The perfect canvas for makeup can be a glowing dewy base for some, but for those of you who have to brave the tropical weather, you may prefer a shine-free, matte look that promises to stay on despite the sweat and humidity. However, you may also think that a matte foundation is only suitable for those with oily skin – which is certainly not the case. Depending on the formula and texture, matte foundations can suit a number of skin types.
To make things easier for you, we sourced some of the best matte foundations that have gotten great reviews below!
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Get a matte coverage that stays on all day long with this long wear foundation. The light and creamy formula is relatively quick-drying, giving you smooth, medium to high coverage that will not fade easily. It provides oil control, but also promises to give you a flawless complexion without you looking too flat.
Touted to stay shine-free even in sweaty and humid conditions, this award-winning foundation from Estee Lauder is still one of the best on the market. Its oil-free formula is ideal for oily skin types, providing you with buildable coverage that stays in place, obviously.
The highlight of this full coverage foundation is its lightweight and fluid texture that blends well and does not look or feel heavy on the skin. The velvety formula works well to give you a long-wearing, soft matte finish without causing dryness or clinging to flaky patches.
This lightweight and oil-free foundation will give you medium coverage with a soft-matte finish that does not feel too drying on the skin. It comes with SPF 30 sun protection along with vitamin C, vitamin E and rose fruit extract to protect and nourish your skin. With a creamy texture similar to tinted moisturizers, this foundation will keep you shine-free without looking dry.
For those concerned with textured skin, it is best to apply foundation in thinner layers, and this foundation is ideal for building up coverage. It can be applied thinly for sheer coverage, and layered on for areas that require more. You will get a soft, airbrushed look with a velvet-matte finish that requires minimal touch-ups.
It is tricky to know which exact ingredient in a foundation triggers your skin, but those with sensitive skin types can give this Tarte foundation a try. Apart from being alcohol-free, it is formulated with skin-friendly ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and kaolin, to give you a natural-looking matte finish.
With 50 shades to choose from, Fenty Beauty’s foundation line is arguably the most versatile on the market. The soft matte formula is also highly praise-worthy, giving buildable medium to high coverage that is long-wearing and non-cakey on the skin. It is also an oil-free formula that is resistant to sweat and humidity.
While this definitely can provide decent coverage, it is still a CC cream formula and can be applied thinly for a natural matte finish that conceals pigmentation and dark spots. For those who want light coverage that will simply even out the skin tone, this is a great option – especially since it also comes with SPF 40 and skin-healing ingredients such as green tea extract, tea tree extract and more.
Whatever your coverage needs are, this foundation can probably mask it all. Marketed as a pigment-rich formula that will even cover tattoos, this highly buildable foundation will give you a perfectly matte complexion that is fade and transfer-resistant as well.
Not only does this foundation give you a satin-matte finish that looks flawless in pictures, it also does not cause harsh flashbacks. The formula blurs imperfections and smoothens the skin beautifully with long-lasting medium to high coverage. An added bonus is its shade range, with a total of 36 shades for you to choose from.
If you want something that works for both matte and dewy looks, this lightweight foundation with medium to full coverage might be good for you. It applies matte and can be powdered to stay matte, but can also be paired with a setting spray for a natural dewy finish.