The 11 Best Full Coverage Foundations, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation

View On Nordstrom $49 View On Sephora $49 View On Bloomingdales $49

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Feel
  4/5
• Wear
  3.5/5
• Finish
  3/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.5/5

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation is beloved by over 253,000 Sephora shoppers — and it’s clear to see why! For starters, it’s sold in an impressive 44 shades (in warm, cool, and neutral undertones). What’s more, the formula features special AirCool technology, which makes it feel fresh and airy on the skin, despite being a full coverage formula. In that way, it stays incredibly comfortable throughout the day. Comfort and colors aside, it’s also designed to blur fine lines and wrinkles.

“With two pumps, it covered almost all imperfections and looked very even,” says one of our testers. “The texture was smooth, it went on easily, and it did not move around or bunch during the application. Even after 15 minutes, there were no signs of wear; it looked smooth, with no creasing into lines.” While this foundation is advertised as a matte formula, our tester says that it could more accurately be described as semi-matte. While the application and coverage certainly stand out, it’s the staying power of this foundation that made our testers devoted fans. “The foundation didn’t move after application, nor did it transfer onto the blotting paper,” one marvels. “If I had to improve anything, I would make it a tiny bit more moisturizing. However, given the great transfer resistance of the product, I would sacrifice additional moisture for staying power.”

Shades: 44 | Finish: Matte | Size: 30 mL

Best Natural Finish

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation

View On Nordstrom $69 View On Nordstrom $69 View On Ulta $69

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  4.6/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Wear
  4.5/5
• Finish
  4.8/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.3/5

Many consider Pat McGrath to be the queen of luxurious makeup — just look at Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled” music video, where she’s literally cast as Queen Pat. On the subject of full coverage foundations, Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Foundation is among the most highly-rated formulas at Sephora, with over 114,000 likes. What makes the foundation so likable, according to our tester, is that it’s incredibly comfortable while offering just enough coverage. "One layer is enough to make my skin more even and airbrushed, and it left a gorgeous, skin-like (but still better than my natural skin) finish,” she shares.

The reason it applies so beautifully (and comfortably) is because its water-based, which prompts it to sink into skin to quench any dehydration. “It feels like I'm wearing a tinted serum — After re-reading my moisture levels, my skin was almost just as moisturized after using the foundation as using just moisturizer,” our tester adds.

Her one complaint about the cult-favorite foundation is that, due to the airy, water-based formula, it does melt into lines a bit throughout wear. “I'm noticing slight creasing around my mouth in my smile lines, but nothing drastic,” she admits. “I think powder (a staple in my makeup routine) would have set this and prevented that from happening. Other than that, the foundation stayed put and doesn't feel like it's going anywhere.”

Shades: 36 | Finish: Natural | Size: 35 mL

Best Budget

NYX Total Control Pro Drop Foundation

View On Amazon $9 View On Ulta $7 View On Nyxcosmetics.com

Compared to the other contenders, NYX Total Control Pro Drop Foundation is not only a superb pick from a budget stance, but a value one, too, given it’s the largest bottle of liquid full coverage foundation on this list. While you might think that a drugstore foundation wouldn’t perform as well as a luxe formula, our tester assures us that it’s a standout. “The texture feels very smooth, and it has a shine to it but doesn't look oily — it looks healthy,” she shares. Part of what makes it look so fabulous is the fact that it’s sold in so many colors, so it’s easy to find the perfect shade match, too.

Our tester’s one complaint is that, unfortunately, this full coverage foundation isn’t transfer-resistant. While she found that it didn’t settle into pores, fine lines, or wrinkles, when tended to with blotting paper, it transferred substantially. “It was all over the table and my phone,” she shares. “It still looked great on my face, though. It just transfers a lot.”

Shades: 27 | Finish: Natural | Size: 58.56 mL

Best Splurge

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation

View On Nordstrom $139 View On Dermstore $139 View On Chantecaille.com

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Wear
  5/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4/5

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation might offer full coverage, but according to our tester, it applies like a weightless skincare product. “It’s very refreshing,” she exclaims. “It's a water-based formula that glides right on.”

Once applied, our reviewer was surprised to see just how well the product stayed put. “The staying power is amazing,” she says. “It didn’t settle into my wrinkles, and there was no pilling or smudging — it provided a smooth, impeccable finish. I have never felt a foundation this light that actually provided coverage without feeling like I’m wearing makeup.”

Another highlight? She says that the foundation creates a radiant, natural glow that masks redness entirely. “It looked like my skin,” she explains, again swooning over how it never looked caked on the way some full coverage foundations do. Our one strife is the shade range — with only seven colors available, there are a lot of people who won’t be able to enjoy this foundation.

Shades: 7 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.42 oz.

Best Stick

Nudestix Nudies Tinted Blur Stick

View On Amazon $32 View On Nordstrom $32 View On Dermstore $32

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Wear
  5/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  3/5

Let us begin by saying that Nudestix Tinted Blur Foundation Stick is not a full coverage foundation. That said, due to the way it applies, it has successfully wiggled its way into the category. The reason? The hydrating vitamin E and green tea-infused formula expertly blurs skin for a silky, airbrushed finish and can be layered on to create a true full coverage result. “It looks natural and works well to cover discoloration,” says one tester. “It feels light and looks beautiful on the skin. It’s a great product to use for a light to medium coverage, but it is creamy and buildable.” Her tip for achieving your ideal coverage? Start with a hydratingg primer for the foundation to perform well.

Shades: 11 | Finish: Natural Matte | Size: 0.2 oz.

Best for Dry Skin

KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm

View On Ulta $41 View On Sephora $43 View On Kvdveganbeauty.com

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Feel
  4/5
• Wear
  4/5
• Finish
  4/5
• Transfer Resistance
  5/5

It’s rare that a full coverage foundation can be applied flawlessly with fingers and brushes alike, but KVD Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm is the exception. “I absolutely love this foundation,” our tester reveals. “I only used my fingers to apply it, and I used very little, but it provided full coverage in one go. I appreciate how it did a great job of hiding my sun blemishes and hyperpigmentation while feeling light on my face — never cakey, chalky, or dense.”

Our tester isn’t the only superfan of the full coverage foundation, though. Thousands of Ulta shoppers are, as well. And it makes sense: The product is infused with antioxidant-rich apple extract and plumping and hydrating sodium hyaluronate, both of which help to nourish skin for a bouncy, healthy-looking visage. “My skin actually was more hydrated after I put it on which is nice because I have been looking for a foundation that I can use in the wintertime,” our tester shares.

Two things to keep in mind: 1) A little goes a very long way, so start with less and build up if you see fit (though, we found that one layer is more than enough). 2) The shades aren’t entirely accurate in the compact. Instead, the brand suggests relying on the model photos associated with each shade as opposed to the compact imagery itself.

Shades: 40 | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.35 oz.

Best for Oily Skin

ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation

View On Amazon $54 View On Nordstrom $54 View On Sephora $54

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  4/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Wear
  4/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4/5

With 30 shades to choose from and a formula that feels more like skincare than full coverage makeup, it’s no wonder Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation is adored by over 102,000 Sephora shoppers. What sets this foundation apart is just how nourishing the ingredients list is: Infused with smoothing niacinamide, soothing allantoin, and calming and hydrating aloe, this is one of the (if not the) gentlest full coverage foundations on the market.

“It covered my redness,” one tester shares, admitting that it took a few layers but that she was impressed nonetheless. “Alone it gives a soft blurred finish to the skin, perfect for those days you want to look natural or want to do a lot of contouring and layers.”

Shades: 30 | Finish: Natural | Size: 30 mL

Best With SPF

Kosas Revealer Foundation SPF 25

View On Nordstrom $42 View On Sephora $42 View On Kosas.com

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Wear
  4.7/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.3/5

KOSAS Revealer Skin Improving SPF 25 Foundation is another full coverage foundation that makes skincare benefits a top priority. In addition to being infused with SPF 25 sun protection, the foundation is formulated with niacinamide, caffeine, squalane, arnica, and pro vitamin B5 to brighten, smooth, and soothe skin for a natural-looking finish.

“With two pumps, I was able to cover about 85 percent of my face,” our tester shares. “I had to go in with a little more (less than a pump) to fully cover my entire face using a damp Beauty Blender. After that, woo! Watch out! My face was glowing, even-toned — dare I say, stunning?”

As much as she adored the radiant finish, she admits that her more prominent beauty marks required a bit more coverage. “Mild redness and blemishes were covered but for things like scars and a blue veins, I would want to follow up with a concealer,” she shares.

Shades: 26 | Finish: Natural | Size: 30 mL

Best Matte Finish

Estée Lauder Double Wear Powder Foundation

View On Nordstrom $52 View On Sephora $49 View On Dermstore $52

Our Ratings

• Coverage
  4.7/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Wear
  4.2/5
• Finish
  3.5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  5/5

Powder foundations are a bit trickier from a coverage stance, as they’re not always as easy to build as their cream and liquid counterparts. Still, our tester enjoyed the coverage this powder foundation provided, even if it didn’t completely cover her complexion discoloration. “It looked natural and I was able to control the coverage based on my application,” she says.

Since it’s more buildable than immediately opaque, our tester says that this matte powder could also work well as a finishing powder of sorts. “It sets in quickly and doesn’t feel heavy,” she says. Since it’s a powder, though, she points out that transfer is rather unavoidable.

Shades: 31 | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.42 oz.

Best Satin Finish

Sisley Paris Phyto-Teint Ultra Éclat Oil-Free Foundation

View On Nordstrom $110

If you’re willing to rely on multiple layers, Sisley Paris Phyto-Teint Ultra Éclat Oil-Free Foundation is a great option. It applies smoothly, dries down quickly, and feels amazing on the skin, our tester says. While it’s not a true full coverage foundation (as it applies more sheerly) with multiple layers, you can tailor the coverage without worrying about it becoming too heavy on the skin. “It held well and did not smudge, crease or cake up,” our reviewer explains, noting that it blends seamlessly. “It’s a great, light, comfortable product to wear every day,” she concludes.

Shades: 25 | Finish: Natural | Size: 30 mL