These Are The Best Foundations Right Now
Choosing the best foundation finish for your skin type is the best place to start according to our Head of Education Niamh Butler. “A drier skin type may want to avoid a matte finish, as this type of foundation could emphasise texture,” says Niamh. “Oily skin types should take into account that a very dewy foundation may not have the longevity they would like.”
From Charlotte Tilbury glow givers to NARS complexion perfectors, there are so many formulas to choose from. To help you find The One, we’ve put together a list of some of the best foundations of all time…
Best Foundations For 2026
YSL BEAUTY
Skin Affair Soft Glow Cushion Foundation, N/A
Best Foundation For Effortless Application
Perfecting your base has never been easier with YSL Beauty's latest complexion essential. Housed in its signature couture compact, with a puff to apply it, you can pick up the product and press it into the skin. The weightless formula melts seamlessly and builds effortlessly for a customisable soft-glow finish. Plus a hydrating and nourishing blend of polyglutamic acid, niacinamide and squalane ticks all the skincare boxes.
Westman Atelier
Suprême Bio-Complex Liquid Foundation, £65.00
Best Foundation For Skincare Benefits
When a product captures the hearts (and faces) of both skincare lovers and the makeup-obsessed, you can confidently predict a bestseller, and Westman Atelier's serum-like foundation is already turning heads. The medium-coverage formula blends an advanced skincare mix of exosome technology with a proprietary skincare complex to help improve skin brightness, texture and firmness while you wear it. Read our complete Westman Atelier liquid foundation review for more details.
REFY
Skin Base, £30.00
Best Foundation For Natural-Looking Coverage
REFY’s foundation has gone viral for a reason. For no-makeup days, it’s the one to reach for to polish your complexion without covering it up. The featherlight formula provides just enough coverage to blur imperfections and boost your glow, while allowing freckles, natural texture and everything that makes you, you to shine through. We also love the built-in palette, which dispenses the perfect amount of product while keeping application mess-free.
Nars
Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, £43.50
Best Long-Lasting Foundation
This iconic NARS foundation is a must-try if you’re after a foundation that will literally stand the test of time. Despite being made to last up to 16 hours, it’s surprisingly lightweight and breathable, and boasts a high coverage that looks – and stays – beautifully natural. Moreover, it’s infused with raspberry, apple and watermelon extracts for a texture-smoothing effect instantly and over. A favourite of many for good reason!
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Flawless Foundation, £40.00
Best Full Coverage Foundation
A fine example of doing what it says on the ‘tin’ (as in, a very aesthetically pleasing bottle), Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Foundation is one of the OGs when it comes to delivering a truly airbrushed look. It’s filled with many skin-boosting ingredients including AirCool™, which aides its long-lasting superpowers, and Magic MossCellTec™, the ultimate dose of hydration. It’s also available in 44 shades in a range of cool, warm and neutral tones.
Hourglass
Illusion Luminous Glow Foundation, £58.00
Best Foundation For Dry Skin
Hourglass has several incredible base products in its arsenal, but this foundation is genuinely one of our favourites. The light, creamy texture melts into skin and can be layered for a medium coverage. The best bit? The formula is infused with hyaluronic acid to leave skin feeling and looking more hydrated, plump and radiant.
Lisa Eldridge
Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint, £39.00
Best Lightweight Skin Tint
If you’re all about minimal, ‘your skin but better’ coverage or prefer a lighter base for the warmer months, you’ll want to add this bestseller to your makeup repertoire. Firstly, with a consistency that feels not too dissimilar from a serum, we adore the weightless texture. Secondly, it’s made up of 78% skincare ingredients including squalane, vitamin E, sunflower and prickly pear seed oils. Then there’s the gorgeous finish – fresh, uplifted and subtly radiant.
How To Find Your Foundation Shade
The best natural looking foundation requires the perfect shade match. You’ve found your formula, but how can you find the shade? “To get a true match, always test on an area that has been cleansed of previous foundation,” says Niamh. “The jawline works best, as a correct match here will mean there won’t be a shade difference between your face and neck.” For more guidance, check out our Foundation Finder, or pop into your local Space NK store where one of our beauty advisors can colour match you in minutes.
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