasy), lightweight, and truly brings out my skin—just with less acne and hyperpigmentation.” —Angela Trakoshis, former shopping market editor
- Key ingredients: glycerin, moringa seed extract, cacao peptides, biomimetic oat, and Japanese lilyturf
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Shades: 36
- Coverage: light to medium
Best Splurge: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation
Why it’s worth it: When it comes to Chanel’s Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation, “light coverage” doesn’t mean “skimping on pigment.” Instead, this product bridges the gap between a skin tint and a true foundation, sitting nicely atop your skin, and hydrating with glycerin and vitamin E. The 40% water formula doesn’t skimp on antioxidants, which help your skin barrier combat irritation from pollutants and free radicals. “I love how light and fresh it feels, literally like pushing water into my skin,” says Kirin Bhatty, a celebrity makeup artist based in New York City and Los Angeles. “I like to apply it with my fingertips,” she adds.
“I’m a sucker for a lightweight, dewy base, and Chanel Les Beiges delivers every time—it contains 40% water, after all, so no wonder it has that melt-into-my-skin texture I’m always looking for. I go in with my (clean!) finger at first, warming it up as I spread before buffing everything in with a foundation brush. It truly feels like I have nothing on and my complexion looks, well, perkier.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: glycerin, meadowfoam seed oil, vitamin E
- Fragrance-free: no
- Shades: 42
- Coverage: light
Best Serum Foundation: Victoria Beckham Beauty The Foundation Drops
Victoria Beckham Beauty
The Foundation Drops
Why it’s worth it: Victoria Beckham and Augustinus Bader have partnered for a handful of products in the past, but the duo’s most buzz-worthy drop is this weightless, serum-like foundation. Victoria Beckham’s The Foundation Drops has a melt-on-your-skin texture that both our editors and Jewels Grogan, a makeup artist based in New York City, can’t get enough of. “I love the versatile coverage of this formula, which is light to medium,” she says. “It blends like a dream and looks like real skin.”
“I will always be team sheer coverage, and this serum foundation nails the assignment with 10s across the board. Naturally, I run rather pink (or, after a run, tomato red), and this foundation provides just the right amount of barely-there coverage to offset redness without looking cakey. I also love the feeling of this serum foundation; instead of sitting on top of my skin, it has a seeping-in effect that feels like the serum and my skin are becoming one. Sure, the price is hard to excuse in this economy, but if you prefer a lightweight base that genuinely looks like skin, make this the investment piece of your makeup routine.” —Jennifer Hussein, contributing commerce writer
- Key ingredients: TFC8, olive leaf extract, jojoba oil, echinacea, glycerin
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Shades: 19
- Coverage: light to medium
Best Skin Tint: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
Why it’s worth it: “This feels like skin care and looks like skin care, but with good coverage,” Bhatty raves. “I love how glowy this formula is, and the shade range is also so beautiful.” Ilia’s Super Serum is formulated with your dry skin in mind and is packed with face-loving ingredients like moisture-replenishing squalane, tone-evening niacinamide, and two types of hydrating hyaluronic acids. This skin tint also provides broad-spectrum SPF 40 UV protection, which we can always get behind. Quick tip: Ilia explains that the serum foundation appears lighter upon application, which helps you better discern which areas are SPF-protected. After around a minute, the formula dries down to its true, perfect-match tone.
Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen
“Putting the word ‘serum’ in the name wasn’t a lie; this stuff oozes, goozes, and slathers just like a thick, somewhat oily serum.” —Nicola Dall’Asen, senior news editor
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide (12%), squalane, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Shades: 30
- Coverage: sheer
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of a foundation for dry skin?
Hydration doesn’t have to end when you pop the cap back on your moisturizer. Seizing any moment to support your skin is wise, and a foundation formulated for dry skin can do just that. “Foundation just adds another opportunity for hydration while also addressing a cosmetic benefit,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hamden, Connecticut. She advises prepping the skin with moisturizer for an extra boost of hydration.
How should I choose a foundation for dry skin?
When choosing a foundation for dry skin, keep an eye out for specific ingredients—you’ll likely recognize a few from your moisturizer or hydrating face wash. “I love the addition of hyaluronic acid, as well as other hydrating ingredients like vitamin C, E, and niacinamide,” says Dr. Gohara.
Esthetician Renée Rouleau told Allure that people with dry skin should watch for ingredients that help retain moisture and support the skin’s barrier, like ceramides. “This is important year-round, but especially during the harsh winter months when dry skin can be even more sensitive,” said Rouleau. Squalane is another wingman to watch for. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Doris Day, MD, previously told Allure that this saturated oil “aids in skin-care problems wherein the skin barrier is disrupted and transepidermal water loss is an issue.”
When it comes to consistency, Dr. Gohara prefers products with liquid foundations. “These tend to contain more oils, which can be a gift to dehydrated skin,” she says.
Which type of foundation is best for dry skin?
For dry skin, look for a formula that provides moisture and won’t highlight dry patches (translation: Matte powder foundations are probably off the table.) Rather, Grogan recommends oil- or serum-based formulas, which are usually in liquid form; they not not only avoid stripping already-dry skin of moisture but also to replenish and condition it, giving it a smoother, bouncier texture. Also, “steer clear of long-wearing and oil-free formulas,” she notes. “Look for foundations with ingredients like squalane, hyaluronic acid, and botanical oils, including jojoba and argan.” These are all conditioning hits that moisturize the skin and will help to prevent foundation from looking cakey and dry.
How do you apply foundation on dry skin?
A dense, fluffy foundation brush or a sponge are your best friends, according to Grogan. “Serum or oil-based foundation will have a lot of slip, which makes them more fluid and runny,” she says. “A sponge or a dense brush will help pick up the product in the thick bristles and allow you to distribute it evenly and smoothly across the skin.” Her favorite foundation application tools for dry skin include the BeautyBlender sponge (a classic), Westman Atelier’s Liquid Blender Brush, and the Brush No. 1 from Merit.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best foundations for dry skin, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, makeup artists, and dermatologists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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