Credit: Courtesy of brands
Stylist Loves
13 of the best lightweight serum foundations for glowing, natural-looking skin
By Amber Voller &Chloe Burcham
2 years ago
All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article
5 min read
Promising skin-kind ingredients and light-as-air textures, these fluid foundations make for the perfect natural bases.
Are you team foundation or team tinted moisturiser? Maybe you’re someone who hates the feeling of wearing make-up altogether. If so, worry not. Thanks to a new generation of cutting-edge formulas, there’s a plethora of textures in between. If you’re looking for something lightweight and indetectable, a serum foundation might be just what you’ve been looking for.
Imagine a featherweight fluid texture that feels like water but lends a flaw-blurring veil of coverage – with complexion-loving add-ons to boot.
Like skincare serums, they tend to be loaded with a high concentration of ingredients designed to treat everything from dark spots and dryness to dehydration and fine lines.
Their consistency is fluid and runny, meaning they’re best applied with a different technique to your usual liquid, powder or cream foundations.
First, always shake the bottle thoroughly. Then pop a couple of drops onto the palm of your hand. The amount required varies by product but it’s much easier to build up coverage than it is to take it away. Most will only require three or four dots and they’ll often come in a handy dropper format with a pipette.
To apply with your fingers, simply use a pressing or patting motion – rather than rubbing – to blend it in seamlessly. Prefer a tool? Buff it on with a fluffy brush for sheer coverage or dial up the density for more coverage.
While some offer a demi-matte oil-controlling tint, others leave skin dewy and luminous. Whichever you plump for, expect a natural, second-skin effect that’s just the ticket in the run-up to party season.
Here’s our pick of the very best with something to suit every skin type and price point. Ready, set, glow.
Best lightweight serum foundations
Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer
Enriched with hyaluronic acid and SPF35, this game-changing face base promises flexible, sheer and true-match colour coverage with a dewy finish.
Shop Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer at Cult Beauty, £27
Lumene Invisible Illumination Instant Glow Beauty Serum
A great option if you want minimal coverage but a radiant effect, this ultra-lightweight serum promotes a brighter-looking complexion while blurring the look of imperfections. Infused with Nordic willowherb, Nordic algae and vitamin E, the serum bestows the look of a lit-from-within glow, while sealing in long-lasting hydration.
Shop Lumene Invisible Illumination Instant Glow Beauty Serum at Lookfantastic, £32.90
Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation SPF20
Waterproof and long-lasting, this satin-matte finish serum foundation is ideal for warm-weather holidays and hazy summer days.
Shop Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation SPF20 at Lookfantastic, £38.50
Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint
Completely weightless and undetectable on the skin, this tinted moisturiser helps to reduce the appearance of pores, redness and uneven skin tone. The sheer finish can be layered for more buildable coverage without feeling heavy on the skin.
Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF30
A US sensation, this Ilia beauty skin tint combines skincare benefits with hardworking make-up creds. Niacinamide, squalane and non-nano zinc oxide help to reduce redness, smooth skin, improve elasticity and protect against the harmful effects of sun exposure and blue light.
Shop Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF30 at Naturisimo, £48
Iconic London Super Smoother Blurring Skin Tint
Packed with skincare ingredients, this serum-based formula helps to brighten and hydrate the skin while you wear it. The lightweight formula delivers medium, buildable coverage with a soft-focus, semi-satin finish – ideal for those worried about excess shine (without damping that all-important glow).
Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum
Sheer and luminous, this Rose Inc tinted serum is hydrating and smoothing – creating a lit-from-within, healthy glow.
Shop Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum at Space NK, £39
Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation
Bobbi Brown is synonymous with sophisticated bases that make skin look naturally flawless. This bestselling formula is just as excellent. It’s infused with a powerful combination of lychee, bamboo grass and cordyceps mushroom extracts to offer a firmer, smoother, more lifted look over time.
The potent ingredients are reflected in the price but you’ll look instantly fresher too, with a healthy glow sans shine. As with all Bobbi Brown offerings, the range is inclusive with 22 shades, including a multitude of undertones to choose from.
Shop Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation at lookfantastic, £58
Clarins Skin Illusion Natural Hydrating Foundation
This formula, available in 22 shades, replaces Clarins’s original pump-action Skin Illusion Foundation. But while the name is much the same, the formula is distinctly different. It has a dewier finish, fluid texture and a dropper delivery system that dispenses just the amount required.
Skincare-wise, it fuses pigments with nourishing oils for a deeply hydrating blend that’s an ideal match for dry complexions. The coverage is uber-light – think a gentle tint. But if you usually go without a base and you’re simply after a confidence-boosting softening veil, it’s a smart buy.
Shop Clarins Skin Illusion Natural Hydrating Foundation at John Lewis, £34
Kosas Tinted Face Oil
Another TikTok sensation, Kosas is beloved by celebrities, beauty professionals and make-up enthusiasts alike. Featherweight, with medium coverage and all-day wear time, it sits on the skin with a silky-velvet finish.
Shiseido Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Foundation
Fresh and dewy, this serum foundation is blended with argan oil, yuzu seed and wild thyme extract for a luminous, natural-looking result.
Shop Shiseido Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Foundation at Lookfantastic, £40
Maybelline Super Stay 24H Skin Tint Foundation + Vitamin C
Formulated to deliver 24-hour wear, this skincare-infused foundation blends effortlessly onto the skin with a radiant, natural-looking finish. Added vitamin C helps to illuminate the appearance of dull, lacklustre skin while delivering antioxidant protection. Win-win.
Shop Maybelline Super Stay up to 24H Skin Tint Foundation + Vitamin C at Lookfantastic, £12.99
Estée Lauder Futurist SkinTint Serum Foundation
Blurring the lines between skincare and make-up, this lightweight face base offers a natural radiance with light coverage that impressively still manages to last all day long. Enriched with a blend of botanical oils, such as meadowfoam seed and rosehip, the foundation nourishes the skin for a visibly smoother, softer finish.
Shop Estée Lauder Futurist SkinTint Serum Foundation at Lookfantastic, £49
Images: courtesy of brands
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