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These are the best make-up alternatives to try if you hate the feeling of foundation
By Lucy Partington &Hanna Ibraheem
2 years ago
3 min read
A new wave of clever serums, BB creams and pigment droppers could replace your heavy foundation. Here, we round up the best make-up alternatives.
Ever taken time to seamlessly blend in your foundation only for it to feel heavy and uncomfortable? Fortunately, there’s a growing number of base alternatives available on the high street, so if you’re someone who prefers to opt for something lighter or simply cannot stand the heavy feeling of foundation, there’s something out there for you.
From pigment drops that you can add to your moisturiser to skincare serums formulated with tints that adjust to your skin tone, more and more brands are coming up with make-up innovations that allow us to reap subtle coverage without a drop of foundation in sight – and some are even bolstered with skincare benefits, so you really can have the best of both worlds.
Here, we round up the best make-up alternatives to foundation.
Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum
Shop Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum at Sephora UK, £36
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Skin Tint
A new addition to the Bobbi Brown family, this lightweight tint combines vitamins B, C, E and D alongside nourishing cactus flower, shea butter and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and strengthen the skin’s barrier and offer lightweight coverage that stays colour-true for 12 hours.
Shop Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Skin Tint at Bobbi Brown, £38
Dr.Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm SPF50
Dr.Jart+ has branched out into make-up and we couldn’t be happier about it. A blend of niacinamide and glycerin works to soothe and hydrate skin while the radiance-boosting pigment helps to even it out – all while offering SPF50 protection. What more could we ask for?
Shop Dr.Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm SPF50 at Cult Beauty, £35
Maybelline SuperStay 24H Skin Tint + Vitamin C
Get lightweight coverage that looks like your skin but better combined with an infusion of skin brightening vitamin C, which offers antioxidant protection and promises to help revive lacklustre complexions.
Shop Maybelline SuperStay 24H Skin Tint + Vitamin C at LookFantastic, £12.99
Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops
Available in 20 shades, these drops are formulated with a blend of kind-to-skin ingredients that not only offer lightweight, skin-perfecting coverage but that also work to help soothe and hydrate skin. Non-comedogenic, they won’t clog pores and instead will work to revitalise and perk up an otherwise dull-looking complexion.
Shop Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops at Cult Beauty, £62
Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint
Offering sheer to light coverage, Summer Fridays’ skin tint works to disguise redness and uneven skin tone without ever looking heavy or like you’re wearing make-up. Available in 10 shades, from Fair to Rich-Deep, it’s the ideal holiday companion and perfect for those ‘no make-up make-up’ days.
Nyx Professional Makeup Total Control Pro Drop Controllable Coverage Foundation
If the level of coverage you prefer changes on a daily basis, these foundation drops could be perfect for you. Use as few (or as many) drops as you like to get your desired look or mix it into highlighter or moisturiser for a truly customised finish.
Shop NYX Professional Makeup Total Control Pro Drop Controllable Coverage Foundation at Boots, £16
Oskia Nutri-Bronze Adaptive Sheer Tinted Serum
Not only is this serum infused with bakuchiol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, it also contains mineral pigments carefully chosen to compliment the four different types of melanin found in all skin tones.
Shop Oskia Nutri-Bronze Adaptive Sheer Tinted Serum at Cult Beauty, £64
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer SPF30
Sheer yet effective coverage, this gel-cream texture sinks into skin, is comfortable to wear and leaves you with a glowing complexion.
Shop bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer SPF30 at LookFantastic, £32.50
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Images: courtesy of brands
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