The 9 Best Full-Coverage Foundations of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation

4.8

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This is, without a doubt, one of the most popular full-coverage foundations on the market, and for good reason. Despite having a pretty thick texture which often makes for a cakey finish, it blends out beautifully on the face and can create a natural-looking base—if used properly. Our tester shared that it clung to a dry patch on her skin, which isn’t unheard of with this formula—but if you properly exfoliate and moisturize before using it, you’ll be able to yield a smooth, full-coverage result that appears truly skin-like. 

In addition to praising its long-wearing ability, our tester appreciated that it passed the transfer test with perfect scores—this is especially important if you have oily skin and struggle with foundations breaking apart. If you’re looking for a matte, full-coverage foundation that will last all day and night without creasing or fading, we can’t recommend this one enough. 

Price at time of publish: $46

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 44 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Luxe

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation

4.8

View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore View On Bluemercury.com

It’s not often that cushion foundations provide significant coverage, but this one can be layered to create a completely even complexion. Aside from experiencing a bit of transfer, our tester couldn’t rave about it enough. She loved the natural, glowy finish, how easily it blended into the skin, and how weightless and comfortable it felt when applied. It completely covered her redness while maintaining a skin-like appearance and didn’t settle into pores or fine lines. If you’re sensitive to the feeling of makeup sitting on your skin but you still want to wear a full-coverage foundation, this is a fantastic option for you.

Price at time of publish: $130 

Finish: Natural | Number of shades: 8 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Drugstore

NYX Total Control Pro Drop Foundation

4.6

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If you’re on the hunt for a full-coverage foundation from the drugstore, consider this one. The unique formula has a true, liquid consistency that makes it easy to blend and lightweight on the skin. We love that it comes in a wide range of shades—especially for the drugstore—and can be used to create a light coverage look or something more perfected when layered. Our tester shared that while it didn’t completely cover her blemishes, she was able to build it up to yield medium-to-full coverage that looked incredibly smooth and natural on her skin.

One thing to note is that this formula did transfer, so if that’s a concern for you, we recommend setting it with powder or long-wearing setting spray. 

Price at time of publish: $14

Finish: Natural | Number of shades: 26 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Shade Range

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation

4.7

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Pat McGrath Labs nailed the shade selection of this foundation. In addition to creating shades that range in depth, there is also a vast range of undertones to cater to a large variety of skin tones. Even better? The formula looks stunning on the skin and performs beautifully. While it’s not marketed as a full-coverage foundation, it’s extremely buildable and can be layered on to create a pretty full-coverage look. After applying just one coat, our tester raved about how even her complexion looked while maintaining a natural appearance that didn’t lean overly matte or dewy. 

While she did notice a bit of creasing in her smile lines, she noted that it wasn’t significant and would likely be avoidable by setting the area with powder. Considering the inclusive shade range, truly airbrushed finish on the skin, and long-wearing nature of this formula, we highly recommend checking it out. 

Price at time of publish: $68

Finish: Natural | Number of shades: 36 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Lightweight

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Matte Powder Foundation

4.4

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Powder foundations are excellent for people with oily skin or those who dislike the feeling of liquid products on their skin—and if you’re looking for a powder formula with great coverage, this one is Byrdie-approved. One layer will provide light coverage, while additional layers will build up the pigmentation to create more coverage. Our tester shared that she appreciated the buildability but would have liked to see just a bit more coverage on top of discoloration. If you want to opt for powder foundation but need additional coverage, you can always conceal blemishes first and then apply the powder.

In terms of the finish on the skin, our tester praised it for looking matte without appearing dry or cakey. It layered really nicely on top of moisturizer and didn’t crease or fade as she wore it. Keep in mind that it did transfer during the transfer test, so we recommend setting it in place with a setting spray.

Price at time of publish: $48

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 31 | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Oily Skin

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

4.9

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We’d be surprised if you’re not already familiar with this iconic foundation from Fenty Beauty. Aside from helping to set the standard in terms of shade range diversity, it also has a loyal fan base who praise it for its formula. Our tester can see why it’s so well-loved, citing that it was blendable, comfortable on the skin, and almost completely transfer-proof. It didn’t crease or fade as she wore it, and she loved how skin-like it appeared on her complexion. 

If she could have changed one thing about it, it would be the level of coverage. Despite being marketed as a full-coverage foundation, she struggled to get it to fully cover her melasma. The good news is it builds well and can be layered with concealer, so this isn’t a dealbreaker for us. 

Price at time of publish: $39

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 59 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Dry Skin

KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm

4.8

View On Sephora View On Ulta View On Kohls.com

After going absolutely viral on TikTok, we were curious to see if this foundation balm lives up to the hype—and it does. It provides full coverage in just one layer, a little bit of product goes a very long way, and it can be applied using your fingertips, a brush, or a sponge, without the mess that liquid and powder formulas can create. Despite having a matte finish, our tester said her skin looked and felt more hydrated after applying it, and she appreciated that it set in place and didn’t crease as she wore it. 

While she didn’t complain about the texture, some online reviewers claim that it feels a bit thick and heavy on the skin. If you’re sensitive to that, we recommend applying it in light layers using a damp sponge. 

Price at time of publish: $41

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 40 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Long-Wearing

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation

4.7

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Another incredibly popular full-coverage foundation, this one stands out for its long-wearing capabilities. Once applied to the skin, it’s not going anywhere. So, it’s no surprise that it performed well in our transfer test and resisted creasing and fading as our tester wore it. 

As for coverage and finish, the coverage is definitely full and can be built up or sheered out depending on your preferences, and the finish is matte but not flat. If you’re in need of a foundation to last you through a long day or a special event, we think you’ll really enjoy this one. 

Price at time of publish: $52

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 50 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No