Credit: Best dewy foundation for dry skin
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Best dewy foundations: 18 lightweight formulas for a healthy-looking glow
By Hanna Ibraheem &Charlotte Bitmead
5 months ago
5 min read
From formulas packed with skincare ingredients to lightweight options blended with skin-brightening pigments, we round up the best foundations for guaranteed glow.
When it comes to foundation, there are a lot of choices to help you pick the best formula for your skin type.
Full-coverage formulas are created to remain lightweight and avoid cakiness and tinted moisturisers promise to give subtle, skin-like coverage. There’s even an impressive selection of medium-to-heavy coverage foundations that have been formulated to ensure they won’t weigh down dry skin.
But the ones we’re reaching for the most right now? Dewy foundations that give skin a fresh and luminous finish. We know, we know – glowy skin for winter? Groundbreaking. But dewy formulas that give skin a fresh, lit-from-within finish tick all the boxes, no matter what the weather.
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For some, the thought of a dewy foundation might sound a bit scary, especially if you have oily skin. But today’s clever innovations have been formulated with all skin types in mind, including the most sensitive. There are options blended with beneficial skincare ingredients to make your glow look as natural as possible and others packed with light-reflecting pigments for full-on luminosity.
Here, we round up the best dewy foundations for the ultimate in a healthy-looking glow.
Best dewy foundations for a natural-looking glow
Shiseido Revitalessence Skin Glow Foundation
There aren’t many brands that do foundation as well as Shiseido, and the newest addition to the family is testament to that. Available in 30 flexible shades, the lightweight formula offers light-to-medium coverage that’s entirely buildable, and it’s infused with prebiotics, fermented kefir and niacinamide to strengthen the skin’s barrier and help smooth and brighten.
Shop Shiseido Revitalessence Skin Glow Foundation at Shiseido, £49
U Beauty The Super Tinted Hydrator
Revolution Skin Silk Serum Foundation
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF30
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation
Shop Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation at Cult Beauty, £39
Chantecaille Future Skin Oil-Free Gel Foundation
OK, stay with us here, because yes, £75 is a lot to spend on foundation, but when we tell you that this is worth every penny, we mean it. The impressive, long-lasting yet lightweight formula is made of 60% water, meaning it’s super cooling on application, and it works to even out skin while providing a lit-from-within glow. It really does go the distance – it blends seamlessly and added aloe and arnica work to soothe skin, while rosemary and green tea are both rich in antioxidants.
Shop Chantecaille Future Skin Oil-Free Gel Foundation at Lookfantastic, £75
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer
This foundation-concealer hybrid is truly a handbag staple: impressively comfortable and lightweight to wear, it provides excellent glow and is packed with skincare ingredients. The double-sided doe foot applicator means you can apply it all over with ease or it can be targeted in the places you need the most coverage.
Shop Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer at Boots, £29
Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Foundation
There was never any doubt that the debut foundation from Mario Dedivanovic’s eponymous make-up range would be worth the wait – and it really was. The luminous formula is easy to build and blend for a customisable, long-wearing finish, and it promises to hydrate skin for 12 hours.
Shop Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Foundation at Makeup by Mario, £42
Nars Cosmetics Sheer Glow Foundation
Formulated with skin-brightening turmeric, this cult foundation smoothes out skin while also making your complexion appear more radiant.
Shop NARS Cosmetics Sheer Glow Foundation at LookFantastic, £39
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare
Packed full of nourishing ingredients to help deliver a healthy-looking glow, this foundation contains hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and vitamins E and B5.
Shop IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare at Boots, £36.50
NYX Professional Makeup Born to Glow Naturally Radiant Foundation
Glowy skin in an affordable bottle, this vegan formula delivers an impressively luminous yet natural-looking finish.
Shop NYX Professional Makeup Born to Glow Naturally Radiant Foundation at Amazon, £10
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
While some may argue this isn’t a foundation, its skin-brightening properties are undeniable. Buff out a few drops onto skin for a healthy, even complexion.
Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup SPF45
If you have dry skin, try this. It’s formulated with Estee Lauder’s own ion-charged water complex to help lock in moisture for glowing skin.
Shop Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup SPF45 at LookFantastic, £42
Surratt Dew Drop Foundation
Luminous yet lightweight, this Surratt foundation melts into skin for a seamless finish.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation
Long-lasting, water-resistant and flashback-free, this foundation has light-reflecting particles that blur skin and make you look radiant.
Shop Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation at LookFantastic, £43
Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation
When Pat McGrath’s debut foundation launched, it skyrocketed to cult status. The formula contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides for a skin boost, as well as blurring pigments.
Shop Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation at Cult Beauty, £61
Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation
Dior has formulated its iconic Forever foundation with a radiant but shine-free finish.
Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Foundation
Utilising skincare’s most popular brightening ingredient, vitamin C, this Laura Mercier foundation is luminous. More even skin in a bottle.
Shop Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Foundation at Boots, £45
Images: Getty; courtesy of brands
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