Reader Request: Best Dewy Foundations By Price

Reader Request: Best Dewy Foundations By Price

We all want that healthy, just-returned-from-holiday glow, but sometimes dewy foundations have let us down. Traditional formulas weren’t that long-lasting, while oily-prone girls were told to steer clear altogether. Thankfully, today’s formulas have nailed that glossy-but-still-full-coverage finish we’ve all been looking for. From Lumene’s new silky base to Delilah’s glow-giving formula, we’ve rounded up some of the best ones to try now, whatever your budget and skin type...

For Dry Skin:

£: C.Y.O Lifeproof Long Lasting Foundation, £3.75 (was £7.50)

One of our favourite high-street brands, C.Y.O’s long-lasting base uses vitamin E to hydrate skin, while the creamy texture provides sheer-to-medium coverage. Expect a fresh, luminous finish that you never have to worry about settling into pores or fine lines.

Available at Boots.com

££: L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Longwear Foundation, £10.42​

You’d be hard-pushed to find any negative reviews on this radiant base. Often dubbed as a good dupe for Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation, you’ll find it’s just the right amount of glow, without any compromise on coverage.

Available on Amazon.co.uk

£££: Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation, £34​

Formulated with ceramides and a botanical version of retinol, this creamy base is as much a hydrator as it is a foundation. Allowing the skin to breathe, the texture is fluid and buildable, so you can create both a barely-there look or  full-coverage luminosity.

Available at CultBeauty.co.uk

For Dull Skin:

£: NYX Born To Glow Naturally Radiant Foundation, £10

One of the best high-street bases we’ve ever tried, this medium-full coverage formula promises to give a visible glow, and it really delivers. With zero streaks, it blends effortlessly to cover imperfections, without feeling like you’re caked in a foundation mask. Plus, it comes in a whopping 45 shades, so there’s something for everyone.

Available on LookFantastic.com

££: Max Factor Radiant Lift Foundation, £14.99

One of Max Factor’s best foundations, this new formula is light (but still with good coverage) and blends well with other products. It also has an SPF, hyaluronic acid and is available in 18 shades – in short, it ticks all the boxes. Plus, the creamy formula makes it easy to apply with fingers, sponges or a brush. 

Available on LookFantastic.com

£££: Delilah Time Frame Future Resist Foundation SPF20, £34

This is the foundation for giving lacklustre or dull skin a little boost. Coveted by make-up artists and industry insiders alike, the formula imparts a luminous finish, while also offering long-term skin-firming benefits, thanks to a cocktail of high-performing antioxidants and SPF 20.

Available on LookFantastic.com

For Acne-Prone Skin:

£: e.l.f. Acne Fighting Foundation£3 (was £7.50)

Salicylic acid, witch-hazel and tea tree come together in this velvety base to deliver a formula that evens skin tone, while reducing the redness of acne. The skin-loving base also means spots never feel suffocated or dry, while soothing aloe adds unbeatable juiciness to the skin.

Available at ElfCosmetics.co.uk

££: Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation, £20

Vichy are known for their brilliant acne-friendly products, and this fluid foundation is no exception. Recommended by dermatologists, it offers a real security blanket for days when you need more coverage, and it’s non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t block pores) and free of parabens, so you never have to worry about further breakouts.

Available on LookFantatsic.com

£££: Lumene Invisible Illumination Instant Glow Fresh Skin Tint, £32.90

With its light, gel-like consistency and dewy, yet semi-matte coverage, this covers up redness and spots beautifully, without any obvious caking. It also contains arctic spring water and Nordic algae to keep skin hydrated and feeling fresh. A beauty editor favourite.

Available on LookFantastic.com

For Oily Skin

£: Sleek MakeUP Vitality Foundation, £8.99

Oil-free, this smooth base delivers light-to-medium coverage with a dewy finish that belies its affordable price tag. It also contains soft-focus powders to keep any other excess oil at bay, ensuring your make-up doesn’t slide off by 4pm.

Available on LookFantastic.com

££: Kiko Tuscan Sunshine Luminous Foundation, £16.99 

The coverage from Kiko’s latest base is sheer, but buildable for days when you need a little something extra. It dries down semi-matte to conceal oiliness, but still leaves behind a glossy top layer. With a runny, watery texture, it feels ultra-hydrating upon contact, without being sticky or suffocating, so it’s great for mature, dry skin types, too.

Available on KikoCosmetics.com

£££: Becca Ultimate Coverage 24 Hour Foundation, £32

Made up of 22% water and 21% pure pigment, BECCA’s creamy base melts into the skin and blends seamlessly for a flawless finish. Suitable for all skin types – but especially oily and congested – it dries down fast with a water-resistant wear that prevents smudging and flaking. Plus, there’s 24 versatile shades available, so you’re guaranteed to find a match.

Available on CultBeauty.co.uk

For Large Pores:

£: No7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation, £15

Created with a non-pore blocking formula and vitamin E, this reliable base melts into the skin, depositing a refined, polished tint that lasts and smooths out imperfections. It feels completely weightless, too, and never comes off cakey or mask-like.

Available at Boots.com

££: Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, £20

With a consistency akin to a serum foundation, a little of Glossier’s Skin Tint goes a long way. It blends easily, cancelling out redness, evening out enlarged pores, while adapting to your natural tone for a believable finish. Don’t expect full-on coverage, but skin will look fresher, smoother and healthier – think of it like an imperceptible veil of colour that lends a blurring effect.

Available at Glossier.com

£££: Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation, £85.99

It’s expensive, but so worth the investment if you’re serious about your base. Delivering sheer-to-medium coverage, it’s seriously dewy, and still looks like your skin post-application. It also contains minerals designed to reflect the light, so pores seem noticeably smaller and smoother. We love the pump too, which distributes just the right amount of product for solid coverage. Prepare to be hooked.

Available at Amazon.co.uk

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